that pertained to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that pertained to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to explain the connection between two ideas or concepts. For example, "The executive order provided the guidelines that pertained to the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"They wanted something that pertained to them," he said, "some comfort that pertained to their situations".

The New York Times

The investigators remained at the Coke offices throughout the day, examining files and removing documents that pertained to the inquiry, which has no deadline.

The New York Times

Because the landlord in his appeal submitted evidence that pertained to rental leases signed around 1990, it should have been previously available to him, Mr. Levy said.

The New York Times

Stephen Walkom, the N.H.L.'s director of officiating, said that the shootout was governed by the same rules that pertained to in-game penalty shots, and that the penalty shot was meant to replicate a breakaway on goal.

The New York Times - Sports

Moore observes a nice parallel: just as Darwin sought to explain the past, FitzRoy sought to explain the future — or, anyway, the portion of it that pertained to the weather.

The New Yorker

In his second-floor apartment, he was training an assistant to help with the accounts and had just reached that all-important lesson that pertained to long-term planning.

The New York Times

In May of that year it announced the cancellation of all business contracts with South Korea that pertained to the joint-venture Kaesŏng Industrial Complex, although, in practice, little changed there.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Using an inductive approach, we grouped codes together that represented themes that pertained to learning activities.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Others were allowed to index tweets and provide filtered views showing tweets that pertained to a topic or an interest.

TechCrunch

In addition, several other exam questions written by the lecture professor that pertained to lab learning goals were also included.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Other functionality included telling you about restaurants close by, media created nearby, and various local information that pertained to your location.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that pertained to", ensure the connection between the subjects is clear to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The documents that pertained to the investigation were sealed" is more effective than "The documents were sealed".

Common error

Avoid using "that pertained to" when a simpler, more direct verb like "concerned" or "related" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that pertained to" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun by specifying its relationship or relevance to something else. It introduces information that narrows down or provides further details about the noun it modifies. As Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is considered grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

29%

News & Media

27%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that pertained to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used relative clause, primarily functioning to specify the relationship or relevance between two elements. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and widely used, particularly in scientific, news, and encyclopedic contexts. While versatile, writers should be mindful of the phrase's formality and ensure a clear connection to avoid unnecessary verbosity. Alternatives such as "that related to" or "that applied to" can offer a simpler, more direct approach depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that were relevant to

Replaces "pertained" with "relevant", emphasizing importance and connection.

that related to

Replaces "pertained" with "related", focusing on a direct connection or association.

that applied to

Uses "applied" to indicate relevance or applicability in a specific context.

that concerned with

Emphasizes the subject matter or area of focus.

that referred to

Highlights the act of referencing or alluding to something.

that bore on

Uses "bore on" to suggest a direct influence or impact.

that had to do with

More conversational, indicating a connection or involvement.

that affected

Indicates a direct influence or impact on a specific element.

that were connected to

Uses "connected" to highlight a link or association.

that were associated with

Emphasizes a relationship or link, typically connoting a common connection.

FAQs

What does "that pertained to" mean?

The phrase "that pertained to" means "that related to" or "that had to do with". It's used to indicate a connection or relevance between two subjects.

How can I use "that pertained to" in a sentence?

Use "that pertained to" to connect a subject with its related information. For instance, "The emails "that related to" the project were archived separately."

What are some alternatives to "that pertained to"?

Alternatives include "that related to", "that applied to", or "that concerned with", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "that pertained to" and "that related to"?

While similar, "that pertained to" often suggests a more direct or significant relevance than "that related to". The choice depends on the nuance you wish to convey.