it cannot be ascertained that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it cannot be ascertained that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing uncertainty or lack of evidence regarding a particular claim or situation. Example: "In this case, it cannot be ascertained that the results are conclusive without further research."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It cannot be ascertained that that value was what he most regarded.

Harvard University

Since Pericles never wrote down or distributed his orations, no historians are able to answer this with certainty; Thucydides recreated three of them from memory and, thereby, it cannot be ascertained that he did not add his own notions and thoughts.

Wikipedia

Although it cannot be ascertained that the back muscle forces were the same between groups, the analysis of the principal (extension) and coupled (lateral bending and axial rotation) L5/S1 moments demonstrated that the main efforts were comparable.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Finally, despite every attempt to ensure clarity of the questionnaire (pilot testing), it cannot be ascertained that all questions were well understood by nurses; especially among those with lower levels of education.

Human Resources for Health

First, despite the best efforts of the research team to pilot test the survey questionnaire, it cannot be ascertained that all providers were able to understand all the questions; particularly the less educated providers.

BMC Health Services Research

Despite some studies suggesting support for eccentric exercise, it too has a weak level of evidence in the scientific literature 6 as it cannot be ascertained that the beneficial effects on injury are specifically from the eccentric component.

British Journal of Sports Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

As we have no information on the immune status of the patients prior to the cancer diagnosis, it cannot be ascertained whether the baseline differences that we observed are prior to or are a consequence of the presence of the cancers.

BMC Cancer

Although there is serological evidence that the calf had been infected with BVD virus, it cannot be ascertained whether the abnormality was due to the BVD virus infection.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

It cannot be ascertained in this proceeding whether or not 15percentnt.

Cornell University

Since calpains are a multigenic family, it cannot be ascertained if all calpains are indeed epimastigote-specific.

Plosone

If the intervention is successful, it cannot be ascertained which of the 3 therapies involved determined the success.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it cannot be ascertained that", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific piece of information or fact is impossible to determine with the available evidence.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "it cannot be ascertained that" in casual or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "we don't know" or "it's unclear" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it cannot be ascertained that" functions as an impersonal construction expressing epistemic uncertainty. It indicates that a particular fact or piece of information is impossible to establish with certainty based on the available evidence. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

45%

Academia

25%

News & Media

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it cannot be ascertained that" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey uncertainty or the impossibility of determining something with certainty. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English. While most common in scientific and academic writing, it's crucial to use simpler alternatives in informal contexts. Remember to clearly specify what information is uncertain and avoid overuse in casual language to maintain clarity and appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is impossible to determine that

Replaces "cannot be ascertained" with "impossible to determine" maintaining a formal tone and conveying the same meaning.

it is not possible to know that

Uses "not possible to know" instead of "cannot be ascertained", simplifying the language while retaining the core sense of uncertainty.

it remains uncertain whether

Shifts the focus to the uncertainty itself rather than the act of ascertaining, using "remains uncertain whether".

there is no way to confirm that

Emphasizes the lack of confirmation using "no way to confirm", which is slightly more direct than "cannot be ascertained".

the evidence does not allow us to conclude that

Highlights the role of evidence in the inability to conclude something, making it more specific.

it is unclear if

Shortens the expression to a more concise form, replacing "cannot be ascertained that" with "is unclear if".

we cannot be certain that

Uses "cannot be certain" instead of "cannot be ascertained", making it less formal.

it is not known whether

Replaces "cannot be ascertained that" with the simpler "is not known whether".

it is difficult to say whether

Emphasizes the difficulty in making a definitive statement, replacing "cannot be ascertained" with "difficult to say".

the truth of the matter is unknown

Focuses on the unknown nature of the truth, rather than the act of ascertaining, using a more descriptive approach.

FAQs

How can I use "it cannot be ascertained that" in a sentence?

Use "it cannot be ascertained that" to express uncertainty or the impossibility of determining something definitively. For example, "It cannot be ascertained that the new policy will be effective without further testing."

What are some alternatives to "it cannot be ascertained that"?

You can use alternatives like "it is unclear if", "it is not known whether", or "we cannot be certain that" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "it cannot be ascertained that" formal or informal?

"It cannot be ascertained that" is generally considered a formal expression. Simpler phrases are often preferred in informal contexts.

What is the difference between "it cannot be ascertained that" and "it cannot be determined that"?

The phrases "it cannot be ascertained that" and "it cannot be determined that" are very similar in meaning. While both express uncertainty, "ascertained" often implies a more thorough or investigatory process than "it cannot be determined that".