a democracy whose

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a democracy whose" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a democracy that possesses certain characteristics or qualities related to a specific subject. Example: "We strive to build a democracy whose values reflect equality and justice for all citizens."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Israel, in contrast, is a democracy whose enemies buttress their hatred of the Jewish state with racist views about Jews in general.

The New York Times

The first concerns our main ally in the region, Turkey, a NATO member and a democracy whose President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, promised to help the United States in destroying ISIS.

The New Yorker

Can you have a democracy whose constitution enshrines velayat-e faqih [the ultimate rule of a cleric as the viceregent of God], and, if not, to which form of government should Iranians aspire?

The New Yorker

But however deficient the practice, they say, there is no reason in principle why Israel cannot be both a Jewish state and a democracy whose non-Jewish citizens enjoy full civil equality.

The Economist

Yet Colombia, which is a democracy whose violence is fuelled by outsiders' demand for drugs, has a stronger case than most for insisting on its right to strike its own peace deals.Whether or not that right is respected may depend on two things: whether the government can rally public support behind the law and, especially, on its implementation.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The question goes to the very heart of modern Turkey, a Muslim democracy whose military was a potent force in the country's political life for most of its 86-year history.

The New York Times

Tuesday's vigil was organized with help from on-campus activist group STAND (Students For a New Democracy), whose members believe the UM community has a call to support the fight of on-campus workers for fair treatment -- even if, as in the case of Chartwells, they are not directly employed by the university.

Huffington Post

The election upsets the power hierarchy in Turkey, a secular democracy whose citizens are Muslims, by opening up the presidency — an elite secular post that was first occupied by this country's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk — to a new class of reform-minded leaders from Turkey's provinces, for decades considered backward by the elite.

The New York Times

In reality, this controversy is the latest version of a debate that reaches back many decades and is perhaps essential in a heterogeneous democracy whose identity has long been in flux.

The New York Times

The Dominican Republic is a representative democracy whose current constitution was promulgated in 2010.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The more accurate comparison is with the Weimar Republic: a flawed democracy whose failures fuelled the rise of fascism.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a democracy whose", ensure the characteristic following "whose" is a defining or significant aspect of the democracy you are describing.

Common error

Avoid confusing "whose" (possessive) with "who's" (who is). "Whose" indicates ownership or belonging, while "who's" is a contraction. For instance, it's incorrect to write "a democracy who's values are..." when you mean "a democracy whose values are...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a democracy whose" functions as a determiner phrase introducing a relative clause. It modifies the noun "democracy" by specifying an attribute or characteristic belonging to that democracy. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English. For example, "Israel, in contrast, is a democracy whose enemies buttress their hatred..."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a democracy whose" is a grammatically sound and acceptable construct used to describe a democracy with particular characteristics or features. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples from reputable sources. It functions as a determiner phrase that introduces a relative clause, modifying "democracy" to specify an attribute. This phrase finds common use in news and media, encyclopedias and more formal writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the attribute following "whose" is a defining aspect of the democracy in question. While alternatives like "a democracy that has" exist, "a democracy whose" offers a concise and specific way to describe a democracy's inherent qualities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a democracy that has

Replaces "whose" with "that has", turning the relative clause into a standard relative clause.

a democratic state in which

Replaces 'whose' with 'in which', focusing on the state and its internal characteristics.

a democratic nation with

Replaces "whose" with "with", changing the sentence structure to use a prepositional phrase.

a democracy characterized by

Substitutes the relative pronoun with a participial phrase to describe a defining feature.

a democratic system featuring

Alters the structure to emphasize the system and introduces a feature using 'featuring'.

a nation under democratic rule that

Changes the phrasing to 'nation under democratic rule' and uses 'that' to add a characteristic.

a government elected democratically that

Changes the start to talk about 'government' that has been democratically elected and uses 'that' to introduce a new feature.

a society governed democratically and

Shifts focus to 'society' and describes it as 'governed democratically', then uses 'and' to add information.

a country with a democratic government where

Rephrases to emphasize the 'country' aspect and uses 'where' to specify a context or condition.

a free country with democratic principles

Restructures to highlight 'free country' and uses 'with' to introduce 'democratic principles'.

FAQs

How can I use "a democracy whose" in a sentence?

Use "a democracy whose" to describe a democratic country with specific qualities or attributes. For example, "a democracy whose citizens actively participate in elections" describes a democracy characterized by high citizen involvement.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "a democracy whose"?

You can use alternatives like "a democracy that has", "a democracy characterized by", or "a democratic nation with" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a democracy who's" instead of "a democracy whose"?

No, "a democracy who's" is grammatically incorrect. "Whose" indicates possession, while "who's" is a contraction of "who is". The correct phrase is "a democracy whose", indicating a democracy possessing a certain attribute.

What is the difference between "a democracy whose" and "a democracy that"?

"A democracy whose" emphasizes a specific characteristic or attribute inherent to the democracy. "A democracy that" is a more general phrase, often used to introduce a clause providing additional information about the democracy. While similar, "whose" implies a stronger connection or inherent quality.