to ascertain between

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to ascertain between" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct expression would typically be "to ascertain" or "to distinguish between." Example: "We need to ascertain the differences between the two proposals before making a decision."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The vertebrate mitochondrial data were unable to ascertain between the selection hypotheses WVH and CAAH, because both hypotheses had the same predictions for the anticodon wobble sites [2], while the fungal mitochondrial data supported WVH in most cases.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

However, it is not yet clear how many reads would be needed to ascertain differences between individuals and between anatomic regions of the same individual.

Plosone

Results were assessed with the Kaplan-Meier method for censored data, and the log-rank test was used to ascertain differences between device groups.

Journal of Vascular Surgery

The cross-sectional design limits the ability to ascertain temporality between hypertension diagnosis and mental health outcomes.

Plosone

Logistic regression models were used to ascertain differences between cases and control or low versus high (≥1000 ng/ml) plasma concentrations of HSP10, HSP60 and BiP.

Plosone

IBS is often used in single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data to ascertain relationship between individuals in the absence of pedigree structure [10].

Plosone

We used MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 TNBC cells to ascertain interaction between Noscapine (sub IC50 concentration) and Doxorubicin using isobolographic method.

Plosone

The study examined the number of reads needed to ascertain differences between samples, the effect of DNA extraction procedures and PCR reproducibility, and differences between biopsies and stools in order to design a large scale systematic analysis of gut microbes.

Plosone

High-throughput sequencing provides a high number of reads at a relatively low cost, but researchers still must decide upon a reasonable number of reads to ascertain associations between samples and to detect rare bacteria.

Plosone

ANOVA was used to ascertain differences between groups.

Diabetes Care

The chi-square statistical test was used to ascertain differences between proportions.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "to ascertain between". Instead, use "to ascertain" when you want to find something out definitively, or "to distinguish between" when you want to highlight the differences between two or more things.

Common error

Don't assume that "ascertain" always needs "between". It's often used alone to mean "find out" or "determine" something. Overusing "between" can make your writing sound awkward and grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to ascertain between" functions as an incorrect infinitive phrase often intended to express the action of determining or distinguishing differences. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, this specific construction is grammatically flawed. The correct usage would be either "to ascertain" or "to distinguish between."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to ascertain between" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this, suggesting the correct forms are either "to ascertain" or "to distinguish between", depending on the intended meaning. While some examples can be found, their limited occurrence suggests that "to ascertain between" should be avoided in favor of grammatically sound alternatives. When intending to express the identification or establishment of a difference, use "distinguish between". When intending to express discovering something with certainty, use "ascertain".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to ascertain differences

Removes "between" for grammatical correctness while retaining the core meaning.

to distinguish between

Focuses on the act of recognizing differences.

to clarify the distinction between

Highlights the act of making the difference more understandable.

to differentiate between

Similar to "distinguish", but emphasizes a more detailed analysis.

to determine the difference between

Replaces "ascertain" with "determine" and clarifies the intention of finding a difference.

to discern the contrast between

Uses "discern" to imply careful observation and "contrast" to highlight differences.

to establish a distinction between

Highlights the creation or recognition of a clear difference.

to identify the variation between

Focuses on pinpointing specific variations.

to determine relationships between

Shifts the focus to understanding how things are connected or related, rather than just their differences.

to investigate the link between

Implies a more in-depth exploration of a connection.

FAQs

What does "ascertain" mean?

"Ascertain" means to find something out for certain, to make sure of something.

Is it correct to say "ascertain between"?

The phrase "ascertain between" is generally considered incorrect. It's better to use "ascertain" by itself or use "distinguish between".

What are some alternatives to "ascertain"?

Alternatives to "ascertain" include "determine", "discover", "find out", and "establish".

How can I use "ascertain" correctly in a sentence?

You can use "ascertain" correctly by saying something like, "We need to ascertain the facts before making a decision".