needs to determine whether

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "needs to determine whether" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the necessity of making a decision or assessment regarding a specific condition or situation. Example: "The committee needs to determine whether the proposed changes will benefit the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Of course, the company still needs to determine whether a user is, in fact, dead.

The New York Times - Tech

The European Commission, the executive arm of the union, still needs to determine whether the bank bailout falls within European state aid rules.

The New York Times

But when a drug is still in clinical trials, as Erbitux was, the F.D.A. often does not have all the data it needs to determine whether a company's statements are true.

The New York Times

A group of core executives will remain in their places, but the board still needs to determine whether to appoint an acting chief executive or a committee of top executives to oversee the bank, this person said.

The New York Times

Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said: "The Bank of England needs to determine whether pay growth will continue to accelerate as firms compete for staff, or whether low inflation will keep the overall rate of increase below levels that would normally worry the monetary policy committee into hiking interest rates".

The Guardian - Business

Therefore, Alice needs to determine whether (acute {d}>r, text {mod}, 2^{ell }) or not.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Tests were needed to determine whether Belmokhtar was among them.

The Guardian

But the researchers say further study is needed to determine whether it is effective.

The New York Times - Health

Torre and his committee simply need to determine whether the technology would apply to baseball.

The New York Times

Rogán said legal consultations were needed to determine whether those groups could be included.

The Guardian

But he said United Nations investigators needed to determine whether chemical weapons had been used.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "needs to determine whether", ensure that the context clearly indicates the criteria or information that will be used to make the determination.

Common error

Avoid using "needs to determine whether" without specifying the subject or criteria for determination. Be precise about what needs to be determined and how.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs to determine whether" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing necessity or obligation to make a decision or assessment. It commonly introduces a question or condition that requires resolution, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "needs to determine whether" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the necessity of making a decision or assessment, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is frequently used in scientific, news, and formal contexts to introduce a question or condition that requires resolution. Related phrases include "must ascertain whether" and "should establish if", offering variations in formality and nuance. When using this phrase, ensure precision in specifying what needs to be determined and the criteria involved. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its wide applicability across diverse domains, reinforcing its role as a versatile expression for indicating required evaluation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Needs to investigate if

Focuses on the investigative aspect of the determination.

Has to evaluate whether

Replaces "determine" with "evaluate", suggesting a thorough assessment.

Should assess if

Uses "assess" to indicate a careful evaluation is necessary.

Must ascertain whether

Replaces "needs to determine" with a more formal synonym, "ascertain".

Must clarify whether

Implies a need to make something clearer.

Should establish if

Uses "establish" instead of "determine", implying a need to confirm something.

Is required to decide whether

Emphasizes the requirement to make a decision.

Ought to resolve if

Uses "resolve" suggesting a need to settle a question or doubt.

Has to figure out whether

Replaces "needs to determine" with a more informal "figure out".

Is compelled to judge whether

Highlights the element of judgment involved in the determination.

FAQs

How can I use "needs to determine whether" in a sentence?

Use "needs to determine whether" to indicate that a decision or assessment is required based on certain conditions. For example, "The committee "needs to determine whether" the proposed changes will benefit the community".

What are some alternatives to "needs to determine whether"?

You can use alternatives such as "must ascertain whether", "should establish if", or "has to figure out whether" depending on the level of formality and nuance you want to convey. See also "must clarify whether" or "should assess if".

Is it better to use "determine if" or "determine whether"?

While both "if" and "whether" can be used, "whether" is generally preferred when presenting two or more alternatives. "If" is more commonly used to introduce a conditional clause.

What's the difference between "assess" and "determine"?

"Assess" implies a careful evaluation or appraisal, whereas "determine" suggests a more definitive finding or decision. For instance, you might "assess" the risks before "determining" a course of action.