to ascertaining whether

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to ascertaining whether" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be "to ascertain whether" for proper grammatical structure. Example: "The committee is dedicated to ascertaining whether the new policy will be effective."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

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

The team's mandate is limited to ascertaining whether chemical weapons were used, not to determine who may have used such substances, the U.N. says.].

Los Angeles Times

In giving his judgment, Lord Justice of Appeal Christopher Rose identified the following factors as relevant to ascertaining whether representative standing should be accorded: The importance of vindicating the rule of law.

Wikipedia

Substantial effort was devoted to ascertaining whether the data in the unpublished literature duplicated any reports that had been previously coded.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

We investigated the representativeness of these US-specific data and adjustments for breast cancer patients in the United Kingdom, with a view to ascertaining whether any differences in these parameters exist between the two countries, and if so whether they could potentially explain the overestimation of outcomes seen here.

British Journal of Cancer

In particular, the use of intraspecific variation and functional analyses in the model species A. thaliana will be crucial to ascertaining whether positive selection or relaxed selection accelerated the evolution of these genes and their relevance in adaptive processes in Cardamine.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It was impossible to ascertain whether the shelling came from the military or the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

The New York Times

We are conducting DNA to ascertain whether it's the one".

The Guardian

I have publicly supported an investigation by the terrorism adviser to ascertain whether it was justified.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I am trying to ascertain whether $150,000 is what is needed," Mr. Jennings said.

The New York Times

In addition investigators want to ascertain whether assets pledged as collateral were manipulated.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "to ascertain whether" instead of "to ascertaining whether". The gerund form is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect in this context.

Common error

Be careful not to use the gerund ( -ing form of a verb) directly after "to" when expressing purpose. "To" should be followed by the base form of the verb: "to ascertain", not "to ascertaining".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to ascertaining whether" is grammatically incorrect and does not function properly in a sentence. According to Ludwig AI, the correct form should be "to ascertain whether".

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to ascertaining whether" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "to ascertain whether", which expresses the purpose of finding something out. Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical error. Alternative phrases such as "to determine whether" or "to find out if" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. It's important to avoid using the gerund form after "to" when expressing purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to ascertain whether

Removes the unnecessary -ing form, correcting the grammar.

in order to ascertain whether

Adds "in order" for emphasis on purpose, making the phrase slightly more formal.

to determine whether

Replaces "ascertain" with the more common synonym "determine."

to check whether

Uses the simpler verb "check" making the phrase less formal.

to find out if

Replaces "ascertain whether" with the more colloquial "find out if."

to investigate whether

Emphasizes a more thorough examination, using "investigate" instead of "ascertain."

with the aim of ascertaining whether

Adds a longer introductory phrase to emphasize the goal of finding out.

for the purpose of ascertaining whether

Similar to the previous one, adding length and formality.

to explore if

Replaces "ascertain" with "explore" suggesting a broader inquiry, and "whether" with "if".

to see if

Uses the simple verb "see", making it the most informal alternative.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "ascertain" with "to"?

The correct form is "to ascertain", not "to ascertaining". The infinitive form of the verb should be used after "to" when expressing purpose.

What can I say instead of "to ascertain whether"?

You can use alternatives like "to determine whether", "to find out if", or "to check whether" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "to ascertaining"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is the infinitive: "to ascertain". Using the gerund form "ascertaining" after "to" is not standard English.

What is the difference between "to ascertain whether" and "ascertaining whether"?

"To ascertain whether" expresses the purpose or intention of finding something out. "Ascertaining whether" (without the "to") can function as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun in a sentence, but it doesn't convey the same sense of purpose.