of which some

USAGE SUMMARY

"of which some" is a valid phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a group or category of items or people. For example: "There are many types of fruit, of which some are citrus."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

She began another book, Emma, of which some pages remain.

Encyclopedia Britannica

All of which, some 200 years later, leaves a diplomatic problem for the government.

The Guardian

It was also an empire of which some Romans themselves were the most powerful critics.

The Guardian - Books

But the show's emphasis is on Rembrandt's prints, of which some 290 survive.

The New York Times - Arts

Several thousand new titles appear annually, of which some three-fifths are of Norwegian origin.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Several great centres displayed considerable architectural activity, of which some splendid evidence remains.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Greece is home to about 6,000 species of wildflowers, of which some 600 are endemic.

Encyclopedia Britannica

These total $515 billion, of which some 80% are thought to be in dollars.

The Economist

His library at one time contained more than sixteen thousand books, of which some twelve hundred survive in various archives.

The New Yorker

Today Deere employs more than 60,000 people worldwide, of which some 10% are still in the Quad Cities area.

The Guardian

BSkyB's subscriber base reached 4.5m in the year to June 30 of which some 80% are now on SkyDigital.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "of which some" to add detail to a general statement by specifying that only a portion of the previously mentioned group is relevant to the current discussion.

Common error

Avoid using "of which some" in very simple sentences where a direct construction would be clearer. For example, instead of "There are apples, of which some are red," consider "Some apples are red."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of which some" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a relative clause, modifying a preceding noun phrase by specifying that only a portion of the group possesses a particular attribute. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and frequently encountered in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

27%

Encyclopedias

16%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "of which some" is a grammatically sound construction used to specify that a portion of a previously mentioned group possesses a particular attribute. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted in English writing and primarily functions to provide additional detail, often narrowing the focus to a relevant subset. This phrase is most frequently found in scientific, news, and encyclopedia contexts, suggesting a formal register. While alternatives like ""some of which"" exist, "of which some" offers a slightly more formal tone. When using this phrase, be sure that it adds meaningful clarification and isn't simply complicating a straightforward statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some of which

Inversion of the phrase structure, changing the emphasis but retaining the core meaning.

a portion of which

More formal and emphasizes that only a part is being considered.

part of which

Similar to "a portion of which" but slightly less formal.

several of which

Indicates more than a few but not a majority.

a few of which

Emphasizes a small number within the larger group.

a number of which

Implies a countable quantity but without specifying the exact amount.

various of which

Suggests diversity within the selection.

some from which

Slight shift in phrasing that can work in limited contexts.

a selection of which

Emphasizes that the items are chosen from a larger set.

certain ones of which

Highlights specific items within the group, adding a layer of distinction.

FAQs

How can I use "of which some" in a sentence?

Use "of which some" to indicate that a portion of a previously mentioned group possesses a certain characteristic. For instance, "The project includes several phases, "some of which" are still under development."

What are some alternatives to "of which some"?

Alternatives include "some of which", "a portion of which", or "part of which". The best choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it better to use "some of which" or "of which some"?

Both are grammatically correct, but ""some of which"" is generally more common and flows more naturally in many contexts. "Of which some" tends to be slightly more formal.

What's the difference between "of which some" and "of whom some"?

"Of which some" is used when referring to things, while "of whom some" is used when referring to people. For example, "There are books, of which some are rare editions" versus "There are authors, of whom some are highly acclaimed."