need to ascertain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "need to ascertain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the necessity of finding out or determining something. Example: "Before making a decision, we need to ascertain the facts surrounding the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We need to ascertain what's happening in our schools, what's the state of sports infrastructure in Soweto.

The Guardian - Sport

We need to ascertain whether advances in treatment have cancelled out the benefits of early diagnosis through screening.

Nature

To assess whether these cultural changes and developments may be related to environmental changes we need to ascertain past environments.

Quaternary Science Reviews

"With the two dramatically different accounts of what happened, it stands to reason that there is a need to ascertain what really happened," he added.

The Guardian

The logographers also served as advocates and speech writers in the courts, and the need to ascertain facts and make arguments clearly influenced their writings.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Nigerian-assembled tractors (Fiat and Steyr) are foreign manufactured; hence, there is a need to ascertain their suitability for the Nigerian user.

Biosystems Engineering

Minow: This chart was useful when it first arrived on the scene many years ago, but now it is an essential document for all libraries and others with projects that need to ascertain the copyright status of older works.

Stanford University

We conclude from this that, rather than deciding how cultural evolution has proceeded a priori, researchers need to ascertain which model or combination of models is relevant in a particular case and why.

Evolution and Human Behavior

To meet the requirements of the EU 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive, manufacturers of cosmetics products will need to ascertain the safety of ingredients using non-animal methods.

Mutation Research-Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis

However, as clinical trials have demonstrated a significantly increased risk of breast cancer with oral combined estrogen progestin therapy, there is a need to ascertain the risk of including testosterone in such regimens.

Maturitas

A fallback provision itself must be constitutional, but how to discern the constitutionality of the fallback will not always be obvious, especially where the original provision's defect consists in its use of some impermissible procedure, for then courts will need to ascertain whether the fallback purges the taint of the original provision.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "need to ascertain", ensure that the context clearly indicates what information needs to be discovered or confirmed. For example, "Before launching the product, we "need to ascertain" market demand."

Common error

While "need to ascertain" is appropriate in formal contexts, avoid using it in informal conversations where simpler phrases like "need to find out" or "need to check" would be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "need to ascertain" functions primarily as a verb phrase expressing the necessity of discovering or confirming specific information. As Ludwig AI states, it's a valid and usable phrase in written English. The examples in Ludwig demonstrate its application in various scenarios where verification or determination is required.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

76%

News & Media

12%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "need to ascertain" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to convey the necessity of determining or confirming information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's perfectly acceptable in written English. Its usage is notably prevalent within scientific and academic spheres, as seen from the provided examples. While effective in formal settings, it's crucial to consider context and opt for simpler alternatives like "need to find out" or "need to check" in informal conversations. The semantic alternatives provided, such as "must determine" and "should establish", offer nuanced ways to express a similar meaning, allowing for precision in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

must determine

Implies a stronger sense of obligation or requirement to find something out.

should establish

Focuses on setting something firmly in place or proving its validity.

have to verify

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

ought to confirm

Suggests a moral duty to validate or substantiate something.

it's important to check

Emphasizes the significance of examining something carefully.

it is crucial to validate

Stresses the essential nature of confirming something's correctness.

it's necessary to investigate

Highlights the importance of carrying out a systematic inquiry.

have got to probe

Suggests an in-depth exploration or examination.

must look into

Implies a close inspection or consideration of a matter.

should examine

Focuses on inspecting something closely.

FAQs

How can I use "need to ascertain" in a sentence?

You can use "need to ascertain" to express the necessity of finding something out. For example, "We need to ascertain the level of customer satisfaction before proceeding".

What can I say instead of "need to ascertain"?

You can use alternatives like "need to determine", "need to find out", or "need to verify", depending on the context.

Which is correct: "need to ascertain" or "have to ascertain"?

Both "need to ascertain" and "have to ascertain" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. However, "need to ascertain" might be perceived as slightly more formal.

What's the difference between "need to ascertain" and "want to ascertain"?

"Need to ascertain" indicates a requirement or necessity to find something out, while "want to ascertain" expresses a desire or wish to find something out. The former suggests a higher level of importance.