sought to determine

USAGE SUMMARY

"sought to determine" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is the correct form of the verb "seek". Example sentence: The scientists sought to determine the cause of the strange illness.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Daniels, meanwhile, sought to determine the bugs' infection rates.

The New Yorker

We next sought to determine the source of GCSF.

Nature

We sought to determine whether they are anatomically related.

American Journal of Ophthalmology

We sought to determine the basis of this polarized sensitivity.

Cell Reports

After the governor's announcement, school districts sought to determine the move's impact.

The New York Times

Health officials sought to determine whether there was enough vaccine left to immunize those in need.

The New York Times

The present study sought to determine whether the same effects extend to semicrystalline polymers.

Polymer

I.R.S. investigators sought to determine his net worth by studying his spending habits.

The New York Times

The researchers sought to determine if weather-induced changes in pain sensitivity varied with climate.

The New York Times

We therefore sought to determine whether TM6SF2 rs58542926 had a similar effect.

Nature

We sought to determine if TDP43 undergoes XPO1-mediated nucleocytoplasmic transport through two complementary approaches.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sought to determine" in academic writing, ensure that the research question or objective is clearly defined and that the methodology employed is appropriate for addressing the question.

Common error

While "sought to determine" is appropriate for formal contexts, avoid using it excessively if simpler alternatives like "tried to find" or "aimed to discover" are more suitable for clarity and conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sought to determine" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of attempting to discover or establish something. It's commonly used to describe research objectives or investigative processes, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

Academia

28%

News & Media

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sought to determine" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase that indicates a deliberate attempt to find out or establish something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Its formal tone makes it well-suited for academic, scientific, and professional contexts. While frequently used in these settings, writers should avoid overusing complex vocabulary when simpler alternatives can enhance clarity. The phrase commonly introduces the purpose of an inquiry or research, as illustrated in various example sentences from credible sources like Nature and The New York Times.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sought to clarify

Similar structure, but replaces "determine" with "clarify", focusing on making something easier to understand rather than establishing a fact.

aimed to ascertain

Replaces "sought" with "aimed" and "determine" with "ascertain", focusing on discovering something definitively.

tried to establish

Uses "tried" instead of "sought" and "establish" instead of "determine", suggesting an effort to firmly set something as true.

endeavored to find out

Replaces "sought" with "endeavored" and "determine" with "find out", indicating a serious or determined effort to discover something.

investigated to discover

Emphasizes the investigative aspect, using "investigated" in place of "sought" and "discover" instead of "determine".

researched to identify

Highlights the research component, replacing "sought" with "researched" and "determine" with "identify".

undertook to clarify

Uses "undertook" instead of "sought" and "clarify" instead of "determine", focusing on making something clearer or easier to understand.

strove to uncover

Indicates a considerable effort to reveal something hidden, using "strove" instead of "sought" and "uncover" instead of "determine".

worked to figure out

A more informal alternative, using "worked" instead of "sought" and "figure out" instead of "determine".

set out to learn

Suggests a clear intention to gain knowledge, replacing "sought" with "set out" and "determine" with "learn".

FAQs

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

You can use "sought to determine" to indicate an attempt to find out or establish something, as in "The researchers "sought to determine" the effects of the new drug on the patients' health".

What are some alternatives to "sought to determine"?

Alternatives include phrases like "aimed to ascertain", "tried to establish", or "endeavored to find out", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "sought to determine" formal or informal?

"Sought to determine" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for academic, scientific, or professional writing. In more casual contexts, simpler alternatives might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "sought to determine" and "tried to determine"?

While both phrases indicate an attempt to find something out, "sought to determine" /s/sought+to+determine suggests a more deliberate and methodical approach than "tried to determine" /s/tried+to+determine, which implies a more general attempt.