The phrase "by reference to which" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in formal contexts to indicate a relationship or connection to something previously mentioned.
Example: "The document outlines the criteria by reference to which the applicants will be evaluated."
Alternatives: "with respect to which" or "in relation to which".
It is plain then that, as in other sciences, so in that which inquires into nature, there must be certain canons, by reference to which a hearer shall be able to criticize the method of a professed exposition, quite independently of the question whether the statements made be true or false.
Carnap argued that the observational statements by reference to which empirical statements can be tested may be construed as sentences describing directly and publicly observable aspects of physical objects, such as the needle of a measuring instrument turning to a particular point on the scale or a subject in a psychological test showing a change in pulse rate.
In addition, based on the theory of conservative integral, the closed form relation for notched specimens between the maximum stress and fatigue life is derived, by reference to which the material parameters in damage evolution equation are obtained with fatigue experiment data of standard specimens.
There must be something by reference to which I can correlate the remembered experiences that allows me to determine their temporal order.
Matters were different, of course, with Frege, for his crowning achievement was a formal deductive system of logic by reference to which a logicist thesis could at last be expressed.
The commonsense notion of impartiality is not, unlike the utilitarian notion, a lowest common theoretical denominator for notions of rightness, by reference to which all other notions of rightness are to be understood.
Firstly, significant prognostic factors for survival were entered into Cox's proportional hazards model by forward stepwise addition without reference to which hospital the patient had attended (Cox, 1972).
Moreover, we effectively define ourselves and our fellow humans by reference to that which we equalize.
Diderot makes a similar point by reference to theater, which is less a place for amusement than a microcosm of society and therefore a laboratory for civil passions.
This we can do only by reference to ourselves, which requires that we narrow the focus of our research beam even more.
The Athenian argues that laws ought to be justified not by reference to war – which is how both Megillus and Kleinias first attempt to justify the laws of their own cities – but rather by reference to what is best, which is complete virtue (that is, courage, justice, moderation, and wisdom, rather than courage alone).
