building in which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "building in which" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to specify a particular building that serves as the location for an event or activity. Example: "The conference will be held in the building in which the historical society is located."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The men came near the doorway of the vacant building in which I was hiding.

The New Yorker

(Property records confirm that Mr. Chan owns the building in which Mr. Hill lives.

The New York Times

This is one building in which no one should take the elevator unless he has to.

The New Yorker

However, the privy council ordered the demolition of the building in which they were to perform.

Encyclopedia Britannica

same building in which Elsa Einstein and her family lived, in Berlin.

Princeton University

Zabar's now occupies the entire peculiarly suburban-type pretend-Tudor building in which it burgeoned.

The New York Times - Books

There, the building in which they were staying was bombed, and Robert's parents were killed.

The New York Times

His company owns the Perth Stock Exchange building in which its offices are situ ated.

The New York Times

They disappeared after the quake destroyed the building in which they were meeting.

The Washington Post

Like most New Yorkers, I'm curious about the building in which I live.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

These games involve character-building, in which your skills increase with experience.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "building in which", ensure that the relative clause is necessary for identifying the specific building. If the building is already clearly identified, a simpler construction may be more effective.

Common error

Avoid using overly complex sentence structures when a simpler phrase like "the building where" is sufficient. Redundancy can make your writing sound less clear and less direct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "building in which" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a relative clause. This clause modifies the noun "building", providing specific information about it, such as its purpose or what takes place there. Ludwig provides many examples that showcase such usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "building in which" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction. It serves to identify a specific building by providing additional information about its function or characteristics. As Ludwig AI indicates, its usage spans diverse contexts, from news and media to academic and encyclopedic texts. While generally neutral in tone, simpler alternatives like "building where" may be preferred in informal settings. When using "building in which", ensure that the relative clause is necessary and avoids redundancy. The high number of examples available through Ludwig underscores its common usage in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

structure where

Replaces "building in which" with a more concise phrasing using "where" to indicate location.

edifice wherein

Substitutes "building" with "edifice" for a more formal tone and "wherein" to replace "in which".

premises where

Replaces "building" with "premises" offering a slightly broader term for the location.

establishment at which

Uses "establishment" instead of "building" and "at which" instead of "in which", slightly shifting the emphasis.

the facility where

Replaces building with facility, better fitting to describe office building and other premises for specific services.

location in which

Emphasizes the locational aspect, replacing "building" with the more general term "location".

the complex that holds

Instead of building this alternative describe big structures made by smaller buildings, like a campus or other big complex.

site that houses

Uses a more active voice construction, describing the building as something that 'houses' an activity.

place of which

Offers a more generic alternative, suitable when the specific type of building is less important.

construction in that

Alternative that express the same concept using construction instead of building.

FAQs

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

Use "building in which" to specify a particular building that serves as the location for an event or activity. For example: "The important documents are stored in the building in which the historical society is located".

What's a simpler alternative to "building in which"?

You can often use "building where" as a more concise alternative, especially in less formal contexts.

Is "building in which" always necessary, or can I sometimes omit the phrase?

If the building is already clearly identified in the context, the phrase "building in which" may be redundant. Consider if the sentence is clear without it.

What's the difference between "building in which" and "building that"?

"Building in which" emphasizes location or containment, while "building that" can refer to any characteristic of the building.