to ascertain as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to ascertain as" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not commonly used and may lead to confusion in communication. Example: "The goal of the research is to ascertain as the effectiveness of the new treatment."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

It is key for you to ascertain as much as possible about any existing products and domain in terms of functionality, competitors, and customers, so you do not duplicate work or spend time generating knowledge that already exists.

Understanding your Users A Practical Guide to User Research Methods

The point at which terrorist sympathies pose a specific enough threat to merit imprisonment may be as hard to ascertain as the proper limit of that controversial power.

The Economist

In Uzbekistan, the Army failed to ascertain, as regulations require, whether its own units, which handled logistics there for the first six months, were available to work when it brought in the contractor, according to Army spokesmen.

The New York Times

The total amount of extractives is difficult to ascertain as it requires sequential extractions with various solvents (Tappi [1988]).

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science

The aetiology of this pseudoaneurysm is difficult to ascertain as the anatomical location of the aneurysm may suggest arterial injury at the time of the osteotomy, but the ultrasound appearances suggested a neck related to a wire site.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

Style also made the topic subject of the sentence difficult to ascertain, as when the head noun or object was omitted whenever context made it even slightly clear who or what it was.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Other data were to be ascertained as well, such as number of inhabitants in the region to be evaluated, travel costs and the opportunity costs of time spent by visiting a forest and traveling.

Ecological Processes

Early studies relied on questionnaires to ascertain exposure as well as symptoms, making it difficult to exclude responder bias as the explanation for the associations that were found (Duhme et al. 1996; Weiland et al. 1994).

Environmental Health Perspectives

Each of these variables was at first analysed through simple logistic regression to ascertain significance as well as to discriminate categories related to risk from those related to protection.

BMC Psychiatry

The patient type is an analytical construct that allows us to ascertain similarities as well as deviations in typical course of conduct or, in the case of diabetes self-care, typical self-care coping strategies by patient type [ 23].

BMC Endocrine Disorders

Semi-structures household interviews were conducted with various stakeholder groups to identify what tree products are used, to ascertain amounts used as well as to gauge perceptions of natural resource use between different tree species and use over time.

Forest Ecosystems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "to ascertain as" in your writing. It is grammatically incorrect and can confuse readers. Instead, use alternatives like "to ascertain whether", "to determine", or "to find out".

Common error

The word "as" is often incorrectly added after "ascertain", creating a redundant or ungrammatical construction. Avoid this by using "ascertain" followed by a "whether" clause or directly followed by the object of your inquiry. For example, prefer "ascertain whether" over "ascertain as".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to ascertain as" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Its intended function is to express the act of finding something out for certain, but the inclusion of "as" creates an ungrammatical structure. As indicated by Ludwig, it is not considered correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to ascertain as" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig confirms this assessment. While the intent is to convey the idea of discovering or confirming information, the ungrammatical structure undermines its effectiveness. It is better to use alternatives such as "to ascertain whether", "to determine", or "to find out". The register would typically be formal given the word "ascertain", but the incorrect grammar detracts from this. Therefore, it is crucial to avoid using this phrase to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to ascertain whether

Maintain the meaning of "ascertain" while introducing a conditional clause.

to find out whether

Highlights the process of gaining information, often implying a more active search.

to determine whether

Focuses on establishing a yes/no answer through investigation, specifying a condition.

to verify if

Emphasizes checking the truth or accuracy of something, highlighting a validation process.

to confirm that

Stresses the action of establishing certainty or validity, presenting a result of confirmation.

to discover if

Emphasize the act of finding something previously unknown, inquire about a condition.

to establish whether

Highlights setting up a condition or fact, with a focus on creating certainty.

to investigate if

Involves a more thorough examination for the purpose of uncovering facts, focusing on a specific condition.

to check whether

Implies a quick verification to ensure something meets a requirement, specifying a circumstance.

to figure out if

Stresses problem-solving and finding a solution or an answer to a question, also inquire about a condition.

FAQs

What does "ascertain" mean, and how should I use it correctly?

"Ascertain" means to find something out for certain or to make sure of something. It is often followed by a "whether" clause or a direct object. For example, "to ascertain whether" or "to ascertain the facts" are correct usages.

What are some alternatives to "to ascertain as" that I can use in my writing?

Instead of "to ascertain as", consider using alternatives such as "to determine whether", "to find out whether", or simply "to ascertain whether". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it ever correct to use "as" after "ascertain"?

No, it is not generally correct to use "as" directly after "ascertain" in standard English. The phrase "to ascertain as" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. Instead, use constructions like "ascertain whether" or rephrase the sentence to use alternatives.

How can I ensure that I'm using "ascertain" correctly in my sentences?

To use "ascertain" correctly, focus on following it with a "whether" clause or a direct object. For example, "The detective tried "to ascertain whether" the suspect was lying" or "The researcher wanted "to ascertain the truth"." Avoid using "as" directly after "ascertain".