the fire at which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the fire at which" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to a specific fire or event that is being discussed or described. Example: "The fire at which the villagers gathered became a symbol of their resilience and unity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It is the fire at which listeners warm their hands.

The New Yorker

An hour later, Mr. Schlesinger reluctantly abandoned the narrative to add more charcoal to the fire, at which point he turned the butts over.

The New York Times - Food

The bucket was filled with soapy water, sealed with the lid, and then brought to a boil over the fire, at which point the vaporized soapy water was pushed up through the tube and expelled on to the laundry.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The fire at St . Gotthard Tunnel which broke out when two trucks collided, got so hot that the concrete ceiling collapsed.

The New York Times

Police believe the fire at Murrindindi Mill (which, due to a sudden change in wind direction, burned the town twice) was started deliberately.

The Guardian

Click here to enlarge or view on mobiles And here's the fire at Springwood, which has again been well contained: Map data ©2013 Google, Cnes/Spot Image, DigitalGlobe, Landsat.

The Guardian

Sustained rate of fire, the rate of fire at which the gunner can fire continuously without overheating, is approximately 850 r/min.

Wikipedia

However, one of the large deficits in knowledge about the toxicity of smoke is the distance from a fire at which the smoke still poses a significant health threat, according to many experts.

Environmental Health Perspectives

In tactical manuals, drummers duties are described as playing a long roll to signal cease fire, at which the men would cease firing, load their weapons, and wait for orders.

WikiHow

The fire at the Resid Hydrotreater Unit, which combines heavy crude oil with hydrogen, caused more than $30 million in damage.

The New York Times

Immediately following the fire at the mill, which has been shuttered for 20 years, officials closed schools and relocated 40 families because of concerns about air quality and windblown debris.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the fire at which" to clearly connect a specific fire to a subsequent event or detail. For example, "The fire at which the firefighters arrived quickly was contained within hours."

Common error

Avoid using "where" in place of "at which" when referring to a fire as an event rather than a physical location. "The fire at which" is more appropriate when detailing an action or condition related to the fire.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the fire at which" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun (usually implied but understood in context). It introduces a relative clause that provides additional information about a specific fire, detailing events or conditions linked to it. As evidenced by Ludwig, this construction is grammatically correct and serves to connect a fire to subsequent events.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the fire at which" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to connect a specific fire to a subsequent event or detail. While not exceedingly common, as shown by Ludwig, it serves as a valuable tool for providing context in news reports, scientific discussions, and formal communications. When employing this phrase, it's important to ensure a clear and logical connection between the fire and the linked event to maintain clarity and avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the blaze where

Replaces 'at which' with 'where', focusing on the location of the fire.

the fire during which

Substitutes 'at which' with 'during which', emphasizing the time period of the fire's activity.

the site of the fire

Focuses on the place where the fire occurred.

the location of the fire

Simplifies the phrase to directly refer to the fire's location.

the fire's epicenter

Replaces the entire phrase with a more specific term for the fire's origin.

the fire's origin

Highlights the starting point of the fire.

the burning area

Describes the geographical extent of the fire.

the inferno that

Uses a more dramatic word for fire and connects it with a relative pronoun.

the place where the fire raged

Adds intensity to the location of the fire.

the area affected by the fire

Highlights the impact zone of the fire.

FAQs

How can I use "the fire at which" in a sentence?

Use "the fire at which" to link a particular fire to a specific event or condition that followed. For example, "The fire at which the alarm sounded was quickly addressed".

What's a good substitute for "the fire at which"?

Consider alternatives like "the fire where" or "the fire during which" depending on the intended meaning.

Is it better to say "the fire at which" or "where the fire"?

Use "the fire at which" when you want to emphasize an event connected to the fire. Use "where the fire" when referring to the location. The first is more related to a context, the latter to geography.

What are common mistakes when using "the fire at which"?

A common mistake is using it too broadly. Ensure it clearly links to a specific detail or action associated with the fire. Avoid redundancy or overly complex sentence structures.