conjecture which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conjecture which" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when introducing a specific conjecture or hypothesis that is being discussed or analyzed. Example: "The mathematician presented a conjecture which proposed a new approach to solving the problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

Hardy, for example, rated the Riemann hypothesis less difficult than Fermat's conjecture, which Dr. Andrew Wiles of Princeton solved in 1993, after working for seven years in secrecy.

The New York Times - Science

He wants to hear the featured talk, on the Penultimate Conjecture, which was formulated during the Second World War by English cryptographers who broke the German code, Enigma.

The New Yorker

As Alec Wilkinson reports in this week's issue of the magazine, Zhang's landmark proof is "a back-door attack on the twin-prime conjecture," which states that there are an infinite number of prime-number pairs separated by two.

The New Yorker

Because of the price and logistics involved, the trickle of G-Wagens into this country collected in places with buyers for whom cost is largely conjecture, which is to say East Hampton, Beverly Hills and Malibu.

The New York Times - Style

None is more specious than the Right-Handed Hitter Conjecture, which holds that on steal attempts left-handers have to throw around righties, who outnumber hitters from the other side.

The New York Times - Sports

Alex L., another Alex (from Budapest, Hungary) and David desJardins were among those who dug into this conjecture, which was ultimately proved by Noam D. Elkies: OK, the 8-number conjecture is true.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

The purpose of these false conjectures, which are without any basis, is to shield the terrorists and the irreconcilable radical opposition, which reject a political settlement while trying to justify possible military strikes from outside".

The New Yorker

The analyst as far as possible confines himself to listening to the patient and (sparingly) offering him his conjectures — which are called "interpretations" — about the unconscious meaning of his communications.

The New Yorker

Prior information may be available from earlier experiments or from conjectures which motivate the investigation.

International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences

The usefulness of integrability criteria is that they allow the proposal of conjectures which serve for integrability prediction.

Advances in Difference Equations

To be a realist, he therefore suggests, involves demanding support for any theory, including implausible conjectures having no independent empirical support, conjectures which are inconsistent with data and well-confirmed laws.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "conjecture which", ensure the "which" clause provides essential information that clarifies or defines the conjecture being discussed. Avoid using it in situations where the clause is merely additional or parenthetical.

Common error

Avoid using "which" when "that" is more appropriate. "That" is used for restrictive clauses (essential to the meaning of the sentence), while "which" is used for non-restrictive clauses (adds extra information but isn't essential). For example, prefer "the conjecture that he proposed" instead of "the conjecture which he proposed" if the identification of the conjecture is crucial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conjecture which" functions as a noun followed by a relative clause. The word "conjecture" acts as the noun, while "which" introduces a clause that provides additional information or clarification about the conjecture. As Ludwig AI highlights, this structure is frequently employed in academic and scientific contexts to elaborate on specific conjectures under discussion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "conjecture which" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase, primarily in formal and scientific contexts. As demonstrated by Ludwig AI, it serves to introduce a relative clause that provides additional information or clarification about a specific conjecture. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the "which" clause is non-restrictive, adding extra detail rather than being essential to the meaning. Alternatives like "hypothesis that" or "theory that" may be suitable depending on the context and desired nuance. Pay attention to the distinction between "which" and "that" to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hypothesis that

Replaces "conjecture" with "hypothesis", focusing on a testable explanation.

theory that

Substitutes "conjecture" with "theory", implying a more developed explanation.

proposition that

Uses "proposition" instead of "conjecture", suggesting a statement to be considered.

supposition that

Replaces "conjecture" with "supposition", implying an assumption without firm evidence.

idea which

Uses "idea" instead of "conjecture", focusing on a thought or concept.

assumption which

Substitutes "conjecture" with "assumption", emphasizing a belief taken for granted.

claim which

Replaces "conjecture" with "claim", suggesting an assertion that needs proof.

thesis which

Uses "thesis" instead of "conjecture", implying a statement defended with arguments.

postulate that

Replaces "conjecture" with "postulate", suggesting a fundamental assumption.

speculation that

Substitutes "conjecture" with "speculation", implying a guess based on incomplete information.

FAQs

How do I use "conjecture which" in a sentence?

Use "conjecture which" to introduce a relative clause that provides more information about a specific conjecture. For instance, "The Riemann hypothesis is a famous "conjecture which" has not yet been proven".

What are some alternatives to using "conjecture which"?

Alternatives include "hypothesis that", "theory that", or "assumption which", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Each of these alternatives carries slightly different connotations about the level of evidence or certainty.

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

Yes, "conjecture that" is often used to introduce a clause that is essential to the meaning of the sentence, while ""conjecture which"" introduces a non-essential clause providing additional information. However, in practice, the distinction can be subtle and context-dependent.

When is it appropriate to use "conjecture which" in academic writing?

It is appropriate to use ""conjecture which"" in academic writing when you want to add extra, non-essential information about a particular conjecture. Make sure the "which" clause is set off with commas.