the latter of which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'the latter of which' is correct and suitable for use in written English.
You can use it when you need to refer to the second of two things or people, such as in the sentence "Our school has two kitchens, the latter of which is used for staff only."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

& The Mysterians, the latter of which Suicide have actually covered.

The Guardian

(His two favorite words are "dude" and "sweet," the latter of which he pronounces "swaaate").

The New York Times - Travel

Dybwad wrote monographs, articles, and books, the latter of which include Challenges in Mental Retardation (1964).

Encyclopedia Britannica

There are scorpions and vipers here, several of the latter of which the excavators have had to kill.

The New Yorker

And there are two types of earwax — wet and dry — the latter of which is prevalent among Asians.

The New Yorker

Presilla suggests buying prepackaged dried peppers rather than loose, the latter of which are exposed to less-controlled storage conditions.

The Washington Post

His later sports were rugby, skiing and tennis – the latter of which he continued playing into his 80s.

The Guardian

There also was constant argument with municipal and church authorities, the latter of which more than once excommunicated him.

Britannica

Thera proper consists largely of lava and pumice, the latter of which is the island's main export.

Britannica

Two other platforms for voice programming are Caster and Aenea, the latter of which runs on Linux.

Nature

The latter of which is key to accurate residual-based discretization error estimation.

Journal of Computational Physics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the latter of which" to clearly distinguish between two previously mentioned items, ensuring clarity and avoiding ambiguity in your writing. It works best in formal writing where precision is valued.

Common error

Avoid using "the latter of which" when referring to a list with more than two items. This phrase is designed for comparing or contrasting only two elements. For longer lists, consider alternatives like "the last of these" or rephrase for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the latter of which" functions as a relative clause, specifically used to refer back to the second of two items previously mentioned. It introduces additional information about that second item, providing further context or detail as shown by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

27%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the latter of which" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to denote the second of two previously mentioned items. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and suitability in formal English writing. As demonstrated by Ludwig examples, it serves to clarify references, maintain coherence, and avoid ambiguity. It is particularly common in news media, encyclopedias, and scientific writing. When using this phrase, remember to ensure it refers to only two items and consider alternatives like "the second of these" or "of the latter" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the second of these

Emphasizes the ordinal position of the item being referenced.

of the latter

A more concise phrasing, omitting "which" for brevity.

the second mentioned

Highlights the order in which the items were introduced.

referring to the latter

Focuses on the act of making a reference.

the one previously mentioned second

More explicitly defines what "latter" means.

the last of these

Uses a slightly different phrasing to indicate the final item of two.

concerning the latter

Emphasizes that the statement is about the latter item.

regarding the latter

Similar to "concerning the latter", indicating the topic of discussion.

specifically the latter

Highlights that the focus is deliberately on the second item.

the last item mentioned

Directly states that the reference is to the most recently mentioned item.

FAQs

How do I use "the latter of which" in a sentence?

Use "the latter of which" to refer to the second of two items or ideas you've already mentioned. For example: "Our company considered two marketing strategies, traditional advertising and social media campaigns, "the latter of which" proved to be more effective."

What are some alternatives to using "the latter of which"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "the second of these", "of the latter", or "the second mentioned" to avoid repetition or to vary your writing style. Each subtly alters the emphasis.

Is it correct to use "the latter of which" for more than two items?

No, "the latter of which" is specifically used to refer to the second of two items. If you are referring to the last item in a list of three or more, you should use a different construction, such as "the last of these".

What's the difference between "the former of which" and "the latter of which"?

"The former of which" refers to the first item of two, while ""the latter of which"" refers to the second. They are used together to clearly distinguish between two items previously mentioned.