to ascertaining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to ascertaining" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be used in contexts where you are referring to the act of determining or finding out something, but it needs to be rephrased for grammatical accuracy. Example: "The committee is committed to ascertaining the facts before making a decision."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Only one question was devoted to ascertaining my "problem".

The New York Times - Magazine

He himself had instituted some experiments, mainly with a view to ascertaining preliminary data.

The Guardian

New research explores the value of financial and market data to ascertaining the likelihood of bankruptcy.

Stanford University

Proxy measures of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity (skin conductance) were utilised to ascertaining neurophysiological response.

Manual Therapy

"Different fact patterns will inevitably call for differing approaches to ascertaining the fairest method" for determining losses, the ruling noted.

The New York Times

When it comes to ascertaining whether it is justified, one major question comes to the fore: will it work to make us safer?

The Guardian - Opinion

For its part, in addition to ascertaining what actually took place, Congress may also need to consider new legal protections for consumers' privacy.

The New York Times

A correct assessment of the hand in which it was written is vital to ascertaining the provenance and authenticity of a document.

Britannica

This work provides a benchmark in relation to ascertaining the mechanical properties of chiral and non-chiral single-walled carbon nanotubes by nanoscale continuum models.

Composites Part B: Engineering

The formation of a plate shaped ω phase in Zr Nb alloy after shock deformation has been studied with a view to ascertaining the nature of this transformation.

Acta Materialia

Simulation of aftershock accelerograms is crucial to ascertaining structural safety against the additional cumulative damage during the aftershocks that would follow an anticipated main shock.

Engineering Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, replace "to ascertaining" with more direct verbs like "to determine", "to establish", or "to discover" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid relying heavily on "to ascertaining" in formal contexts; it can sound redundant. Instead, diversify your language by using stronger verbs or rephrasing the sentence for better impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to ascertaining" functions as part of an infinitive phrase, typically expressing purpose or intention. However, as Ludwig AI explains, it's generally grammatically questionable and should be carefully considered or replaced with a more appropriate construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

24%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "to ascertaining" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically incorrect. Its intended function is to express purpose, often in formal or scientific writing. Despite its common occurrence, it's advisable to use more direct and grammatically sound alternatives like "to determine", "to establish", or "to discover". This ensures clarity and avoids potential grammatical errors. Understanding the contexts where it's used can help writers make informed decisions about its appropriateness, balancing common usage with grammatical precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to determine

Direct synonym, focusing on the act of firmly deciding or finding out something.

to establish

Emphasizes setting something firmly or proving it definitively.

to discover

Focuses on finding something previously unknown.

to find out

A more informal way of saying to determine or discover.

to verify

Highlights checking or confirming the truth or accuracy of something.

to confirm

Similar to verify, but often implies strengthening a previous belief.

to learn

Focuses on gaining knowledge or understanding.

to identify

Highlights recognizing or establishing what something is.

for ascertaining

Using the preposition "for" instead of "to" often provides a grammatically more sound alternative.

in order to ascertain

Expresses the purpose with a more formal and grammatically standard construction.

FAQs

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

Use "to ascertain" followed by the object of your investigation. For example, "The goal is "to ascertain" the cause of the problem".

What are some alternatives to "to ascertaining"?

You can use alternatives like "to determine", "to establish", or "to discover" depending on the context.

Is "to ascertaining" grammatically correct?

While frequently used, "to ascertaining" is not considered grammatically sound. The correct form would often involve using "to ascertain" followed by the object of investigation or rephrasing for clarity.

When should I use "to ascertain" instead of "to assume"?

"To ascertain" implies a process of finding something out definitively, whereas "to assume" means accepting something as true without proof. Use "to ascertain" when you need to establish facts, and "to assume" when you're making a supposition.