to ascertain if

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to ascertain if" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is commonly used to express the act of trying to determine or find out something. Example: The detective needed to ascertain if the witness was telling the truth about her whereabouts on the night of the crime.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We have to ascertain if the audience demand is there," said Highfield.

The Guardian

Now is the time to ascertain if there is enough salt.

The New York Times - Health

Thomas Cook said in a statement that it was trying to ascertain if its customers were affected.

The Guardian

("I do and I don't," she snapped, when other guests tried to ascertain if she liked London society women).

The Guardian - Books

Is anyone with better statsguru skills than I able to ascertain if that's a record for a calendar year?

The Guardian - Sport

This study aimed to ascertain if clinical research activity is associated with established organisational outcome measures.

Public Health

Measurements were carried out to ascertain if the outer phase is water continuous or oil continuous.

AAPS Open

The study did not permit to ascertain if these poor interactions have important clinical consequence.

Annals of Intensive Care

Our next objective is to ascertain if it acts similarly in humans," he said.

BBC

Some RetailWire BrainTrust panelists tried to ascertain if the service will align with shopper behavior.

Forbes

A number of different factors were analysed to ascertain if they have an effect on bridge deterioration.

Engineering Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formal reports or academic papers, use "to ascertain if" to convey a sense of thoroughness and precision in your investigation.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "to ascertain if" can sound overly formal in casual conversation or informal writing. Consider using simpler alternatives like "to find out if" or "to see if" for better readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to ascertain if" functions as an infinitive phrase introducing a subordinate clause that expresses the purpose of determining or establishing a particular condition or fact. As supported by Ludwig AI, it sets up a question to be answered through investigation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

69%

News & Media

24%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to ascertain if" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to express the intent to determine or establish something. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for formal contexts, particularly in scientific research and news reporting. While versatile, its formality might make it less appropriate for casual settings. When aiming for clarity and impact, consider alternatives like "to find out if" or "to determine whether". Remember, choosing the right phrase enhances your writing's precision and effectiveness. With a high source quality score of 81 and an expert rating of 4.5, the use of "to ascertain if" is widely accepted, especially within specific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to determine whether

Replaces "ascertain" with the more common "determine" and uses "whether" instead of "if", resulting in a slightly less formal alternative.

to find out if

Offers a simpler, more informal way to express the same idea, replacing "ascertain" with the phrasal verb "find out".

to check whether

Uses the verb "check" to convey a similar meaning of verifying something, and replaces "if" with "whether".

to investigate if

Suggests a more in-depth examination or inquiry, replacing "ascertain" with "investigate".

to verify whether

Focuses on confirming the truth or accuracy of something, using "verify" instead of "ascertain".

to establish if

Emphasizes the act of proving or demonstrating something, offering a slightly more formal tone.

to confirm if

Focuses on validating something already suspected or hypothesized. Slightly more direct than "to ascertain if".

to examine if

Implies a careful and detailed inspection, replacing "ascertain" with "examine".

to learn whether

Highlights the acquisition of knowledge or understanding, using "learn" instead of "ascertain".

to explore if

Suggests an open-ended inquiry or exploration, offering a less definitive tone.

FAQs

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

The phrase "to ascertain if" is used to express the act of discovering or establishing something with certainty. For example: "The purpose of this study is to ascertain if there is a correlation between diet and mental health."

What is a more straightforward alternative to "to ascertain if"?

You can use phrases like "to find out if", "to check if", or "to see if" as simpler alternatives /s/to+find+out+if, /s/to+check+if, /s/to+see+if depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to use "to ascertain if" in formal writing?

While "to ascertain if" is appropriate for formal writing, it is not always necessary. Simpler alternatives may be more suitable depending on the tone and audience. Consider if alternatives like "to determine whether" would better fit your purpose.

What is the difference between "to ascertain if" and "to assume if"?

"To ascertain if" implies a process of investigation or discovery, whereas "to assume if" suggests making a presumption without concrete evidence. They have opposite meanings.