a theory by which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a theory by which" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when explaining a theoretical framework or model that describes how something works or is understood. Example: "The scientist proposed a theory by which the behavior of particles could be predicted under certain conditions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Here then I had at last got a theory by which to work".

The New York Times - Science

By 1837, Darwin confided to his notebook that he finally had a theory by which to work.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

This is probably the most important question, because it provides a theory by which Trump himself could be credibly accused of a crime.

Vice

Between 1948 and 1950, she developed a theory by which these mobile elements regulated the genes by inhibiting or modulating their action.

Wikipedia

"The government would have to be somewhat creative to find a theory by which a federal crime occurred, and would need to look beyond the usual offenses on which it relies," he told the New York Daily News.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

From the beginning, Darwinism drew criticism from philosophers and physicists for not being a proper theory, by which was meant a simple theory based on invariant laws.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

But he also indicated late last week that he might allow jurors to consider a defense theory by which Mr. Roeder could be convicted of voluntary manslaughter if jurors were to conclude that Mr. Roeder had, as Kansas law defines it, "an unreasonable but honest belief that circumstances existed that justified deadly force".

The New York Times

The biological mechanisms that underlie these risk factors are not well understood, but inflammation-related oxidative stress has been proposed as a unifying theory by which these risk factors could cause genomic damage leading to the development of cancer [5], [6], [7], [8], [9].

Plosone

Alba and Hasher propose a modal theory by which schema-driven encoding of complex information is characterized by four basic processes: selection and reconstruction, abstraction, interpretation, and integration (Alba and Hasher 1983).

Advances in Health Sciences Education

The falsification principle has been developed as an alternative theory by which it may be possible to distinguish between those religious statements that may potentially have meaning, and those that are meaningless.

Wikipedia

However, owing to the complexity of the phenomenon of CHF and to numerous factors affecting it, a sufficiently definite theory by which the nanoparticle layer results in such a high CHF enhancement has not yet emerged.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a theory by which" when you want to emphasize that the theory provides a specific mechanism or means for understanding something.

Common error

Avoid using "a theory by which" in simple explanations where a more direct phrase like "a theory that explains" would suffice. The phrase is most effective when highlighting a specific, underlying process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a theory by which" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a clause specifying the mechanism or process that a theory uses to explain something. It provides a framework for understanding how the theory operates, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a theory by which" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to introduce a mechanism or process that a theory employs for explanation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's most fitting in scientific or formal contexts where detailing the underlying means is crucial. While semantically valid, it's relatively rare in everyday language. When opting for alternatives, consider simpler phrases like "a theory explaining" for broader audiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a theory explaining

Focuses on the explanatory power of the theory, simplifying the wording.

a framework through which

Replaces "theory" with "framework" to suggest a more structured approach.

a model by means of which

Uses "model" instead of "theory", indicating a simplified representation.

a rationale for how

Shifts from theory to rationale, focusing on the underlying reasons.

a principle under which

Replaces "theory" with "principle", suggesting a foundational concept.

a system whereby

Uses "system" to indicate a structured set of interconnected elements.

an explanation of how

Simplifies the phrasing to focus on the explanatory aspect.

a methodology by which

Emphasizes the method or process defined by the theory.

an approach through which

Suggests a way of dealing with or considering something.

a perspective from which

Indicates a particular point of view or angle of consideration.

FAQs

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

Use "a theory by which" to introduce a framework or explanation that details how something occurs or is understood. For example: "The scientist proposed "a theory by which" the universe expands."

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

You can use alternatives such as "a theory explaining", "a framework through which", or "a model by means of which" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a theory by which"?

Yes, "a theory by which" is grammatically correct and can be used to introduce a framework for understanding something. However, ensure that the context warrants the level of formality and precision that this phrase implies.

What's the difference between "a theory by which" and "a theory that explains"?

"A theory by which" emphasizes the mechanism or process through which something happens, whereas "a theory that explains" focuses more broadly on providing an understanding of the phenomenon.