Cool MateAs far as we can ascertain vs Discover
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
As far as we can ascertain
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Discover
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most formal: As far as we can ascertainMost common: Discover
| As far as we can ascertain | Discover | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //æz fɑːr əz wiː kæn æsəˈteɪn//🇺🇸 //əz fɑr əz wi kæn əˈsɜrˌteɪn// | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈskʌvə(r)/","/dɪˈskʌvəz/","/dɪˈskʌvəd/","/dɪˈskʌvərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈskʌvər/","/dɪˈskʌvərz/","/dɪˈskʌvərd/","/dɪˈskʌvərɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To find out what is true or correct. | to find out about something for the first time |
| Example | As far as we can ascertain, the meeting will start at 10 AM. | I want to discover new places during my vacation. |
| Register | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | ascertain facts, ascertain information, ascertain the truth | quickly, soon, suddenly, be amazed to, be astonished to, be astounded to, an attempt to discover something, newly discovered, recently discovered, quickly, soon, suddenly, be amazed to, be astonished to, be astounded to, an attempt to discover something, newly discovered, recently discovered, quickly, soon, suddenly, be amazed to, be astonished to, be astounded to, an attempt to discover something, newly discovered, recently discovered, quickly, soon, suddenly, be amazed to, be astonished to, be astounded to, an attempt to discover something, newly discovered, recently discovered |
| Antonyms | - | lose, ignore, overlook |
| Common mistakes | Omitting 'as' or 'can' in the phrase., Using in informal contexts. | Confusing with 'recover' – to discover is to find something new, while to recover is to get back something lost., Using 'discover' interchangeably with 'invent' – discovery means finding something that already exists, while invention is creating something new., Omitting the object when necessary – remember to specify what is being discovered. |
| Usage notes | Use in formal writing or discussions when presenting information that is believed to be accurate but not definitively confirmed. Avoid in casual conversations. | Commonly used in both spoken and written English. Appropriate in academic, professional, and casual contexts, but avoid in overly formal settings where synonyms like 'ascertain' may be preferred. |
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Frequently asked questions: As far as we can ascertain vs Discover
What's the difference between As far as we can ascertain and Discover?
As far as we can ascertain: To find out what is true or correct. Discover: to find out about something for the first time
Which is more formal: As far as we can ascertain and Discover?
As far as we can ascertain is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: As far as we can ascertain and Discover?
Discover is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
As far as we can ascertain: As far as we can ascertain, the meeting will start at 10 AM. Discover: I want to discover new places during my vacation.
Can I use As far as we can ascertain and Discover interchangeably?
Not always. As far as we can ascertain and Discover are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.