however which applies

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "however which applies" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be an attempt to combine "however" with a relative clause, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "You can choose any method; however, the one which applies best to your situation is recommended."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Goldman's new policy, however, which applies to more than 250 analysts worldwide, falls short of prohibiting analysts from owning stocks of companies they cover.

The New York Times

The unspoken element, however, which applies to any serious measures to curb the benefits bill, is that they will be expensive.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Civil law countries, however, which apply the rule make exceptions for acts contrary to their sense of public order.

Cornell University

Accordingly, the New Regulations allow the second prong to be satisfied as long as each Target Stockholder (applying the attribution rules of Section 318(a)) holds less than 5% by vote or value of each EAG member.[xvi] However, the first prong, which applies with respect to foreign acquiror stock issued to Target Stockholders on an aggregate basis, remains unchanged.

Columbia University

None of which applies to Turkey.

The New York Times

This is an observation, however, which specifically applies to studies that consider one physiological variable at a time and which thus argues in favour of using a multivariable approach.

BioMed Research International

However, quantitative studies which apply Andersen's model rarely make use of the factor 'health beliefs', which can mainly be attributed to difficulties in operationalisation.

BMJ Open

However, the same limitations which applied to the interpretation of mutually exclusive events discussed above with regard to lithium versus placebo also apply.

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Regarding the polarity of new mood episodes, the relative risk reduction of lithium appears more substantial against manic episodes; however, the same limitations which apply to data censoring due to mood episodes and reasons other than a mood episode also apply in this case (Licht and Severus [2014]).

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

However, many of the provisions which apply to individual taxpayers would expire at the end of 2025 (you may also hear the term "sunset" - same thing).

Forbes

It is also possible, however, that the rules of Howard Moskowitz, which apply to Grey Poupon and Prego spaghetti sauce and to olive oil and salad dressing and virtually everything else in the supermarket, don't apply to ketchup.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "however which applies" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and grammatically correct alternatives such as "however whichever is applicable" or "whichever is relevant".

Common error

A common mistake is using "which" directly after "however" without a clear subject. Ensure a proper subject-verb agreement and sentence structure by rephrasing the sentence for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "however which applies" functions as an attempted relative clause modifying a preceding statement. As noted by Ludwig, this construction is grammatically incorrect and lacks clarity. Proper usage requires restructuring to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "however which applies" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and lacks clarity in standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, this construction is best avoided. While it appears in various contexts, including news, science, and academic writing, it's recommended to use clearer alternatives such as "however, whichever is applicable" or rephrase the sentence entirely to ensure grammatical correctness and improved readability. Using such alternatives enhances the quality and professionalism of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however whichever is applicable

Replaces "applies" with "is applicable", offering a more common and grammatically sound alternative.

however which is relevant

Replaces "applies" with "is relevant" maintaining a similar meaning but with better grammatical correctness.

however that applies

Substitutes "which" with "that", offering a more direct relative clause, still not ideal but slightly improved.

but which applies

Uses "but" instead of "however" to express contrast with an applicable condition, offering a simpler structure.

however which is pertinent

Replaces "applies" with "is pertinent", using a more formal word to indicate relevance.

nevertheless which applies

Replaces "however" with "nevertheless" for a more formal tone, while retaining the relative clause.

yet which applies

Substitutes "however" with "yet", providing a concise way to introduce a contrasting but relevant point.

however whichever applies

Adds "whichever" to emphasize selection among applicable options, increasing clarity.

however whichever holds true

Changes "applies" to "holds true", providing a different way to express validity or relevance.

however whichever is the case

Offers a more general alternative to indicate relevance without specifying application.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "however which applies"?

You can use alternatives like "however whichever is applicable", "whichever is relevant", or simply rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

Is "however which applies" grammatically correct?

No, "however which applies" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use clearer and more standard phrasing.

How can I use "however" correctly with a relative clause?

Ensure that the relative clause has a clear subject and verb. For example, instead of "however which applies", use "however, the rule that applies" or "however, whichever method applies best".

When should I use "however" in a sentence?

"However" is used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or seems to contradict something that has already been said. Ensure that the contrast is clear and the sentence structure is grammatically sound.