I think you might mean "determining." Here are some of its synonyms and their analyses:
1. Deciding
- Meaning: To make a choice or judgment about something. For example, "She is deciding which college to attend."
- Usage difference: "Deciding" often implies a more conscious and deliberate process of choosing between options. When you're determining something, it can involve a more objective process of finding out or establishing a fact, while "deciding" is more about making a subjective choice based on various factors such as preferences, values, and priorities.
2. Ascertaining
- Meaning: To find out or learn with certainty. For example, "The detective is ascertaining the facts of the case."
- Usage difference: "Ascertaining" focuses on the process of discovery and verification. It's similar to determining in the sense of trying to figure out a particular piece of information. However, "determining" can have a broader range of meanings, including setting a standard, influencing a result, or making a decision, while "ascertaining" is more about uncovering the truth or the actual state of affairs.
3. Establishing
- Meaning: To set up, found, or prove the existence or truth of something. For example, "They are establishing a new company."
- Usage difference: "Establishing" often implies the creation or validation of something more permanent or significant. When determining a fact, you're trying to figure it out. But when establishing something, you're usually creating a system, a rule, an institution, or proving the validity of a claim. "Determining" can be part of the process of establishing, such as determining the best way to establish a new policy.
4. Settling
- Meaning: To resolve or make a decision about something, often after some discussion or consideration. For example, "They are settling the dispute through mediation."
- Usage difference: "Settling" has a connotation of bringing a matter to an end or reaching a final conclusion. It's more about putting an issue to rest. "Determining" can be a step in the process of settling, but it doesn't always imply the finality that "settling" does. "Determining" might be used to figure out the details or the factors involved in a situation that will then lead to a settlement.
5. Fixing
- Meaning: To set or establish something precisely. For example, "The mechanic is fixing the exact position of the engine part."
- Usage difference: "Fixing" emphasizes the precision and stability of the outcome. It's often used when you're dealing with a specific, tangible thing like a physical object or a specific value. "Determining" can be a more general process that might involve a range of methods and considerations. "Fixing" is more about setting something in a definite position or state, while "determining" can involve investigation, calculation, or decision - making to arrive at a determination.