to establish whether

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to establish whether" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used when talking about determining or confirming something. Example: "The purpose of the experiment was to establish whether the new drug was effective in treating the disease."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She is trying to establish whether it will work.

The Guardian

We need to establish whether or not they can add games".

The Guardian - Sport

He has commissioned research in an attempt to establish whether this is correct.

The Guardian

Investigators are trying to establish whether President Fujimori, who ordered the raid, also ordered the executions.

The New York Times

"Officers are assessing the information provided to them to establish whether any offence has been committed".

The Guardian

To establish whether he's a man out of time, or a timeless visionary.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

'Further forensic tests are being carried out to establish whether she was sexually assaulted.

The Guardian

Further attempts will be made today to establish whether the objects sighted are related to MH370.

The Guardian

But at last Pronovost had a chance to establish whether his checklist idea really worked.

The New Yorker

She said a review into the breach needs to establish whether it was avoidable.

The Guardian - Business

The parliamentary report failed, however, to establish whether any prisoners had been held at the sites.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to establish whether", ensure that the sentence clearly outlines the criteria or conditions being evaluated. This provides clarity and context for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "to establish whether" in overly complex sentences where the subject of the inquiry is unclear. Simplify the sentence structure to ensure the purpose of the inquiry is easily understood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to establish whether" functions as an introductory phrase indicating the purpose of an inquiry or investigation. It sets the stage for determining the truth or validity of a particular condition or fact. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of the phrase being grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

36%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to establish whether" is a grammatically correct and very common construction used to introduce an investigation or inquiry aimed at determining the truth or validity of a condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's typically used when seeking to confirm something. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Science, making it suitable for various contexts, from formal reports to general news. When using "to establish whether", ensure clarity in the sentence to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases include "to ascertain if" and "to determine if". Its widespread use across authoritative sources solidifies its position as a reliable and versatile phrase in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to ascertain if

Uses "ascertain" instead of "establish", implying a more formal investigation. Replaces "whether" with "if".

to determine if

Employs "determine" as a substitute for "establish", suggesting a more decisive finding. Replaces "whether" with "if".

to investigate whether

Replaces "establish" with "investigate", focusing on the process of inquiry. Retains "whether" for a binary outcome.

to examine if

Uses "examine" in place of "establish", indicating a detailed inspection. Swaps "whether" with "if".

to check whether

Substitutes "establish" with "check", implying a simpler verification process. Keeps "whether" for the condition.

to verify if

Replaces "establish" with "verify", suggesting an effort to confirm accuracy. Changes "whether" to "if".

to find out if

Uses the phrasal verb "find out" instead of "establish", indicating a discovery process. Replaces "whether" with "if".

to confirm whether

Employs "confirm" as a replacement for "establish", implying a need for validation. Retains "whether" to present the condition.

to explore if

Replaces "establish" with "explore", focusing on an open-ended investigation. Changes "whether" to "if".

to assess whether

Substitutes "establish" with "assess", indicating an evaluation process. Keeps "whether" to present the condition.

FAQs

How to use "to establish whether" in a sentence?

Use "to establish whether" to introduce a question or investigation aimed at determining if a particular condition is true. For example, "The study aimed to establish whether there was a correlation between diet and disease".

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

You can use alternatives like "to ascertain if", "to determine if", or "to investigate whether" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "to establish whether" or "to establish if"?

"To establish whether" and "to establish if" are often interchangeable, but "whether" is generally preferred when presenting two or more alternatives, whereas "if" introduces a condition. For example, "to establish whether A or B is true" vs "to establish if A is true".

What's the difference between "to establish whether" and "to confirm whether"?

"To establish whether" implies an initial investigation or determination, while "to confirm whether" suggests verifying something already suspected or partially known. For example, you might "establish whether" a new hypothesis is valid, but "confirm whether" an existing finding is accurate.