obtain an update

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obtain an update" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when requesting or seeking the latest information or status on a particular matter or project. Example: "I would like to obtain an update on the project's progress before our meeting tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Diary cards were collected at days 30, 75 and 195 and furthermore a phone call was made by the investigator 30 d after the 2nd and 3rd injection to obtain an update on new or previously ongoing AEs.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Anyone wishing to retain his or her job must therefore: (1) obtain an updated photo I.D. (available through Mr. Pepall) and (2) furnish your own salary.

The New Yorker

It dictates how prior beliefs should combine with new observations, so as to obtain an updated belief that accounts for both.

Forbes

Every WiMAX radio is also able to obtain an updated list of all other WiMAX-enabled vehicles in its range [20 23], e.g., via the BS.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Related to the problem described above is the problem of how the system can obtain an updated understanding of the preferences and needs of a user at any given moment.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

The VGW will, in turn, communicate with the sensor nodes, using the Get_Status function, to obtain an updated view of the available services and resources at the node level.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The yellow label represents the waiting time after the participant clicked the toggles to obtain an updated model, and this was equivalent to the overall time of the modeling calculation.

3D Printing in Medicine

So in order to overcome this problem, multinomial distribution function and its conjugate Dirichlet distribution function has been used as likelihood and prior, respectively, in Bayes theorem to obtain an updated posterior function of the same form as Dirichlet distribution function thus improving the working and monitoring capability of Probabilistic Safety Assessment PSAA).

Annals of Nuclear Energy

18 publications which described additional (sub- haplogroups were consub- haplogroups an updated tree.

BMC Genomics

Another shortcoming of our study is that we were unable to obtain an updated area of residence for children who were not admitted to hospital since their birth admission.

BMJ Open

ONS=Office for National Statistics To do this, we combined the observed surveillance data with our knowledge of each probability before observation, summarised by a "prior" distribution, to obtain an updated distribution (the "posterior") which formally summarised our final knowledge of the quantities of interest.

British Medical Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "obtain an update" when you want to sound slightly more formal than using "get an update". However, be mindful of your audience; in very informal contexts, "get an update" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "obtain an update" in very casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "get an update" or "what's new?" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obtain an update" functions as a request for information. As supported by Ludwig's examples, it's used when someone is seeking the latest status or progress on a particular topic or project.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

24%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "obtain an update" serves as a polite way to inquire about the most recent information or status on a particular matter. While grammatically correct and widely accepted, as confirmed by Ludwig, it tends to be slightly more formal than its counterpart, "get an update". It's most frequently encountered in scientific, news, and wiki-related contexts, indicating a professional or semi-formal register. Remember to consider your audience and the context when choosing between "obtain" and its more common alternatives to ensure your communication is both clear and appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get an update

Uses a more common and informal verb "get" instead of "obtain".

receive an update

Focuses on the act of being given the update, rather than actively seeking it.

acquire an update

Emphasizes gaining possession of the update.

procure an update

Suggests a more formal or deliberate process of getting the update.

find out what's new

Rephrases as a question about new information rather than a request.

check the latest status

Emphasizes verifying the current standing of something.

get the current status

Similar to "check the latest status", but uses more common wording.

seek the most recent information

Highlights the act of searching for recent data.

request a status report

A more formal way of asking for an update, usually in business settings.

inquire about progress

Focuses on asking about the advancement or development of something.

FAQs

What's a more common way to say "obtain an update"?

A more common and informal way to say "obtain an update" is to "get an update". This phrasing is suitable for most everyday situations.

When is it appropriate to use "obtain an update" instead of "get an update"?

Use "obtain an update" in more formal settings, such as business meetings or academic discussions, where a slightly more sophisticated tone is desired. It conveys a sense of deliberate action in acquiring information.

Can I use "receive an update" instead of "obtain an update"?

Yes, you can use "receive an update", but it shifts the focus. "Obtain an update" implies you are actively seeking the information, while "receive an update" suggests the information is being given to you.

What are some alternative phrases for "obtain an update" that aren't as common?

Less common but still valid alternatives include "acquire an update", "procure an update", or "seek the most recent information". These options often imply a more formal or deliberate process.