in whose

USAGE SUMMARY

"in whose" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to belonging or possession. For example: "The cat belonged to the neighbor in whose house we found it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

— What poem you would you put in whose pocket?

The New York Times

Go back and fill in whose software it is and what versions you know.

WikiHow

Acting in whose interest?

The Economist

But just right in whose eyes?

The New York Times

Exactly in whose interest would that be?

The Economist

In whose universe?

The New York Times - Books

In whose mind?

The Guardian

But in whose bollocks?

The Guardian - Sport

But in whose eyes?

The Guardian - Opinion

In whose interest?

The Guardian

Foundation, in whose orchestra Kanneh-Mason plays.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in whose," ensure that the noun it modifies is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, "the organization in whose name the award was given" clarifies the award's namesake.

Common error

Avoid substituting "in whose" with "in who's." "Who's" is a contraction of "who is" or "who has," while "whose" indicates possession. The correct usage maintains grammatical accuracy and avoids misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in whose" functions as a possessive prepositional phrase, typically introducing a relative clause. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in written English. It indicates ownership or association in a more formal or literary way than the simple possessive pronoun "whose."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

28%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in whose" functions as a possessive prepositional phrase, commonly used to introduce relative clauses and indicate ownership or association in formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in written English. It is particularly prevalent in news media and scientific publications, as evidenced by the examples from The New York Times, The Guardian, and various scientific journals. When using "in whose", ensure clarity and avoid confusion with the contraction "who's". Consider alternatives like "belonging to whom" or restructuring the sentence for simpler expressions when formality isn't essential. The phrase appears less often in informal contexts, and using it can increase the perceived formality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

belonging to whom

Replaces the possessive pronoun with a prepositional phrase, making it more direct.

of which person

Uses "of which" to indicate possession, suitable for formal contexts.

to whom does it belong

Changes the structure to a question format, emphasizing ownership.

whose is this

A more direct and concise way to inquire about ownership.

under whose authority

Focuses on authority or jurisdiction instead of general possession.

in whose name

Highlights the person or entity for whom an action is taken.

on whose behalf

Emphasizes acting as a representative or advocate.

by whose hand

Indicates agency or action performed by a specific person.

to whose benefit

Focuses on who gains from a particular situation or action.

for whose sake

Emphasizes the person for whose benefit something is done, often implying sacrifice or consideration.

FAQs

How can I use "in whose" in a sentence?

Use "in whose" to indicate possession or association, like in the sentence, "The company, "in whose hands" the project now rests, is expected to deliver significant results."

What are some alternatives to using "in whose"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "belonging to whom", "of which person", or restructure the sentence to use "whose" directly, such as "To whom does this belong?"

Is it ever incorrect to use "in whose"?

"In whose" is grammatically correct, but overuse can make writing sound stilted. Consider simpler alternatives if clarity isn't compromised.

What's the difference between "in whose" and "whose"?

"Whose" directly indicates possession (e.g., "Whose book is this?"), while "in whose" is often used within a phrase or clause to specify possession in a more formal manner (e.g., "The organization "in whose name" the event was held.").