be on which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be on which" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a standard expression and may lead to confusion in communication. Example: "I need to clarify the point that should be on which we focus our efforts."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Owen and I were one of five players - along with Paul O'Connell, Richie Gray and Sam Warburton - who got to choose which players will be on which committees throughout the tour.

BBC

I think the focus should be on which venue would be most effective in insuring that the terrorist is locked up for as long as possible.

The New Yorker

But the Jesus's wife fragment does, which shows pretty clearly that it could not have been composed before the PDF was available, no matter how old the papyrus turns out to be on which it was written.

The Guardian - Opinion

After two weeks of fixating over exactly whose bum would be on which seat next season, Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix is a chance to return to the other business of Formula One, behind the wheel.

The Guardian - Sport

Investigators found that members of both the Florida and California teams were in Las Vegas in August, and they believe that final plans might have been coordinated then, including, quite possibly, what flights to hijack and which team members would be on which flight.

The New York Times

There is a conference call at 1 15 with Intuit President and CEO, Steve Bennett and Google CEO, Eric Schmidt that we'll be on, which will have more details and at least some hints on the economics of the deal.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Especially the one I'm on, which is more of a plateau.

The New Yorker

"The spreadsheet of which Labour M.P. is on which side".

The New Yorker

I can't remember who was on which side.

The New Yorker

It was impossible to tell who's on which side".

The New York Times

"When he's on, which is often, you're at his mercy".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "be on which" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more common alternatives like "depend on which" or "rely on which" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid constructing sentences that unnecessarily use "be on which". Simplification often leads to better clarity. Instead of saying something like, "The decision will be on which candidate performs best", try "The decision will depend on which candidate performs best."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be on which" functions as a prepositional phrase attempting to link a state of being to a selection or condition. However, Ludwig AI suggests that this is not a correct standard expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

35%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "be on which" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically incorrect and awkward. It attempts to link a state of being to a condition or choice, but clearer alternatives like "depend on which" or "rely on which" are generally preferred. Its usage is uncommon, appearing mainly in news and media and wiki sources. Therefore, it's best to avoid "be on which" in formal writing and opt for more grammatically standard and clear alternatives to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

depend on which

Focuses on the dependency or reliance on a particular choice or option.

rely on which

Highlights the reliance on a specific item or piece of information.

hinge on which

Emphasizes that the outcome or result significantly depends on a particular factor.

turn on which

Indicates that the result or situation changes based on a specific element.

be determined by which

Highlights that a specific outcome is set based on a choice.

be contingent on which

Emphasizes that something is conditional and depends on a factor.

be predicated on which

Suggests that something is based or founded on a particular basis.

rest on which

Indicates that something relies or depends on a particular foundation.

be conditional on which

Points out the dependence on a specific element for an event to occur.

be subject to which

Highlights the dependence on a specific factor or condition.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "be on which"?

You can use alternatives like "depend on which", "rely on which", or "hinge on which" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "be on which" in a sentence?

While you might find examples of "be on which", it is generally considered awkward and less grammatically sound than alternatives like "depend on which".

How can I rephrase a sentence using "be on which" to make it clearer?

Instead of saying "The focus should be on which venue would be most effective", a clearer phrasing would be "The focus should be on which venue would be the most effective" or "We should focus on the most effective venue".

What's the difference between "be on which" and "depend on which"?

"Be on which" is generally considered less grammatically correct and more awkward than "depend on which", which is a more standard and widely accepted construction.