is not ascertainable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is not ascertainable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where something cannot be determined or established with certainty. Example: "The exact cause of the issue is not ascertainable at this time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In fact, references to literature are conspicuously absent, which diminishes their value as a complete resource because the rationale for the decisions made is not ascertainable.

Harvard University

6 But the fact of his anonymity as author means that "Plato's meaning" is not ascertainable in the way that, say, "Kant's meaning" may be ascertainable in the Critique of Pure Reason.

Johns Hopkins University

In a nutshell, the objection is that a correspondence theory of truth must inevitably lead into skepticism about the external world, because the required correspondence between our thoughts and reality is not ascertainable.

SEP

Any sequence or assembly errors in the reference would be translated into errors in the actual IRB, however this is not ascertainable in silico.

BMC Genomics

Clearly it is not ascertainable from the study databases the reason for the length of stay reduction, although it was found both slightly shorter antepartum admissions and slightly shorter postpartum stay contributed.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The subjects' histories of previous exposures to any environmental neurotoxicants was not ascertainable, but exposures to elevated levels was not suspected.

NeuroToxicology

Those divergent results indicate utilization of photographs for the derivation of economic weights for traits which are not ascertainable by tasting (e.g., color and drip loss).

Livestock Science

Specific performance under New York law is a remedy that is awarded only if monetary damages are insufficient to compensate the private equity firms for the banks' breach or otherwise monetary damages are not ascertainable.

The New York Times

If the victim's losses are not ascertainable by the date that is 10 days prior to sentencing, the attorney for the Government or the probation officer shall so inform the court, and the court shall set a date for the final determination of the victim's losses, not to exceed 90 days after sentencing.

Cornell University

Deaths for which, a specific underlying cause was not ascertainable, were assigned the code R99.

BMC Public Health

The cause of death in one case was not ascertainable since the notes were incomplete.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is not ascertainable" when you want to emphasize that something cannot be determined due to a lack of information or evidence. It suggests a degree of impossibility rather than mere difficulty.

Common error

While "is not ascertainable" is correct, consider whether a simpler phrase like "cannot be determined" or "is unknown" would be more appropriate for your audience. Overly formal language can sometimes obscure your meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is not ascertainable" functions as a predicative adjective phrase, describing a quality of something that cannot be determined or established. Ludwig examples showcase its use in academic, scientific, and legal contexts to denote uncertainty.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

Academia

30%

News & Media

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is not ascertainable" correctly indicates something that cannot be determined. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is usable in written English, primarily within academic, scientific, and news-related contexts, albeit with a relatively uncommon frequency. While grammatically sound, writers should be mindful of potential alternatives like "cannot be determined" for broader accessibility. The phrase's formality makes it best suited for professional and academic environments, where its precision offers value.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be determined

Replaces "is not ascertainable" with a more direct and common expression of impossibility to find out.

cannot be established

Focuses on the lack of ability to prove or set something firmly, similar to "is not ascertainable".

cannot be verified

Highlights the inability to confirm the truth or accuracy of something.

is undeterminable

A more concise, single-word alternative expressing that something cannot be decided or found out.

is not identifiable

Shifts the focus to the inability to recognize or point something out specifically.

is beyond comprehension

Emphasizes that something is impossible to understand or grasp, adding a layer of complexity.

eludes understanding

Highlights that understanding something cannot be achieved because it avoids or escapes perception.

remains unknown

Simply states that information about something is still not available.

cannot be figured out

An informal way to express the inability to solve or understand something.

is shrouded in mystery

Suggests the impossibility of knowing or understanding something due to obscurity or secrecy.

FAQs

What does "is not ascertainable" mean?

The phrase "is not ascertainable" means that something cannot be found out, determined, or established with certainty. It suggests a lack of information or evidence makes it impossible to know something.

What can I say instead of "is not ascertainable"?

You can use alternatives like "cannot be determined", "cannot be established", or "remains unknown" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "is not ascertainable" in writing?

Use "is not ascertainable" when you want to emphasize that despite efforts or investigation, a particular fact or conclusion cannot be definitively reached. It's suitable for formal or technical writing.

Is "is not ascertainable" formal language?

Yes, "is not ascertainable" is considered formal language. In less formal contexts, simpler alternatives like "cannot be found out" or "is unknown" might be more appropriate.