ascertaining

Ascertaining is the present participle form of ascertain, meaning to discover or determine with certainty through investigation or examination. It involves establishing the truth, facts, or quality of something rather than guessing.

The word traces to Middle English ascertainen, from Old French acertaindre, from Latin certus meaning "certain." The spelling and sense developed in Early Modern English, and today the verb commonly collocates with facts, identity, eligibility, and causes.

In law, government, journalism, and science, ascertaining describes the process of verifying information and arriving at settled conclusions. The noun ascertainment refers to the act or result of such verification.

Typical methods include collecting relevant data, consulting primary sources, applying criteria or standards, cross-checking with independent evidence, and documenting uncertainties.

Synonyms include determine, verify, establish, and confirm. Ascertaining implies a systematic search for certainty rather than informal guesswork. In statistics, ascertainment can refer to how observations are identified, and to concepts such as ascertainment bias.