Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
study sought to determine
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "study sought to determine" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used when discussing the purpose or goal of a particular study or research project. Example: The study sought to determine the effects of climate change on local wildlife populations. In this example, the phrase "study sought to determine" is used to explain the overall objective of the study, which is to understand how climate change impacts wildlife. Other variations of this phrase could include "research aimed to determine" or "investigation sought to determine."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
Academia
News & Media
Alternative expressions(3)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
The present study sought to determine whether the same effects extend to semicrystalline polymers.
Science
Background: This study sought to determine how esthetic appearance of babies may affect their motivational processing by the adults.
Academia
The study sought to determine whether this combination hormone therapy could prevent such ailments as osteoporosis and heart disease.
Academia
This study sought to determine normal differences in intermanual visuoconstructional performance.
This study sought to determine functional stability differences between PS and CR TKAs following PCL sacrifice.
Science
The current study sought to determine if patient empowerment predicted metabolic control.
This study sought to determine an appropriate algorithm for followup evaluation.
This study sought to determine the prevalence of dengue maculopathy in patients hospitalized with dengue fever.
Science
This study sought to determine nutrition-related cardiovascular risk factors in hemodialysis patients.
Science
This study sought to determine if the same is true in pediatrics.
Science
This study sought to determine whether familiarity with voices increases discrimination of voices across pitch intervals.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
In academic writing, it's often more impactful to state directly what the study found rather than focusing solely on its intent. For example, instead of "The study sought to determine the impact of X on Y," consider writing "The study found that X significantly impacts Y."
Common error
Avoid beginning every paragraph or section with variations of "the study sought to determine". Vary your sentence structure to maintain reader engagement. Consider alternative phrases or stating the findings directly.
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "study sought to determine" functions as an introductory phrase that clearly states the objective or aim of a research study. It sets the context for what the study intended to find out or establish. This is supported by the examples provided by Ludwig.
Frequent in
Science
70%
Academia
20%
News & Media
10%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "study sought to determine" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression in academic and scientific writing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to introduce the purpose or objective of a research study. While common, it's advisable to use it judiciously and vary sentence structure to maintain reader engagement. It commonly appears in scientific and academic contexts, making it suitable for formal writing. Related phrases, such as "study aimed to ascertain" or "research investigated whether", offer alternative ways to express the same idea.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
study aimed to ascertain
Replaces 'determine' with 'ascertain', implying a more careful and thorough investigation to establish facts.
study endeavored to establish
Substitutes 'sought to determine' with 'endeavored to establish', suggesting a focused effort to confirm or prove something.
research investigated whether
Rephrases the sentence to focus on the investigative aspect of the research and uses 'whether' to introduce a question.
the investigation assessed
Uses 'investigation' as the subject and 'assessed' to replace 'sought to determine', indicating an evaluation or judgment.
the analysis explored if
Employs 'analysis' and 'explored' to convey the research process, with 'if' introducing a conditional element.
the goal of the research was to identify
Replaces the original phrase with a more explicit statement of the research goal, using 'identify'.
the purpose of the study was to evaluate
Focuses on the study's purpose and employs 'evaluate' instead of 'determine', suggesting an assessment of value or quality.
researchers set out to measure
Indicates the beginning of a study with the verb phrase 'set out' and focuses on the act of measurement.
the project's objective was to quantify
Highlights the project's objective and replaces 'determine' with 'quantify', implying a focus on numerical data.
the experiment aimed to verify
Uses 'experiment' as the context and 'verify' to suggest confirming the truth or accuracy of something.
FAQs
How can I use "study sought to determine" in a sentence?
You can use "study sought to determine" to introduce the research question or objective of a study. For example, "This study sought to determine the correlation between exercise and mental health."
What are some alternatives to "study sought to determine"?
Alternatives include phrases like "study aimed to ascertain", "research investigated whether", or "the analysis explored if".
Is it better to use "study seeks to determine" or "study sought to determine"?
"Study seeks to determine" implies the study is ongoing, while "study sought to determine" indicates that the study has been completed. Choose the tense based on the study's current status.
What's the difference between "study sought to determine" and "study attempted to determine"?
"Study sought to determine" is a neutral statement of the study's aim. "Study attempted to determine" might imply that the study faced challenges or that its success in determining the outcome is uncertain.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested