to verify whether

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'to verify whether' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to confirm something. For example, "I am using this experiment to verify whether my hypothesis is correct."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It was difficult to verify whether this really was happening.

The Guardian

When using these sites, it makes sense to call to verify whether the cafe still exists.

The New York Times - Travel

Go to WidSets.com to verify whether your phone can accept widgets.

The New York Times - Tech

Reuters said it had not been possible to verify whether the journalist made his confession freely.

The Guardian - Business

It was not possible to verify whether his testimony was made under duress.

The Guardian

The school did an electronic key card check to verify whether she was still on campus.

The New York Times

— Lisa First, check with the scholarship providers to verify whether the scholarships are renewable or not.

The New York Times

Would you bother to verify whether the company actually owned the trees?

The New York Times

If that flagged up key words, the relevant posts were examined to verify whether they are of real concern.

The Guardian

But there is often no way to verify whether a tree was planted, much less whether emissions were reduced.

The New York Times - Science

US officials have been unable to verify whether Shahzad trained to make bombs at a terrorist camp in Pakistan.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to verify whether", ensure that the statement following "whether" presents a clear and testable condition. This helps to focus the verification process and makes the outcome more definitive.

Common error

Avoid using "to verify whether" with statements that are overly broad or subjective. This can lead to inconclusive results and weaken the verification effort. Instead, specify measurable or observable criteria.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to verify whether" serves as an introductory phrase to a subordinate clause, indicating the purpose of an action is to confirm the truth or accuracy of a statement or condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct. Examples show this phrase introducing clauses specifying what needs confirmation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

47%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to verify whether" is a grammatically correct and frequently used construction for introducing a condition or statement that requires confirmation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and it is particularly common in scientific and news contexts, reflecting a neutral to formal register. For more casual communication, alternatives like "to check if" may be more appropriate, but in formal writing, "to verify whether" provides a clear and precise way to express the intent to ascertain the truth.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to ascertain if

Replaces "whether" with "if", maintaining the core meaning of confirming a condition or fact.

to confirm if

Replaces "verify" with "confirm", suggesting a slightly less formal tone but similar intent.

to check if

Uses "check" instead of "verify", offering a more casual alternative to ensure something is true.

to determine if

Emphasizes the act of finding out or establishing a fact through investigation.

to investigate whether

Focuses on the investigative aspect of confirming something.

to examine if

Highlights a careful and detailed inspection to ascertain the truth.

to validate if

Emphasizes the act of proving something is officially correct or acceptable.

to see if

Offers a simple and direct way to express the intent to find out if something is the case.

to test whether

Highlights the act of performing a test to confirm or deny a hypothesis or condition.

to explore if

Indicates a more open-ended inquiry to discover if something is true or exists.

FAQs

How can I use "to verify whether" in a sentence?

Use "to verify whether" to introduce a clause that expresses a condition or fact that needs confirmation. For example, "The scientists conducted experiments to verify whether the new drug was effective".

What is a good alternative to "to verify whether"?

Alternatives include phrases like "to ascertain if", "to check if", or "to determine if", depending on the specific context and level of formality.

Is it better to use "to verify whether" or "to verify if"?

"To verify whether" is generally considered more grammatically correct than "to verify if", especially in formal writing. While "if" is often used interchangeably with "whether" in informal contexts, "whether" is preferred when expressing an alternative or condition.

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

While both phrases aim to establish the truth of something, "to verify whether" often implies a more rigorous or systematic investigation. "to confirm whether" can simply mean to corroborate or affirm something already suspected or believed.