try to determine

USAGE SUMMARY

"try to determine" is a grammatically correct phrase that is commonly used in written English.
It is used to indicate that someone is attempting to figure out or find an answer to something. You can use it in various contexts, such as: 1. The detective tried to determine the cause of death by examining the victim's body. 2. The scientist is conducting experiments to try to determine the best course of treatment for the disease. 3. She read through the contract carefully, trying to determine any hidden fees or clauses. 4. The teacher asked the students to try to determine the author's purpose in writing the poem. 5. We will need to do some more research to try to determine the most cost-effective solution for our business.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In addition, try to determine what you want and need.

The New York Times

Try to determine if the channel has an IRC bot.

University of California, Berkeley

Then they try to determine what caused the prices to fall.

The New York Times

Stanley conducted "consumer permission research" to try to determine where the Stanley brand could go.

The New York Times - Magazine

Then they would try to determine how much each school district should be able to pay.

The New York Times

Her next goal, she added, "is to try to determine what gives the clock this stability".

The New York Times - Science

Then we go downstairs and try to determine where the water is coming from".

The New York Times

They try to determine whether the companies can continue their good historical growth.

The New York Times

The judge will try to determine whether such an attack in an N.H.L. game constitutes assault.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Terry said the ethics panel would first try to determine its course of action.

The New York Times

It's a tough thing to try to determine: if he's 85percentt, what is that?

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "try to determine" in formal writing, ensure that the context clearly indicates the method or criteria being used in the determination process. This adds clarity and credibility to your statement.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "try to determine" in formal reports or academic papers. Alternatives like "ascertain", "establish", or "discern" can enhance the sophistication and precision of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "try to determine" functions as an infinitive phrase, typically serving as part of a verb phrase. It expresses an attempt or effort to find out, establish, or ascertain something. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates someone is attempting to figure out or find an answer to something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "try to determine" is a frequently used and grammatically sound phrase that indicates an attempt to find something out. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate in many contexts, though more formal alternatives like "ascertain" or "discern" may be preferred in academic or professional settings. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media, science and wiki sources. Keep in mind that clearly articulating the methods used in the determination process can enhance the credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempt to ascertain

Replaces "try" with "attempt" and "determine" with "ascertain", suggesting a more formal and methodical approach to finding something out.

seek to establish

Emphasizes the goal of establishing something as a fact or truth, rather than simply finding something out.

endeavor to discover

Uses "endeavor" to convey a serious effort and "discover" to highlight the act of finding something new or previously unknown.

aim to identify

Focuses on the objective of pinpointing or recognizing a specific item or piece of information.

strive to discern

Implies a significant effort to perceive or understand something that is not immediately obvious.

work to figure out

Is more casual and suggests a problem-solving approach to understanding something.

make an effort to find out

Highlights the exertion of effort in the process of obtaining information.

look to investigate

Emphasizes the process of systematic or formal inquiry to discover and examine the facts of an incident, allegation, etc. so as to establish the truth.

set out to prove

Suggests a deliberate intention to demonstrate the truth or existence of something, often in a formal or argumentative context.

try to resolve

Focuses on finding a solution to a problem or dispute, by seeking an explanation for it.

FAQs

How can I use "try to determine" in a sentence?

You can use "try to determine" when expressing an effort to find out or establish something. For example, "The researchers will try to determine the cause of the disease".

What are some alternatives to "try to determine"?

Alternatives include "attempt to ascertain", "seek to establish", or "endeavor to discover", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "try to determine" suitable for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "try to determine" can sometimes sound less formal. In academic or professional contexts, consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "ascertain" or "discern".

What's the difference between "try to determine" and "try to identify"?

"Try to determine" implies a broader effort to find out or establish something, while "try to identify" suggests focusing on pinpointing or recognizing a specific element or factor. Both are very similar, but "try to identify" is more specific.