we were ascertaining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were ascertaining" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the process of finding out or determining information or facts. Example: "During the meeting, we were ascertaining the reasons behind the project's delays."

✓ Grammatically correct

Global Health Action

Forbes

Plosone

Breast Cancer Research

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

BioMed Research International

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Global Health Action

BMC Cancer

Clinical Infectious Diseases

The Guardian

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

International Journal of STEM Education

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Health & Justice

Huffington Post

Plosone

BMC Geriatrics

BMC Women's Health

Critical Care

BMC Health Services Research

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

British Medical Journal

BMC Veterinary Research

Bone and Joint Research

British Journal of Cancer

BMC Health Services Research

British Medical Journal

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

BMJ Open

BMC Anesthesiology

BMC Psychiatry

BMJ Open

British Journal of Cancer

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

BMC Medical Research Methodology

BMC Medical Education

Emerging Infectious Diseases

British Medical Journal

Environmental Health Perspectives

BMJ Quality and Safety

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

BMC Medical Research Methodology

BMC Genomics

BMC Gastroenterology

BMC Cancer

European Journal of Epidemiology

Diabetes Care

British Journal of Cancer

Emerging Infectious Diseases

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In our case, recall bias may have affected our results, as we were ascertaining information regarding a long period of time, and one during which the local and national contexts had changed.

Global Health Action

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But one area we have higher standards is to make sure that we're ascertaining the credibility to the management of these firms.

Forbes

Human SNPs were ascertained in three ways.

Plosone

Treatment outcomes were ascertained for 225 persons.

Plosone

Pedigrees were ascertained through a GD proband.

Plosone

Multiple covariates were ascertained.

Breast Cancer Research

The reason for the disparities we observed cannot be ascertained from our source data, but the adjustment for geographic region, hospital characteristics and insurance status rules out several factors often cited as potential explanations for racial/ethnic disparities [5].

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

For patients who died outside the hospital where date of death could not be ascertained, we used the date of last hospital attendance.

Plosone

If this point of time could not be ascertained, we used the last time when the patient was known to be well.

BioMed Research International

If, during any of these steps, the required information could not be ascertained, we recorded the reason and did not analyse data from that paper.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Even if we were not ascertaining actual behaviour, we can assume that activist young men were less likely to engage in IPV compared to ordinary young men.

Global Health Action

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were ascertaining" when you want to convey a sense of formal investigation or careful determination. It's particularly fitting in academic, scientific, or professional contexts where precision is valued.

Common error

Avoid using "we were ascertaining" in casual conversations or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "we were finding out" or "we were checking" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "we were ascertaining" is to act as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. It describes an action of discovering or establishing something that was in progress at a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were ascertaining" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase, particularly in formal and scientific contexts. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It indicates a process of finding out or determining information, often through investigation. While appropriate in academic and professional settings, simpler alternatives might be preferred in informal communication. Ludwig's analysis reveals that this phrase effectively conveys careful investigation and determination, making it a valuable tool for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were determining

Focuses on the act of deciding something definitively after investigation, indicating a more conclusive outcome than simply finding out.

we were establishing

Implies confirming or proving something to be true, often used when setting a fact or principle.

we were discovering

Suggests a process of finding something new or unexpected, adding an element of surprise.

we were investigating

Emphasizes a systematic or formal inquiry to uncover and examine the details of something.

we were finding out

A more informal way of saying ascertaining, indicating a general process of gaining information.

we were identifying

Highlights the act of recognizing or pointing out specific elements or details.

we were confirming

Indicates verifying or validating something already suspected or hypothesized.

we were verifying

Similar to confirming, but emphasizes checking the accuracy or truth of something.

we were checking

A more casual way to express ascertaining, referring to the act of inspecting or examining something.

we were learning

Suggests acquiring knowledge or skills through study, experience, or being taught.

FAQs

How can I use "we were ascertaining" in a sentence?

You can use "we were ascertaining" to describe the process of discovering or establishing something, as in, "During the investigation, "we were ascertaining" the root cause of the problem."

What are some alternatives to "we were ascertaining"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "we were determining", "we were investigating", or "we were finding out".

In what kind of writing is "we were ascertaining" most appropriate?

"We were ascertaining" is most appropriate in formal writing, such as academic papers, scientific reports, or professional documents, where a precise and somewhat elevated tone is suitable.

Is "we were ascertaining" different from "we ascertained"?

Yes, "we were ascertaining" is the past continuous tense, indicating an ongoing process of finding something out. "We ascertained" is the simple past tense, indicating that the process of finding something out is complete.