a field by which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a field by which" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific area or domain through which something is achieved or understood. Example: "The research focuses on a field by which we can better understand climate change impacts."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

How does science represent a field by which someone without a "privileged background" can succeed?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

At minimum, there has been a level playing field by which to base their investments.

Huffington Post

All told, the two campaigns are shortening the field by which either candidate could pick up votes.

Huffington Post

Jan van Tienen: I carried a dead hare across a field by its hind legs, which were covered in its own urine.

Vice

It would be interesting to know what steps are being taken to encourage investment, in which fields, by which organizations.

University of California, Berkeley

Finally, and probably most fundamentally, the court posed this question: "Has not the time come to recognise that defamation is no longer a field in which trial by jury is desirable?

The Guardian

The IWTH025 station, which is a KiK-net and Hi-net station (latitude 39.00923° N, longitude 140.86363° E, height 386 m; the location was confirmed by a field survey), which is called Ichinoseki-Nishi, and it is located very close to the epicenter of the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku earthquake (2.3 km south-southwest of the epicenter, Figure 2a).

Earth, Planets and Space

Most clients of Dow Jones Newswires are financial professionals who need business news as fast as possible, presented in the easiest form to understand — a field in which being first by a few seconds can be significant.

The New York Times

The system renders three major advantages: with product modeling, engineers' tasks can be focused on product design and not on design drawing; being integrated with an AI technology, the system sets up a design environment with field knowledge by which design efficiency can be improved significantly; and a new frame-rule structure for knowledge processing has been incorporated into the system.

Journal of Materials Processing Technology

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a near-field mechanism by which energy is transferred from a donor fluorophore to an adjacent chromophore via nonradiative dipole-dipole interactions [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6].

Plosone

The front façade faces the hospital, the back looks onto a field, from which it is separated by the gray hospital fence topped with nails.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a field by which" when specifically referring to an area of study or activity that facilitates a particular outcome or understanding. Ensure the context clearly establishes this relationship.

Common error

Avoid using "a field by which" when simpler alternatives like "in which" or "where" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

"A field by which" functions as a relative clause introducing a modifier that specifies the means or method facilitated by the described field. This construction serves to elaborate on the characteristics of the field being discussed. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a field by which" is a grammatically correct relative clause that emphasizes the instrumental role of a specific field in achieving particular outcomes or enabling certain processes. While grammatically sound and usable, as Ludwig AI confirms, its frequency is rare. Alternative phrases like "an area in which" are generally more common and simpler. It is most suited for formal and scientific contexts where precision and detail are valued. The phrase appeared in authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an area in which

Replaces 'by which' with a more common prepositional phrase.

a domain where

Substitutes 'field' with 'domain' and 'by which' with 'where'.

a mechanism through which

Replaces 'field' with 'mechanism' and 'by which' with 'through which'.

a sphere wherein

Uses more formal synonyms for 'field' and 'by which'.

a route whereby

Replaces 'field' with 'route' and 'by which' with 'whereby'.

a medium through which

Changes 'field' to 'medium', focusing on the means of transmission.

a context in which

Replaces 'field' with 'context', shifting the focus to circumstances.

a discipline where

Replaces 'field' with 'discipline', suitable when referring to academic subjects.

a channel through which

Replaces 'field' with 'channel', implying a pathway.

a framework within which

Substitutes 'field' with 'framework', emphasizing structure and organization.

FAQs

How can I use "a field by which" in a sentence?

Use "a field by which" to describe an area or discipline that enables a specific result or understanding, as in: "The research focuses on "a field by which" we can better understand climate change impacts."

What are some alternatives to "a field by which"?

You can use alternatives like "an area in which", "a domain where", or "a mechanism through which", depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to say "a field in which" or "a field by which"?

"A field in which" is generally more common and often preferred for its simplicity. "A field by which" is correct, but can sound more formal or complex. Consider if a simpler phrasing would suffice.

When is it most appropriate to use "a field by which"?

It's most appropriate when you want to emphasize that the field itself is instrumental in achieving a particular outcome or facilitating a certain understanding. Use it when the field directly contributes to the process you're describing.