I think it would be better to rule out first whether the problem is the computer or not.
Is that a correct way to use rule out?
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Sign up to join this communityI think it would be better to rule out first whether the problem is the computer or not.
Is that a correct way to use rule out?
To rule something out means to exclude it, to make sure that it is not possible.
I’d say that it is used incorrectly in your example. You could say:
We don’t know what causes the problem. I think it would be better to rule out the computer first.
Or:
I think it would be better to rule out the possibility that the computer is the problem.
So, basically, you can find out whether something is true, but you don’t rule out whether, you rule out something.