must be determined

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must be determined" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that a decision or conclusion needs to be reached or established. Example: "The outcome of the experiment must be determined before we can proceed with the next phase of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It must be determined by the Senate.

The Guardian

Each curve must be determined by experiment.

Incompressible Flow Turbomachines Design, Selection, Applications, and Theory

A new model must be determined by early 2017.

The Guardian

The severity of Edelman's injury must be determined.

The Washington Post

The resulting element includes six parameters, which must be determined.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

The number of credits must be determined in advance.

Cornell University

Morality must be determined by philosophy rather than facts alone.

The New York Times

The parameters of this model must be determined experimentally.

Mechatronics

Destinations must be determined in advance, although changes can be made for a $50 fee.

The New York Times - Travel

"Who is responsible for this must be determined by the investigators".

The New York Times

Once the food is sealed, its proper cooking temperature and internal temperature must be determined.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "must be determined" when indicating a step that requires a conclusion or resolution to be reached before further action can occur.

Common error

While "must be determined" is grammatically correct, overuse of the passive voice can make your writing sound vague. Consider active voice alternatives when appropriate for a more direct and engaging style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must be determined" functions as a modal passive construction, indicating a requirement or necessity for a decision or conclusion to be reached. As demonstrated in Ludwig's examples, it's often used to express that a certain factor needs resolution before further progress.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "must be determined" is a versatile and commonly used expression to highlight the necessity of reaching a conclusion or decision. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct. It's frequently found in scientific, news, and academic contexts, indicating its broad applicability. While direct and clear, writers should avoid overusing the passive voice. Related phrases include alternatives such as "needs to be ascertained" or "has to be established". As shown in the examples provided by Ludwig, the phrase "must be determined" serves as a crucial function in conveying the need for a resolution before further action or understanding can occur.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

needs to be ascertained

Replaces "determined" with "ascertained", emphasizing the need to find something out for certain.

has to be established

Substitutes "must" with "has to" and "determined" with "established", highlighting the necessity of setting something firmly.

should be resolved

Replaces "determined" with "resolved", focusing on finding a solution or ending a dispute.

needs to be clarified

Replaces "determined" with "clarified", emphasizing the need to make something clear or understandable.

ought to be decided

Uses "ought to be" instead of "must be", indicating a recommendation or moral obligation to decide something.

should be figured out

A more informal way of saying "must be determined", using the phrasal verb "figure out".

needs to be worked out

Similar to "should be figured out", but implies a process of solving or calculating something.

has to be found out

Focuses on the discovery aspect of determining something, using the phrasal verb "find out".

should be made clear

Emphasizes the need for clarity and transparency, using "made clear" instead of "determined".

needs to be assessed

Replaces "determined" with "assessed", highlighting the need to evaluate or judge something.

FAQs

How can I use "must be determined" in a sentence?

The phrase "must be determined" is used to indicate that something needs to be decided or concluded. For example, "The cause of the error "must be determined" before the system can be restarted".

What can I say instead of "must be determined"?

You can use alternatives like "needs to be ascertained", "has to be established", or "should be resolved" depending on the specific context.

Is "must be determined" formal or informal?

"Must be determined" is generally considered a neutral to formal phrase suitable for academic, professional, and news-related contexts.

What is the difference between "must be determined" and "should be determined"?

"Must be determined" implies a higher degree of necessity or obligation compared to "should be determined", which suggests a recommendation or advisability.