on whose initiative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on whose initiative" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the person responsible for starting a particular action. For example: "This project was started on the initiative of the company CEO".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Follow up questions like what was actually done, by whom it was done and on whose initiative were asked to gather information concerning the FP's experience of collaboration.

BMC Family Practice

All through the interview the interviewer focused on the physician's perception of the patient's care and treatment, their experience concerning who was responsible in concrete situations and also who did what on whose initiative.

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Romney's campaign said on Wednesday that it didn't matter whose initiative it was to appoint the women, because Romney enthusiastically cooperated.

Huffington Post

A particular university whose initiative played an important role in commencing the development gained access itself only after significant lobbying.

Cities

President Obama, whose initiatives on preventing gun violence following the Newtown, Conn., elementary school massacre stalled in Congress, plans to join a memorial service Sunday to honor Monday's Navy Yard victims, the White House said.

The Washington Post

But for the moment, the Met is the only organization whose initiatives are profitable.

The New York Times - Arts

According to the UK's Carbon Tracker Initiative (on whose impeccable research the divestment movement is based), the fossil fuel sector holds five times more carbon in its reserves than can be burned while still leaving us a good shot of limiting warming to 2C.

The Guardian - Opinion

A new initiative called Real Change (on whose steering committee I sit) aims to launch a thousand small civic meetings across the country, probably leading on to a reform convention this autumn.

The Guardian - Opinion

Depends on whose mind, whose soul.

The New Yorker

"The master on whose shoulders we stand.

The New York Times

On whose account?

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "on whose initiative", ensure that the context clearly indicates the action or project being initiated. This avoids ambiguity about what the initiative pertains to.

Common error

Avoid using "on whose initiative" when the action was collaborative or resulted from multiple factors. This phrase implies a single, identifiable instigator.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on whose initiative" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating the person or entity responsible for starting an action or project. As indicated by Ludwig, it is a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on whose initiative" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to inquire about or identify the originator of an action or project. While Ludwig confirms its validity, the phrase is relatively rare, primarily appearing in science and news contexts. When using it, ensure the context clearly specifies the action being initiated and remember it may be more suitable for formal situations than everyday conversation. Consider alternatives like "who took the lead" or "whose idea was it" for simpler communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at whose instigation

Replaces "initiative" with "instigation", emphasizing the act of urging or inciting an action.

under whose auspices

Substitutes "initiative" with "auspices", focusing on sponsorship or guidance.

by whose authority

Replaces "initiative" with "authority", highlighting the power or right to give commands.

on whose responsibility

Replaces "initiative" with "responsibility", emphasizing accountability for the action.

who spearheaded the action

Changes the structure to focus on the person who led or initiated the action.

who took the lead

Replaces the prepositional phrase with a direct question about leadership.

whose idea was it

Simplifies the phrase to inquire about the originator of the idea.

who originated the plan

Focuses on the origin of the plan, replacing "initiative".

by whose design

Emphasizes the planning aspect, replacing "initiative" with "design".

who set the ball rolling

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate who started the action.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "on whose initiative" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "at whose instigation", "under whose auspices", or "by whose authority" depending on the specific context.

What's a simpler way to ask who started something?

You can ask "whose idea was it?" or "who took the lead?" for a more direct approach.

Is it correct to say "on whose initiative was this done"?

Yes, the phrase "on whose initiative was this done" is grammatically correct. However, it might sound slightly formal or archaic. A more common phrasing would be "whose initiative was it?"

When should I use "on whose initiative" instead of "whose idea"?

Use "on whose initiative" when you want to emphasize the formal instigation or responsibility for a project or action. "Whose idea" is more general and suitable for informal contexts.