a population which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a population which" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific group of individuals or organisms that share common characteristics or are being studied. Example: "A population which exhibits high levels of genetic diversity is more resilient to environmental changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"We have come to this country to help a population which is already traumatised.

The Guardian

"It's a population which has always been a place of transit.

The Guardian

differences within a population, which Nisbett grants, that implies nothing about average differences between populations.

The New York Times - Books

The regulations, "do not address this vehicle population, a population which has exploded in the past 10 years," he said.

The New York Times

These processes maintain genetic diversity within a population, which supports population fitness and survival.

Encyclopedia Britannica

That argument becomes harder to make, however, when the homeowner in question has financed his property empires by exploiting a population which is now being slaughtered with British-made weapons.

The Guardian - Opinion

The only way a force of that size could successfully hold the territory that they hold is if they have a population which is acting as the water in which they are swimming.

The Guardian

In this tournament, Oyun begins with a "population" which is uniformly distributed across all submitted strategies.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The evolution usually begins with a population, which is formed, randomly in the predefined range of variables.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

We consider a population which is inhomogeneous with respect to personal and environmental attributes affecting the occurrence of accidents.

Journal of Statistical Distributions and Applications

Model 1 implements a population which is small enough (100 individuals) so that everyone talks to everyone else.

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a population which", ensure the relative clause that follows provides essential information that defines or limits the scope of the population being discussed. Without the relative clause, the meaning might be too broad or ambiguous.

Common error

Avoid substituting "which" with "that" when using nonrestrictive clauses. "Which" is typically used to introduce nonrestrictive clauses, providing additional but nonessential information about the population. Using "that" incorrectly can alter the intended meaning and make the sentence grammatically awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a population which" functions as a noun phrase followed by a relative clause. It identifies a specific group of individuals or entities and then provides additional information about that group. Ludwig AI examples show it frequently appears in scientific and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a population which" is a versatile phrase used to introduce relative clauses that provide additional information about a specific group. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in scientific and news-related contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the relative clause is essential for defining or limiting the scope of the population. Alternatives such as "a group that" or "a demographic that" can be used depending on the context. Remember to use "which" correctly to avoid grammatical errors and ensure clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a group that

Substitutes "population" with the more general term "group", simplifying the phrase.

a demographic that

Replaces "population" with "demographic", focusing on statistical characteristics of a group.

a collective that

Uses "collective" instead of "population", emphasizing the shared nature of the group.

a community that

Uses "community" instead of "population", suggesting a shared location or interests.

a cohort that

Uses "cohort" instead of "population", often referring to a group sharing a statistical characteristic (e.g., birth year).

a segment that

Replaces "population" with "segment", often used in marketing or sociological contexts.

a subset that

Replaces "population" with "subset", indicating a smaller part of a larger group.

a constituency that

Replaces "population" with "constituency", indicating a group represented by someone.

an aggregate that

Substitutes "population" with "aggregate", implying a collection of diverse elements.

an ensemble that

Substitutes "population" with "ensemble", often used in the context of performing arts or coordinated systems.

FAQs

How can I use "a population which" in a sentence?

Use "a population which" to introduce a relative clause that provides further information about a specific group. For example, "We studied "a population which" is particularly vulnerable to the new virus."

What is a good alternative to "a population which"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases such as "a group that", "a demographic that", or "a community that" to achieve a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "a population which" and "a population that"?

In formal writing, "which" is generally used with nonrestrictive clauses (providing extra information), while "that" is used with restrictive clauses (essential information). However, in modern usage, this distinction is often blurred, and "that" is frequently used in both cases.

When should I use "a population which" instead of simply "a population"?

Use "a population which" when you need to add more detail or specify a particular characteristic of the population you are discussing. It allows you to provide more context or narrow down the focus of your statement, by giving specific information about it.