seeking to determine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seeking to determine" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to describe the action of attempting to find out more information or the answer to something. For example, "The researchers are seeking to determine the cause of the problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What exactly the authorities are seeking to determine is unclear.

The New York Times - Sports

An investigation is seeking to determine what information they held and why they were off base.

The New York Times

A team of Stanford researchers is seeking to determine which patients are most at risk.

Stanford University

They were seeking to determine if any surveillance video existed, Mr. Browne said.

The New York Times

Scientists only now are seeking to determine whether the notion is more romance than reality.

The New York Times

In the United States, federal investigators are seeking to determine whether Galea has provided performance-enhancing drugs to top athletes.

The New York Times - Sports

The company said it was seeking to determine the extent of the overruns and whether they could have been avoided.

The New York Times

Federal authorities said they were still seeking to determine whether he served as a spy for the Iraqi insurgency.

The New York Times

Since then, Republican and Democratic officials have been seeking to determine which candidate their respective parties would coalesce behind.

The New York Times

It has key indicators for those seeking to determine whether someone is a victim of forced labour.

The Guardian

Dr. Held was frequently consulted by institutions and individuals seeking to determine the authenticity of old master artworks.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing reports or academic papers, use "seeking to determine" to convey a rigorous and objective approach to investigation.

Common error

While "seeking to determine" is grammatically correct, avoid using it in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "trying to find out" or "looking to see" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seeking to determine" functions as a verb phrase that often introduces a clause expressing an intent to investigate or discover something. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it's used to describe processes of inquiry across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

29%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seeking to determine" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to convey an active investigation or inquiry. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use across various reputable sources, particularly in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While highly versatile, it's generally more suited for formal writing than casual conversation. For informal contexts, consider using simpler alternatives such as "trying to find out". Remember to use "seeking to determine" when you want to express a rigorous and objective approach to investigation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempting to ascertain

Focuses on the attempt to find something out, adding a layer of effort to the determination.

investigating to find out

Explicitly indicates an investigative process aimed at uncovering information.

trying to figure out

More informal, suggests a problem-solving approach to understanding something.

looking to understand

Focuses on achieving comprehension or insight into a subject.

endeavoring to discover

Highlights the effort and intent to uncover something previously unknown.

aiming to identify

Emphasizes the goal of pinpointing or recognizing a specific element or factor.

working to establish

Implies effort toward setting up or proving a particular fact or concept.

researching to pinpoint

Combines research efforts with the specific goal of accurately identifying something.

exploring to clarify

Suggests a process of exploration with the aim of making something clearer.

analyzing to conclude

Highlights the analytical process leading to a final judgment or decision.

FAQs

How can I use "seeking to determine" in a sentence?

You can use "seeking to determine" to describe an effort to discover or establish something, such as "The investigators are seeking to determine the cause of the fire".

What's the difference between "seeking to determine" and "trying to find out"?

"Seeking to determine" is more formal and often used in professional or academic contexts, while "trying to find out" is more informal and suitable for casual conversation.

What can I say instead of "seeking to determine"?

You can use alternatives like "attempting to ascertain", "investigating to find out", or "aiming to identify" depending on the context.

Is "seeking to determine" appropriate for all types of writing?

While grammatically correct, "seeking to determine" is best suited for formal writing, such as reports, academic papers, and legal documents. In less formal settings, consider using simpler phrases.