supposed to ascertain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "supposed to ascertain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating an expectation or obligation to find out or determine something. Example: "The committee is supposed to ascertain the facts before making a decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As our interview comes to an end, it's time to release the star back into Hollywood, to a gay bar, to a library, to wherever the heck Franco wants to go, and I'm left pondering what exactly we are supposed to ascertain from stance on sexial behaviour.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

This is not about paperwork or data collection; ascertaining a child's Aboriginal status is supposed to trigger a range of interventions and protections.

The Guardian - Opinion

A former principal and fellow of the Centre for Policy Development, Chris Bonnor, said with Gonski funding only rolled out from 2014, it was still too early to ascertain the impact the funding was having on the schools the money was supposed to target; under-performing and under-resourced ones.

The Guardian

As a law enforcement official who is supposed to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, Mrs. Pirro surely had a responsibility at least as great as that of other taxpayers to ascertain that her personal and campaign expenses were being properly handled.

The New York Times

He was supposed to.

The New Yorker

"They're supposed to".

The Guardian - Film

They are supposed to.

The Economist

"You're supposed to.

The New Yorker

He is supposed to.

The Guardian

"You're supposed to knock.

The New Yorker

She's supposed to go.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "supposed to ascertain" when you want to convey an expectation or duty to discover or establish something with certainty. For instance, "The auditors are supposed to ascertain the financial health of the company."

Common error

Avoid using "supposed to ascertain" in contexts where simpler verbs like "find out" or "determine" are more appropriate. Overusing "ascertain" can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or pretentious. Choose the simplest word that conveys your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "supposed to ascertain" primarily functions as an infinitive phrase expressing expectation or obligation. Ludwig AI shows examples where it's used to indicate a duty to find out specific information or facts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "supposed to ascertain" is a grammatically correct expression used to convey an expectation or duty to discover or establish something with certainty. While relatively rare, as indicated by Ludwig AI's examples, it appears in neutral to formal contexts, particularly in news and scientific domains. The phrase indicates an obligation to find out something, it's a functional and clear expression, alternatives like "expected to determine" or "tasked with determining" can provide similar meaning with subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expected to determine

Replaces "supposed to" with "expected to", emphasizing anticipation rather than obligation.

meant to discover

Substitutes "ascertain" with "discover", focusing on uncovering information.

intended to find out

Uses "find out" instead of "ascertain", making the phrase more informal.

tasked with determining

Emphasizes the assignment of a duty to determine something.

required to establish

Highlights the formal requirement to establish facts.

obligated to verify

Focuses on the obligation to verify information.

responsible for confirming

Highlights the responsibility of confirming a specific fact.

duty to investigate

Uses the term "duty", highlighting a moral or legal imperative to find out something.

should be finding out

Expresses a recommendation about finding out.

must identify

Highlights a compulsory need to identify specific features or information.

FAQs

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

Use "supposed to ascertain" to indicate an expectation or obligation to find out or determine something. For example, "The investigators are "supposed to ascertain" the cause of the accident."

What are some alternatives to "supposed to ascertain"?

Alternatives include "expected to determine", "meant to discover", or "tasked with determining". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "supposed to ascertain" or "should ascertain"?

"Supposed to ascertain" implies an obligation or expectation, while "should ascertain" suggests a recommendation or advisability. Choose the phrase that best reflects the nature of the requirement or suggestion.

What is the difference between "ascertain" and "determine"?

"Ascertain" implies establishing something with certainty after investigation, while "determine" simply means to decide or conclude. "Ascertain" suggests a more thorough and conclusive process.