struggling to ascertain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "struggling to ascertain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing difficulty in determining or finding out information or understanding something. Example: "The researchers are struggling to ascertain the cause of the unexpected results in their experiment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The publication of the list comes with an added benefit for North Korea watchers, who are always struggling to ascertain the highly secretive country's nuclear abilities.

The New York Times

(educational play therapist) "She is struggling to ascertain what the patient's problems are after her assessment, let alone prioritise them.

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Mr. Keepnews and a colleague in The Times's research department struggled to ascertain the facts.

The New York Times

While the United States struggles to ascertain whether North Korea is crossing an invisible line concerning its nuclear activities, South Korea struggles to keep the peace on the peninsula.

The New York Times

Should their application fail, legal experts will struggle to ascertain the value of the Wildenstein empire, founded by cloth merchant Nathan Wildenstein in 1875.

The Guardian

It consists of multiplying misunderstandings in which Corbett, as a shop assistant, struggles to ascertain whether Barker's stubborn shopper requires "four candles" or "fork handles", "hoes" or a "hose".

The Guardian

What Snake struggles to ascertain as he observes Anderson's rotting corpse is how quickly the ex-DARPA chief has begun to spoil.

Vice

Struggling to find Burlap/hessian.

WikiHow

SOCAP made for an ideal opportunity to take measure of where the movement stands as many struggle to ascertain its true potential.

Huffington Post

Others struggled to find them.

The Economist

Both struggled to learn English.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "struggling to ascertain", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the subject is trying to determine and why it is difficult. This phrase works best when highlighting a genuine challenge in obtaining information or understanding a complex issue.

Common error

Avoid using "struggling to ascertain" when a simpler phrase like "trying to find out" or "trying to understand" would suffice. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound unnatural or pretentious. Reserve this phrase for situations where the difficulty in determining something is significant.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "struggling to ascertain" is that of a verb phrase acting as a descriptor. It typically modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating the subject's difficulty in determining something. As Ludwig points out, this phrase is correctly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "struggling to ascertain" is a grammatically correct construction used to describe difficulty in determining or understanding something. Ludwig confirms its validity and usability in written English. While relatively rare in overall usage, the phrase appears most frequently in news and media and science contexts, suggesting a formal or neutral tone. When writing, it's best to reserve this phrase for situations where the difficulty in determining something is significant, avoiding overuse in simple contexts where simpler alternatives would suffice. There are more common alternatives which include "finding it difficult to determine" or "having trouble figuring out".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finding it difficult to determine

Replaces "struggling" with a more common synonym and simplifies "ascertain" to "determine".

having a hard time determining

Similar to "finding it difficult to determine", but uses "having a hard time" for emphasis.

having trouble figuring out

Uses more informal language, replacing "ascertain" with the phrasal verb "figuring out".

encountering difficulty in discovering

Maintains a similar level of formality but uses "encountering difficulty" instead of "struggling".

finding it hard to understand

Emphasizes the difficulty in comprehension rather than the act of finding out.

experiencing challenges in uncovering

Similar in formality, replacing "struggling" with "experiencing challenges" and "ascertain" with "uncovering".

grappling with understanding

Uses "grappling with" to convey a sense of actively trying to overcome the difficulty.

wrestling with the problem of identifying

Emphasizes the active and difficult process of identifying something.

facing obstacles in the quest to discover

Elevates the formality and emphasizes the obstacles involved in the discovery process.

challenged to find out

Simplifies the language and focuses on the challenge of finding out information.

FAQs

What does "struggling to ascertain" mean?

The phrase "struggling to ascertain" means having difficulty discovering, finding out, or determining something, often due to complex or unclear information.

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

You can use it to describe someone or something facing challenges in determining something, such as "Researchers are struggling to ascertain the long-term effects of the new drug".

What can I say instead of "struggling to ascertain"?

You can use alternatives like "finding it difficult to determine", "having trouble figuring out", or "finding it hard to understand" depending on the context.

Is "struggling to ascertain" formal or informal?

"Struggling to ascertain" is considered more formal. In less formal contexts, consider using simpler phrases like "trying to find out" or "trying to understand".