while ascertaining

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "while ascertaining" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an action that occurs simultaneously with the process of determining or finding out information. Example: "The team conducted interviews while ascertaining the needs of the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Why not commit to the young players and try to hasten their development while ascertaining what the future holds?

The New York Times

"The committee recommend that any initial MRT [mitochondrial replacement therapy] clinical investigations focus on minimising the future child's exposure to risk while ascertaining the safety and efficacy of the techniques," the report says.

Independent

The researchers also found, while ascertaining mozzarella's special status, that using software to quantify the degree of blistering worked very well – something for pizza manufacturers to keep in mind in their continuing quest to improve their creations.

BBC

It reflects concepts of generosity, while ascertaining values of goodness and justice.

Huffington Post

And, I still help with homework, struggle to attend school activities and experience angst while ascertaining whether or not this week's fever merits a visit to the doctor -- or if we just tough it out one more time.

Huffington Post

To avoid lack of specificity while ascertaining ANVUGIB events from outpatient claims, we defined a single ANVUGIB event based on the presence of two outpatient claims within a 7-day time period.

BMC Nephrology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

It takes a while to ascertain that the plot of Purity revolves around Andreas and Tom.

The Guardian - Books

It will also take a while to ascertain the extent of the damage inflicted on the Islamists.

Independent

While inference ascertains its object by itself, perception is unable to do so, because ascertainment a conceptual operation, equivalent to the elimination of opposite superimpositions is incompatible with its being "devoid of conceptualization".

SEP

The senior Democrat was vexed by the sale of a Sept. 11 photo of President George W. Bush on Air Force One, being whisked around the U.S. at high altitudes while officials ascertained whether the ghastly attacks might not also include an assassination attempt.

Forbes

While step one involved ascertaining the knowledge of biogas technology in attendees at the science events, step two entailed a practical demonstration of how the technology works.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "while ascertaining", ensure the actions described are truly simultaneous. The phrase implies that the process of determining or establishing something occurs concurrently with another action.

Common error

Avoid using "while ascertaining" if the act of ascertaining is completed before the other action begins. This phrase is meant for actions happening at the same time, not one after the other. Use "after ascertaining" or "once it was ascertained" instead when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while ascertaining" functions as a conjunction phrase, connecting two clauses where one action (ascertaining) happens simultaneously with another. As evidenced by Ludwig, it often introduces a clause describing an ongoing investigation or determination.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "while ascertaining" is a grammatically sound and useful conjunction phrase that indicates two actions occurring simultaneously, primarily in science, news, and formal business contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples. When writing, remember that it's vital to ensure actions truly occur at the same time. If the ascertaining happens before another action, consider using "after ascertaining" instead. While alternatives like "simultaneously determining" or "ascertaining during" can be used, "while ascertaining" is clear and appropriate when simultaneity is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simultaneously determining

This version replaces "while" with "simultaneously" and uses a gerund.

at the same time discovering

This emphasizes the temporal aspect of discovering information.

ascertaining during

This alternative places "ascertaining" as the primary action, with "during" specifying the timeframe.

while verifying

This alternative uses "verifying" which is close in meaning, but implies confirming something already suspected.

concurrently establishing

This substitutes "ascertaining" with "establishing" for a slightly different nuance.

in the process of determining

This alternative uses a more descriptive and formal way to describe "ascertaining".

whilst establishing

This is a formal and slightly archaic variation using "whilst".

during the determination of

This alternative uses nominalization and a prepositional phrase.

during verification of

This focuses on the verification aspect and uses a prepositional phrase.

as you establish

This alternative transforms the phrase into an imperative mood, suggesting direct action.

FAQs

How do I use "while ascertaining" in a sentence?

Use "while ascertaining" to describe two actions happening at the same time, where one action involves finding something out. For example: "The team conducted interviews "while ascertaining" the needs of the community".

What can I say instead of "while ascertaining"?

You can use alternatives like "simultaneously determining", "during the determination of", or "ascertaining during" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "while ascertaining" or "during ascertaining"?

"While ascertaining" is generally preferred because it is more common and natural-sounding. "During ascertaining" is grammatically correct, but it is less frequently used. Consider rewriting to "ascertaining during" for better flow.

What's the difference between "while ascertaining" and "after ascertaining"?

"While ascertaining" implies that the process of finding something out happens at the same time as something else. "After ascertaining" implies that the finding-out happens first, and then something else happens as a result or consequence.