Determain vs. Determine — Which is Correct Spelling?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 3, 2024
Determain is incorrect. The correct spelling is Determine, which means to ascertain or establish after consideration.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Determain or Determine
How to spell Determine?
Determain
Incorrect Spelling
Determine
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Think of the phrase "to term something" as deciding or defining it.
"Determine" contains the word "term," which is definitive.
"Deter" can mean to prevent, and "mine" can mean to excavate; "Determine" is about reaching conclusions.
The word "main" in "Determain" usually signifies primary, but here it's misleading.
Remember the word "mine" in "Determine" which signifies discovery or finding out.
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How Do You Spell Determine Correctly?
Incorrect: It's hard to determain his true intentions.
Correct: It's hard to determine his true intentions.
Incorrect: The tests will help to determain the best course of action.
Correct: The tests will help to determine the best course of action.
Incorrect: We need to determain the cause of the problem.
Correct: We need to determine the cause of the problem.
Incorrect: The jury will determain the defendant's fate.
Correct: The jury will determine the defendant's fate.
Incorrect: Can you determain the total cost of the project?
Correct: Can you determine the total cost of the project?
Determine Definitions
To set limitations or boundaries.
The rules determine the game's outcome.
To establish or ascertain definitely, as after consideration, investigation, or calculation
Determined the easiest way to reach the summit.
To give direction to by making decisions; devise or control
The school board determines educational policy.
To decide or settle (a dispute, for example) conclusively and authoritatively.
To cause (someone) to come to a decision or resolution
"It was the discovery ... of this very project of hers, which determined him to come forward at once, own it all to his uncle" (Jane Austen).
To be the cause of; bring about a result regarding
The genes that determine eye color.
(Mathematics) To fix or define the position, form, or configuration of.
(Logic) To explain or limit by adding differences.
(Archaic) To put an end to legally; terminate under the law.
To reach a decision; resolve
Determined to become a better pilot.
Determined on a course of treatment.
(Archaic) To come to an end through legal means.
To set the boundaries or limits of.
To ascertain definitely; to figure out, find out, or conclude by analyzing, calculating, or investigating.
To fix the form or character of; to shape; to prescribe imperatively; to regulate; to settle.
To fix the course of; to impel and direct; with a remoter object preceded by to.
To bring to a conclusion, as a question or controversy; to settle authoritative or judicial sentence; to decide.
The court has determined the cause.
To resolve (to do something); to establish a fixed intention; to cause (something) to come to a conclusion or decision; to lead.
I determined to go home at once.
(logic) To define or limit by adding a differentia.
To bring to an end; to finish.
To fix the boundaries of; to mark off and separate.
[God] hath determined the times before appointed.
To set bounds to; to fix the determination of; to limit; to bound; to bring to an end; to finish.
The knowledge of men hitherto hath been determined by the view or sight.
Now, where is he that will not stay so longTill his friend sickness hath determined me?
To fix the course of; to impel and direct; - with a remoter object preceded by to; as, another's will determined me to this course.
To ascertain definitely; to find out the specific character or name of; to assign to its true place in a system; as, to determine an unknown or a newly discovered plant or its name.
To bring to a conclusion, as a question or controversy; to settle authoritative or judicial sentence; to decide; as, the court has determined the cause.
To resolve on; to have a fixed intention of; also, to cause to come to a conclusion or decision; to lead; as, this determined him to go immediately.
To define or limit by adding a differentia.
To ascertain the presence, quantity, or amount of; as, to determine the parallax; to determine the salt in sea water.
To come to an end; to end; to terminate.
He who has vented a pernicious doctrine or published an ill book must know that his life determine not together.
Estates may determine on future contingencies.
To come to a decision; to decide; to resolve; - often with on.
He shall pay as the judges determine.
After a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study;
Find the product of two numbers
The physicist who found the elusive particle won the Nobel Prize
Shape or influence; give direction to;
Experience often determines ability
Mold public opinion
Fix conclusively or authoritatively;
Set the rules
Decide upon or fix definitely;
Fix the variables
Specify the parameters
Reach, make, or come to a decision about something;
We finally decided after lengthy deliberations
Fix in scope; fix the boundaries of; the tree determines the border of the property
Settle conclusively; come to terms;
We finally settled the argument
Find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort;
I want to see whether she speaks French
See whether it works
Find out if he speaks Russian
Check whether the train leaves on time
To officially decide something.
