on which purpose

USAGE SUMMARY

"on which purpose" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are asking for clarification about the underlying purpose of someone's action. For example, "What did you purchase the new car for, on which purpose?".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

These include an assessment of our biological knowledge of a species, the critical review of the quality of the data which are used for parameterisation or validating models or the question on how to assess for which purpose a model can be applied (representativeness of a model and scenario selection).

Environmental Sciences Europe

However, this positive impact depends on how and for which purposes the technologies are used.

Globalization and Health

In terms of covering the territory, too, it checks the boxes on most current styles – the familiar breaking, locking and popping, plus house, nu style and boogaloo, on which, for the purposes of identification, some of us could have done with a bit of help.

Independent

"Unless or until due process appropriates to different purpose or the council disposes of the land, members of the public are to expect the council to manage the land in a way which is consistent with the purpose on which it's held.

The Guardian

The purpose F on which the evaluation of an artifact and its design are based need not be the purpose that the author had in mind; it can be any purpose for which the artifact might be used.

SEP

The evidence indicates that the impact of these programs on labor supply depends strongly on which of these two purposes dominates and how mothers internalize this benefit.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

These embedded sensor devices have a general purpose processor on which the event-driven operating system, such as TinyOS[2] can be installed.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

Wallace A. Eddleman, an assistant director of the office of the comptroller, said the design of the state income tax form (on which some boxes serve multiple purposes) and computer program limitations made the calculation impossible.

The New York Times

Place the material you are cutting on saw horses or a workbench, or clamp it in a vice, depending on which is best suited for your purpose.

WikiHow

This study was based on published literature, most of which the purpose was not to assess impact on HRQoL.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Nonetheless, given that all the models could be considered 'valid' it reasonable to argue that the choice of superior model should rather be based on which model is fit for purpose what specification of demand is of interest.

European Journal of Health Economics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When clarity is paramount, consider using more common alternatives like "for what purpose" or "why" to ensure your message is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "on which purpose" in informal settings. Its formality can sound stilted or unnatural in everyday conversation. Opt for simpler phrasing like "why" or "what for".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on which purpose" functions as a prepositional phrase. It modifies a verb or clause, indicating the reason or aim behind an action. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

32%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on which purpose" is grammatically correct but relatively uncommon in contemporary English. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness but suggests considering more common alternatives for clarity. While it functions as a prepositional phrase to inquire about or specify the reason behind an action, its formal register makes it more suitable for academic or scientific contexts. When writing, weigh the desired tone and audience; simpler phrasing may be preferable for broader understanding. The related alternatives are "for what reason", "with what intention", or "to what end".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for what goal

Simple substitution, replacing the term "purpose" with the direct equivalent "goal".

with what aim

Synonymous substitution, replacing "purpose" with "aim" to denote the intended result.

for what reason

Replaces "purpose" with "reason" maintaining a direct inquiry about the cause.

with what intention

Substitutes "purpose" with "intention", focusing on the mental aim behind an action.

to what end

Uses a more formal and concise expression for the desired outcome or goal.

toward what objective

Replaces "purpose" with "objective", highlighting a specific goal to be achieved.

on what account

Indicates the reason or justification for something, similar to asking why.

by what design

Emphasizes the planned or intentional aspect of the purpose.

for what reason are you doing this

Expands into a full question for direct clarification of the reason.

why do you intend to do this

Transforms the phrase into a question inquiring about the intention behind an action.

FAQs

How can I use "on which purpose" in a sentence?

While grammatically correct, "on which purpose" is relatively uncommon. A sentence example could be: "The study was based on published literature, on which purpose the assessment of impact on HRQoL was not the primary focus."

What are some alternatives to "on which purpose"?

You can use alternatives such as "for what reason", "with what intention", or /s/to+what+end depending on the context. These alternatives might provide more clarity and flow in modern writing.

Is "on which purpose" too formal for casual conversation?

Yes, "on which purpose" is quite formal. In casual conversation, it's better to use simpler phrases like "why" or "what for".

What's the difference between "on which purpose" and /s/for+what+purpose?

"On which purpose" and "for what purpose" are similar in meaning, but "for what purpose" is more commonly used and generally preferred in modern English.