was not ascertained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not ascertained" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where information or a fact has not been determined or confirmed. Example: "The cause of the incident was not ascertained during the initial investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But, as we have stated, the amount of royalties plaintiff would have realized was not ascertained with adequate certainty[34 N.Y.2d 385] and, as a consequence, plaintiff may recover nominal damages only.

Harvard University

It was first supposed, by those who examined the body, that some artificial means had been employed to protect it from putrefaction, but, on enquiry, it was not ascertained that this was the case.

The New York Times

It was not ascertained that China and Cathay were the same place until the Spanish Augustinian friar Marin de Rade, in 1575, and the Jesuit Matteo Ricci, in 1607, recorded the fact when they proved that China could be reached by following Marco Polo's land route across Central Asia.

Britannica

So far Friday, Moscow has rejected direct talks with Ukraine mediated by the West, a notion that Putin's spokesman said "makes us smile"; and blocked international observers from entering Crimea with troops whose specific affiliation was not ascertained but who in any case were definitely not withdrawn to bases.

The Guardian

However, causal relation of headache aggravation after sumatriptan spray was not ascertained in that study.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

However, the genetic basis of quantitative resistance to insect pests was not ascertained due to complex inheritance of the trait and limitations of conventional genetic tools.

Rice

In subsequent rounds, whether drivers ever planned on resuming driving if they had not driven in the previous year was not ascertained.

Injury Epidemiology

Ambulatory status for excluded patients was not ascertained, but assuming that all the sedated patients were non-ambulatory, inclusion of this cohort might change the odds ratio and this association.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

It is emphasized that the above estimates of savings are based on the infrastructure improvements which brought significant accident reductions, compared to comparison-groups, but do not include accident changes on the remainder of the sites treated for which the treatment effect was not ascertained.

European Transport Research Review

Furthermore, it is important to know that Cox models with time-dependent covariates might also be biased if the proportional hazard assumption was not ascertained [45] and also because ICU discharge is an informative censor and modifies the risk of mortality and morbidity events [46].

Annals of Intensive Care

The proportion of eligible patients referred to ART clinics was not ascertained.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was not ascertained" when you want to convey that something could not be definitively determined or established through investigation or analysis. It's particularly useful in formal and scientific writing where precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "was not ascertained" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "was not found out" or "was not known" are more appropriate for less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "was not ascertained" is that of a passive verb phrase. It indicates that the subject of the sentence had something done to it – in this case, the process of ascertaining (finding something out) was not completed. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

64%

News & Media

7%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was not ascertained" is a grammatically sound and formal way to indicate that something could not be definitively determined or established. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is most appropriate for formal and scientific contexts, as demonstrated by its frequent usage in scientific publications and academic papers. While technically correct, remember to evaluate if other less formal synonyms are more appropriate for some situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was not determined

Replaces "ascertained" with the more common and direct synonym "determined".

was not established

Focuses on the lack of establishment or confirmation.

was not confirmed

Highlights that the information or fact lacked verification.

was not identified

Emphasizes that the subject in question remained unidentified.

was not discovered

Highlights that the fact or information remained unknown.

remained unknown

Directly states the state of being unknown.

could not be verified

Focuses on the inability to verify the information.

could not be established

Highlights the failure to establish a fact or detail.

was left unresolved

Emphasizes that the issue or question remained unresolved.

was not figured out

Uses a more informal way to express the inability to understand or determine something.

FAQs

What does "was not ascertained" mean?

The phrase "was not ascertained" means that something could not be definitely determined or established after investigation or analysis. It implies a lack of certainty or concrete information.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "was not ascertained"?

It's appropriate to use "was not ascertained" in formal writing, especially in scientific, academic, or legal contexts where precise language is important. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives may be more suitable.

What are some alternatives to "was not ascertained"?

Alternatives include phrases like "was not determined", "was not established", "was not confirmed", or "remained unknown", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "was not ascertained" formal?

Yes, "was not ascertained" is considered a formal phrase. It is best used in contexts where precise and sophisticated language is expected. Using it in very informal contexts might sound unnatural.