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Sometimes, when I am engaging a conversation with somebody and I want to make sure a statement is correct, I would (almost always) say

So ...(a statement based on what the other person just said)..., right/is it correct?

Are there any other ways to phrase this sentence? I personally find that native speakers seldom use this sentence.

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  • I'd encourage you to edit this question and add a few examples to give us a better idea of what kind of statements you are talking about. There are many kinds of assertions ranging from scientific facts to matters of opinion. Consider, for example, "The only even prime number is 2," or, "We are meeting at the restaurant at 6PM," or, "Michael Jordan was he greatest basketball player of all time." I might look to verify those in slightly different ways.
    – J.R. ♦
    Nov 15, 2016 at 21:20
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    Adding "...right?" at the end of a sentence is kind of a meaningless filler word that doesn't really ask for confirmation. Some people even use it like "So I was walking down the street, right? And I see my old friend Tom, right?" Saying "__ ____ ____, is it correct?" sounds very non-fluent because that's not how you make a question in English. I would suggest something like, "If I understand correctly, ____ ____ ____. Is that correct?"
    – stangdon
    Nov 15, 2016 at 22:07
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    @stangdon Hmmm, well... I think the "filler" status of right? is very much context-dependent. See e.g. "So, in a right triangle, the square on the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares on the other two sides, right?" or "We're leaving at eight o'clock, right?" In both of those, right is an unequivocal request for confirmation. I think right? is the most idiomatic of ways to express what Nicholas wants here. (Don't know why he would think that native speakers "seldom use this sentence". I hear it more than any other in this situation.)
    – P. E. Dant Reinstate Monica
    Nov 16, 2016 at 1:16
  • Oh really? Then maybe because native speakers seldom misunderstand others and need to ensure something, I [email protected]
    – Nicholas
    Nov 16, 2016 at 14:01

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First of all, it's ensure something is right (not assure). To assure means "to dispel doubts", while "ensure" means "to make certain".

Since it's not entirely clear what you are trying to say, here are some examples of both:

How can I assure you that (some statement) is correct?

How do I ensure that (some statement) is correct?

I want to assure you that (some statement) is correct?

I need to ensure that (some statement) is correct.

If this is confusing, remember you assure some person(s), and ensure some process or action.

Then of course there's "to insure" -- but you should probably just read this: Assure vs. Ensure vs. Insure

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  • Thanks, Andrew. I think the word I'd like to use is ensure, not assure. Now for instance, if one would like to know how rent is paid, whether monthly/annually (let's say I am negotiating with a subleaser), should one say "A: How do I ensure that the rent is paid monthly? B: Yes, it's collected monthly."
    – Nicholas
    Nov 15, 2016 at 20:40
  • It seems strange to me since I think it's a yes-or-no question, but the question, as you sugested goes with word How.
    – Nicholas
    Nov 15, 2016 at 20:42
  • @Nicholas yes that's exactly right. "How do I ensure the rent is due monthly?" If it's yes/no then it would be "Can I ensure that the rent is due monthly?" or some similar question.
    – Andrew
    Nov 15, 2016 at 20:49
  • Okay, if one asks "Can I ensure that the rent is due monthly?", I can reply "Yes, it is." or "No, it's due annually." But how would one reply "How do I ensure the rent is due monthly?"? BTW, due is literally more idiomatic to me than the passive structure "is paid" I used:)
    – Nicholas
    Nov 15, 2016 at 20:59
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    @Nicholas - I wouldn't use ensure, I would use know or find out. "How can I know if the rent is due monthly?"
    – J.R. ♦
    Nov 15, 2016 at 21:21

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