pursue which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pursue which" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not typically used in standard English, as it lacks clarity and context. Example: "I have several goals to pursue, one of which is to improve my writing skills."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

There is the little matter of survival to pursue, which seems a very complicated business under the circumstances.

The Guardian - Books

Ellison said, however, that there were still potential lines of inquiry to pursue which might provide such evidence.

The Guardian

We should find projects to pursue which are not only meaningful to us, but over which we have efficacy".

The New Yorker

And it's partly a matter of choice: whom we get involved with, what careers we pursue, which talents we develop.

The New York Times - Books

At the same time, upward mobility is curtailed since some opportunities are too risky to pursue, which increases the time illegal immigrants spend in poverty.

The Economist

There are vast amounts of side-missions and challenges to pursue, which let you quickly add abilities and upgrade your attributes via three contrasting skill trees.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Yet it is a deeply flawed measure, pursuing which has become an end in itself – and is as damaging to science as the bonus culture is to banking.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was just one of the various non-musical projects that Mr Bowie pursued — which included more traditional acting as well as tech projects like creating his own internet service provider.

Independent

Republicans capitalized on backlash to the ambitious agenda Mr. Obama and his party pursued, which fueled unrestricted and often anonymous contributions to conservative groups, some advised by a nemesis Democrats thought they had shaken, Karl Rove.

The New York Times

"There were issues we were pursuing which were potentially in the breach category," said McCafferty who, bound by a confidentiality clause, was able to speak only in the abstract.

The Guardian - Sport

"With out access to chimpanzees, vital research could not be pursued which would jeopardize scientific progress in several critical health areas".

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a choice, consider restructuring the sentence to emphasize the selection process, such as "decide what to pursue".

Common error

Using "pursue which" often results in an awkward and unclear sentence structure. Instead of directly following "pursue" with "which", clarify the object of pursuit or use a more direct relative clause.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pursue which" functions as a relative clause, intending to specify or add information about something being pursued. However, as Ludwig AI highlights, this construction often leads to awkward or grammatically questionable sentences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

6%

Social Media

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pursue which" aims to specify a particular item or action being pursued but often falls short due to awkward phrasing. Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is grammatically questionable and less preferable in formal contexts. While the phrase appears across various sources like News & Media and Science, clearer alternatives such as "pursue that" or rephrasing the sentence are generally recommended. For enhanced clarity and impact, consider restructuring your sentences to avoid this potentially problematic construction. Remember that while technically understandable, opting for more direct language ensures your message is both clear and effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pursue that

Replaces "which" with "that" for improved grammatical flow and clarity.

pursue those

Replaces "which" with "those" to refer to multiple options or paths.

what to pursue

Uses an infinitive phrase to indicate the action of pursuing something, removing the relative pronoun.

which to pursue

Emphasizes the choice or selection of what to pursue.

pursue the following

Introduces a list or set of items to be pursued.

investigate what

Shifts the focus to investigating or exploring different options, replacing "pursue".

explore which

Suggests a thorough examination or discovery process to help decide which opportunities or options should be followed

undertake which

Replaces "pursue" with "undertake" emphasizing the beginning of the actions.

which avenue to take

Replaces pursue with the expression "avenue to take" and focuses on the decision making and selection of path.

choose which

Focuses on the act of making a selection among alternatives, substituting "pursue" with "choose".

FAQs

What's a clearer alternative to "pursue which"?

Consider alternatives like "pursue that", "what to pursue", or rephrasing the sentence to eliminate the need for "which" directly after "pursue". For example, instead of "lines to pursue which might provide such evidence", try "lines of inquiry to "investigate that" might provide such evidence".

Is it grammatically correct to use "pursue which"?

While not strictly incorrect, "pursue which" can sound awkward and isn't common in formal writing. There are often more elegant and clear ways to express the same idea, such as "pursue that" or restructuring the sentence entirely.

How can I rephrase a sentence using "pursue which" to sound more natural?

Instead of saying "projects to pursue which are meaningful", try "projects to pursue "that are meaningful"" or "projects that are meaningful to pursue".

When is it acceptable to use "pursue which"?

While generally discouraged in formal writing, "pursue which" might be acceptable in informal contexts. However, it is often safer to opt for clearer alternatives to avoid ambiguity.