is defined as when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is defined as when" is not correct and may lead to confusion in written English.
It is typically used in definitions or explanations, but the structure is awkward and unclear. Example: "The term 'photosynthesis' is defined as when plants convert sunlight into energy."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

In this research (hat tip to Daniel Hertz for noticing it), displacement is defined as when census tracts have population growth over time but a simultaneous decline in low-income households.

The Washington Post

The increase has pushed more people than ever into fuel poverty, which is defined as when 10 per cent of their disposable income is spent on heating their homes.

Independent

"Group space is defined as when students are face to face with their instructor.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Individual space is defined as when students are working independently" (Bergmann, 2016).

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Population aging is defined as when the median age rises in a country because of increasing life expectancy and lower fertility rates.

Forbes

Typically, convergence is defined as when the difference between successive partition matrices is less than some predetermined threshold, ε[33].

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Globalisation may be defined as when trade across nations is growing faster than GDP.

The Guardian - Business

From an operation viewpoint, traffic breakdown from free-flow was defined as when the average speed of traffic drops below a certain threshold.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

They questioned whether working time would be defined as when the worker was logged into the app and waiting for work or only when they were on a job.

The Guardian - Business

Neutral rotation for this study was defined as when the forearm reached a full vertical position.

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

The de-stratification time was defined as when there was no detectable difference (less than 0.1 °C) between surface and bottom water temperatures.

International Aquatic Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "is defined as when" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives like "is defined as occurring when" or "is defined as the condition that" to ensure precision.

Common error

While "is defined as when" might seem intuitive, it often leads to ambiguity. Instead, provide a direct and concise definition without the added 'when' to improve clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is defined as when" functions as a relative clause introducing a specific condition or circumstance under which a definition applies. While examples exist across different domains, Ludwig AI points out that this construction can be grammatically awkward and unclear.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is defined as when" is used to introduce the conditions or circumstances that apply to a definition. Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically incorrect. While it appears across various domains, including science and news media, it's generally advisable to use clearer and more precise alternatives in formal writing. As Ludwig shows, rephrasing with alternatives like "is defined as occurring when" or "is characterized by" can improve clarity and precision. The phrase's frequency is common, but its grammatical status is disputed, suggesting caution in its usage, especially in contexts requiring high precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is defined as occurring when

Replaces "when" with "occurring when" for slightly improved clarity.

is defined as the point when

Specifies "point" to clarify that a specific time is being referenced.

is defined as taking place when

Substitutes "taking place" for "when" for better flow.

is defined by the condition that

Uses 'condition' to indicate a requirement for the definition.

is understood to mean when

Replaces "defined" with "understood to mean" for a less formal tone.

is characterized by when

Emphasizes characteristic aspects instead of a strict definition.

is considered to be when

Uses "considered to be" for a more subjective definition.

is identified as happening when

Focuses on the occurrence of an event in the definition.

is specified as being when

Highlights the act of specifying a condition.

is determined to be when

Indicates a process of determining a condition for the definition.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "is defined as when" for better clarity?

You can use alternatives like "is defined as occurring when", "is characterized by", or "is understood to mean when" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "is defined as when"?

While commonly used, "is defined as when" is considered grammatically awkward. Clearer and more precise alternatives are generally preferred in formal writing. Ludwig AI highlights this concern about the phrase.

What's the difference between "is defined as when" and "is defined as"?

"Is defined as" provides a direct definition, while "is defined as when" introduces a condition or specific circumstance. Using just "is defined as" typically results in a more concise and clearer definition.

Can "is defined as when" be used in scientific writing?

Although "is defined as when" appears in some scientific literature, it's advisable to use more precise phrasing like "is defined by the condition that" or similar alternatives to maintain clarity and rigor.