significant of which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significant of which" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be a misconstruction; the correct phrase would typically be "of which" or "significant in which." Example: "The study revealed several factors, significant in which were the environmental impacts."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But as a fuel hydrogen has drawbacks, the most significant of which is that its physical density is extremely low.

The New Yorker

This sequence of events informs the structure of the film as well as the tricks, the most significant of which is known as 'the Transported Man'.

The Guardian - Film

It is often said that golf is a game of inches, the most significant of which lie between a player's ears.

The Guardian - Sport

But Rosen's words warrant attention for several reasons, the most significant of which I'll save for last.

The New York Times

This book features a host of problems, the most significant of which have come to be called Diophantine equations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

What a well-financed defense can do is exploit error, the two most significant of which, calling Mark Fuhrman as a witness and making Simpson try on the famous gloves, were made by Darden himself.

The New Yorker

The Knicks, largely on the recommendation of Coach JEFF VAN GUNDY, were one of the six teams to vote against the league's new rule changes, the most significant of which was allowing zone defenses.

The New York Times - Sports

He won just five events in the next 12 years – the consequence of any number of factors, the most significant of which, at least in strictly professional terms, were dreadful putting woes.

The Guardian - Sport

"A lot of things happened in the last few months, the most significant of which was the passing of Harold, who was a very good friend who was extraordinarily influential in my career," Reitman told Deadline.

The Guardian - Film

The Swans made three changes after their elimination from Europe in Naples on Thursday, the most significant of which saw Leon Britton restored in midfield, where his energy and immaculate distribution made him the man of the match.

The Guardian - Sport

The deteriorating GCSE figures follow a series of controversial changes to exam rules and league tables, the most significant of which is that only a pupil's first attempt at sitting a GCSE paper now counts towards a school's pass rate.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While widely used, consider replacing "significant of which" with grammatically sound alternatives like "the most significant of which" or rephrasing for clarity and correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "significant of which" when you intend to say "the most significant of which". The latter is grammatically correct and widely accepted. It clearly indicates the most important item from a group.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant of which" functions as part of a relative clause, attempting to identify the most important item within a previously mentioned group. However, it is considered grammatically incorrect. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which suggests it's a misconstruction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "significant of which" is commonly used but is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. Although frequently found in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts, writers should opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "the most significant of which" or rephrase the sentence for improved clarity and correctness. Despite its prevalence, relying on this phrase can undermine the professional tone in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the most significant among which

This alternative more explicitly highlights the comparison being made within the group.

the most important of which

Replaces "significant" with "important", offering a common synonym with largely the same meaning.

the most notable of these

Uses "notable" instead of "significant", suggesting something worthy of attention.

the primary one of these being

Changes the structure to emphasize a single, primary element from the group.

chief among these

A more concise way to indicate the most important item in a list.

the outstanding example of which

Emphasizes a particularly excellent or prominent instance.

the key aspect of which

Focuses on an essential element or feature within the larger context.

most notably

Highlights something worth noting or remembering.

especially

Offers a simpler, more direct way to highlight a particular item or aspect.

particularly

Similar to "especially", providing a focused emphasis.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "significant of which" in a sentence?

The phrase "significant of which" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Use "the most significant of which" instead for correct usage.

What is a better alternative to "significant of which"?

Consider using phrases like "the most important of which", "the most notable of which", or rephrasing the sentence for better clarity.

Is "significant of which" grammatically correct?

No, "significant of which" is not considered grammatically correct. The correct form is generally "the most significant of which".

What's the difference between "significant of which" and "the most significant of which"?

"Significant of which" is grammatically questionable, while "the most significant of which" is a grammatically correct way to indicate the most important element among several.