only to ascertain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only to ascertain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that the purpose of an action was solely to find out or determine something. Example: "She called the office only to ascertain whether the meeting was still scheduled for that day."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Since the early days of X-ray diffraction, it became clear that it was in principle possible not only to ascertain the positions of atoms in crystals, but also to observe the distribution of electrons [7] and therefore to "visualize" the chemical bonding.

Chemistry Central Journal

They were looking not only to ascertain what had happened, but how humans could prevent it from happening again.

Huffington Post

At a joint US, Australian and New Zealand conference from 30 March to 1 April 1965, however, and with instructions only to ascertain America's objectives in the conflict, Scherger indicated that Australia would be prepared to commit a sizeable ground force, of around battalion size.

Wikipedia

The emergence of antibiotic resistance has prompted scientist to assiduously research into medicinal plants, not only to ascertain claims of efficacy and safety but also to discover alternative candidates for drug development.

Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials

In this report, we analyze correlations among the severity of the illness including MODS and parameters related to coagulopathy including TFPI in acutely ill septic patients, in order not only to ascertain their close relationships but also to find sensitive and predictive markers of the severity of septic patients.

Critical Care

In the future it is likely that platelet function testing will become obligatory if only to ascertain which patients are receiving adequate treatment on clopidogrel, which patients in whom higher doses of clopidogrel might be tried, and which patients would be best receiving a newer, more expensive antiplatelet agent.

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Another approach is the "desk audit", where possible overpayment is identified but the only way to ascertain losses is to sift through heaps of records manually.

The Economist

This time he expands his remit to argue that it is not only possible to ascertain a fair value for stockmarkets but that central banks should try to do so and adjust their policies accordingly.That would once have been a very controversial assertion.

The Economist

As the field reflects more on the sense of "life's meaning," it should not only try to ascertain in what respect it admits of unity, but also try to differentiate the concept of life's meaning from other, closely related ideas.

SEP

They were only able to ascertain that the goods came from the children's dept.

The New Yorker

For the UV, it is only possible to ascertain the rise towards the charge transfer bands.

Earth, Planets and Space

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "only to ascertain" when you want to emphasize that the sole reason for an action is to discover or confirm a specific piece of information. This can add precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "only to ascertain" in very informal writing or speech. Simpler phrases like "just to find out" or "simply to check" might be more appropriate and avoid sounding overly formal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only to ascertain" functions as a purpose connector, indicating the sole reason or intention behind an action. As shown in Ludwig, it specifies that the purpose is to discover or confirm something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "only to ascertain" serves as a purpose connector, highlighting that the singular aim of an action is to discover or confirm something. As demonstrated by Ludwig, its usage is grammatically sound and appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts. While precise and useful, it's best reserved for formal writing, with alternatives available for more casual communication. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and provides ample examples of its application in diverse scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

merely to find out

This alternative uses simpler language and emphasizes the single intention of discovering something.

simply to determine

Replaces "ascertain" with "determine", offering a slightly less formal tone while maintaining the focus on establishing a fact.

just to verify

Focuses on confirming something already suspected or believed to be true, rather than a broader inquiry.

solely for the purpose of determining

Emphasizes the exclusivity of the reason of discovering something.

exclusively to establish

Highlights the limited scope of the investigation.

purely to confirm

Highlights the intention is to confirm something that is true.

with the sole aim of discovering

Emphasizes the intention of discovering something.

for the unique purpose of learning

Emphasizes the singularity of the reason of knowing something.

specifically to figure out

Highlights the intention is to understand or resolve.

particularly to investigate

Highlights the intention is to research.

FAQs

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

You can use "only to ascertain" to indicate that the single purpose of an action is to discover something. For example: "She reviewed the documents "only to ascertain" the validity of the claim."

What's a less formal way to say "only to ascertain"?

If you're aiming for a less formal tone, consider using alternatives like "just to find out", "simply to check", or "merely to discover".

What's the difference between "only to ascertain" and "in order to ascertain"?

"Only to ascertain" emphasizes that discovering something is the sole reason for an action. "In order to ascertain" ("in order to ascertain") suggests discovering something is a reason, but not necessarily the only one.

When is it appropriate to use "only to ascertain" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "only to ascertain" when you want to precisely convey that the primary goal of an action is to determine or confirm a specific piece of information, particularly in formal or scientific contexts.