on which thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on which thing" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward or unclear.
It could be used in contexts where you are referring to a specific object or concept previously mentioned, but it is better to rephrase for clarity. Example: "The report discussed several issues, on which thing I need to focus my attention."

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In contemporary discussions, such contents are also called singular contents, because they include the referent of a singular term itself rather than a description that picks out different objects depending on which thing in the world satisfies it.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"That focuses your attention on which things work and which things don't".

The New York Times

In reefs, the structure is big lumps of calcium carbonate on which things grow and around which they graze and hunt.

The Economist

"The scale on which things actually have to happen on energy is not fully either appreciated or transmitted to the public," said Dr. Lewis of Caltech.

The New York Times

Inverted Earth is an imaginary planet, on which things have complementary colors to the colors of their counterparts on Earth.

SEP

"Social is the foundation on which things are built," Hoffman said.

TechCrunch

While the Internet looks pretty smooth, the storage, computer, and telecommunication standards on which things operate are almost as different as a canal is from a superhighway.

Forbes

Twin Earth, as Putnam presents it, is a (hypothetical) planet on which things look, taste, smell and feel exactly the way they do on Earth, but which have different underlying microscopic structures; for example, the stuff that fills the streams and comes out of the faucets, though it looks and tastes like water, has molecular structure XYZ rather than H2O.

SEP

As a famous adage of product design puts it, once you've built the car, your task is not simply to hope that you can prevent all accidents, but to design a better car crash – that is, to make those inevitable occasions on which things go wrong as unlikely as possible to cause fatal harm.

BBC

I'm telling you all this because there are moments on which things pivot.

Vice

Student C: Yes, if nothing else it introduces the ideas of capacitance and charge separation, concepts on which things like the Nernst potential across neuronic membranes are built.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically sound, consider rephrasing "on which thing" for better clarity and flow. Use more common alternatives like "regarding what" or "concerning what" to enhance readability.

Common error

Avoid using "on which thing" excessively in formal writing. While not strictly incorrect, it can sound awkward and less sophisticated than alternative phrasings. Opt for more concise and widely accepted options.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on which thing" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a relative clause. It connects a preceding noun or concept to a specific aspect or detail being discussed. As noted by Ludwig, it's grammatically acceptable but can be improved for clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on which thing" is grammatically sound but rarely used in contemporary English. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is best to rephrase for clarity and flow using more common alternatives such as "regarding what" or "concerning what". The phrase appears across various contexts like News & Media, Science and Wiki sources but it is missing in formal ones. Although it's technically correct, its infrequent usage and potential for awkwardness make it less desirable in both formal and informal writing. Prioritize clarity and conciseness by opting for more standard phrasings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regarding what

This alternative uses "regarding" to introduce the subject of concern, offering a more direct and concise approach.

concerning what

Similar to "regarding what", this option employs "concerning" to specify the topic being addressed.

about what

This option uses "about" to indicate the subject matter, providing a more informal alternative.

in respect to what

This phrase adds a layer of formality, using "in respect to" to denote the aspect being considered.

with regard to what

Similar to "in respect to what", this option offers a formal way to introduce the topic of concern.

on what basis

This alternative focuses on the underlying reason or justification for something.

upon which matter

Using "upon" and "matter" creates a more formal and emphatic phrasing.

in what context

This option shifts the focus to the specific situation or environment in which something occurs.

by what means

This alternative emphasizes the method or way in which something is accomplished.

for what reason

This option directly asks for the cause or explanation behind something.

FAQs

What does "on which thing" mean?

The phrase "on which thing" refers to something previously mentioned and indicates a specific aspect or detail about it. It's often used to introduce further information or clarification.

What are some alternatives to "on which thing"?

You can use alternatives like "regarding what", "concerning what", or "about what" depending on the context to improve clarity and flow.

Is it grammatically correct to say "on which thing"?

Yes, "on which thing" is grammatically correct, but it is not very common and may sound awkward to some readers. Consider rephrasing for better readability.

When should I use "on which thing"?

While grammatically valid, it's best to reserve "on which thing" for situations where a more common alternative doesn't quite capture the intended nuance. However, prioritizing clarity, substituting with something like "regarding the matter" is often preferable.