The jury will determine the outcome.
To establish or ascertain facts.
Tests determined the cause of the illness.
To cause something to occur in a particular way.
Genetics determine our physical traits.
To come to a decision or resolution.
She determined to succeed.
Determine Meaning in a Sentence
The scientists worked to determine the effects of the new drug.
The study aims to determine how the climate has changed over centuries.
The doctors are trying to determine the cause of her symptoms.
Can you determine the source of this error in the code?
They used a compass to determine their direction in the wilderness.
Your grades will help determine which college you can attend.
We will need more information to determine the best strategy.
Factors such as experience and education determine salary levels.
It's difficult to determine the outcome of the election at this early stage.
Engineers determine the structural integrity of buildings.
Surveys are used to determine public opinion on various issues.
The team will determine the feasibility of the proposed project.
A jury will determine the verdict in the trial.
The board will determine how to allocate the funds.
It's your actions that determine your success.
Market research can determine a product's potential success.
The meeting will determine the future of the company.
The app can determine your location using GPS.
The experiment was designed to determine if the hypothesis was correct.
Judges determine the penalties for each convicted individual.
Analysts try to determine the impact of new policies on the economy.
The investigation will determine who is at fault for the accident.
Taste tests are conducted to determine consumer preferences.
The test results will determine the next steps in his treatment.
Tests will determine if the water is safe to drink.
Determine Idioms & Phrases
Determine the course of
To decide the direction or outcome of something.
His decision will determine the course of the company's future.
Determine the truth of
To verify or establish the veracity of something.
The investigation aims to determine the truth of the allegations.
Determine the fate of
To decide the outcome or future condition of someone or something.
The vote will determine the fate of the new community center.
Common Curiosities
What is the pronunciation of Determine?
Determine is pronounced as /dɪˈtɜːr.mɪn/.
What is the plural form of Determine?
"Determine" being a verb, doesn't have a plural form like nouns.
What is the root word of Determine?
The root word is the Latin "determinare."
Which vowel is used before Determine?
The choice of vowel before "determine" depends on context.
Is Determine an adverb?
No, "determine" is not an adverb.
Which conjunction is used with Determine?
Any conjunction can be used based on its position in a sentence.
Is Determine a negative or positive word?
Neutral; context can give it positive or negative connotations.
What is the verb form of Determine?
The verb form is "determine."
Why is it called Determine?
It's derived from Latin "determinare," meaning to limit or set boundaries.
Is Determine a noun or adjective?
"Determine" is primarily a verb.
Is the Determine term a metaphor?
Not inherently, but could be used metaphorically.
Which preposition is used with Determine?
"By" and "to" are commonly used with "determine," depending on the context.
Is Determine an abstract noun?
No, it's a verb.
Is Determine a vowel or consonant?
"Determine" is a word consisting of both vowels and consonants.
Is Determine a collective noun?
No, "determine" is not a noun.
What is the opposite of Determine?
The opposite could be "doubt" or "waver."
What is the singular form of Determine?
"Determine" is a verb and doesn't have a singular form in the same way nouns do.
Is Determine a countable noun?
"Determine" is not a noun.
Is the word “Determine” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Determine" is a verb and can have a direct object, depending on its use in a sentence.
What is another term for Determine?
Another term is "ascertain" or "decide."
Is the word Determine imperative?
It can be, as in "Determine the truth."
What part of speech is Determine?
"Determine" is a verb.
Which determiner is used with Determine?
Determiners like "this," "that," or "every" can be used with the noun associated with the action of "determine."
What is the second form of Determine?
The second form is "determined."
What is the third form of Determine?
The third form is "determined."
How is Determine used in a sentence?
"Scientists are working to determine the cause of the phenomenon."
How many syllables are in Determine?
"Determine" has three syllables.
What is a stressed syllable in Determine?
The second syllable, "ter," is stressed.
Which article is used with Determine?
"The" or "a" can be used before the noun associated with the action of "determine."
Is the word Determine a gerund?
No, "determining" is its gerund form.
How do we divide Determine into syllables?
It's divided as de-ter-mine.
What is the first form of Determine?
The base form is "determine."
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
