the root of which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the root of which" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer back to a noun or concept previously mentioned, indicating the source or origin of something. Example: "The problem has many underlying factors, the root of which can be traced back to poor management."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Falk named him after the purple flower, the root of which reputedly has magical properties.

The Guardian

Lohengrin himself -- an underwritten character, in my opinion, mostly a blank onto which the beleaguered Elsa and her antagonists project their fears and desires -- emerged in Bayreuth as a hero against his will, in the grip of some churning anxiety or neurosis the root of which was never revealed.

The New York Times - Arts

The LooCI type system is encoded in a tree data structure, the root of which is the base SERVICE type.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

This allows to build a hierarchy of communities, the root of which is the whole graph and leafs are communities composed of isolated nodes.

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

And I propose that the magnitude of this issue requires that we do a much better job of applying the skills of emotional and social intelligence at the root of which lies the increasingly important capacity for empathy.

Forbes

Dialogical games are structured as a tree, the root of which is constituted by a (possibly empty) sequence of premises together with the thesis of the dialogue in the final position.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Its rituals are buds on a tree, the roots of which cross oceans and burrow down through centuries.

The Economist

Vetiver, (Chrysopogon zizanioides), also called khus-khus, perennial grass of the family Poaceae, the roots of which contain an oil used in perfumes.

Britannica

Work by Newete et al. (2016) demonstrated that over 80% of the total amount of metals removed was accumulated in the roots, of which 30 52% was adsorbed onto the root surfaces31.

Nature

The dire economic conditions penalise Labour more than Likud for the same reason: the economy is seen as a casualty of the conflict, the roots of which are thought to lie in the failure of the Oslo process.

The Guardian

Its seller was Santander, which acquired the Italian bank during the three-way bid for Dutch bank ABN Amro, the roots of which lay in the taxpayer bailout of Royal Bank of Scotland.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, ensure that the noun or concept "which" refers to is immediately clear to the reader. Avoid ambiguous references to maintain coherence.

Common error

Avoid superficial analyses. Ensure you've thoroughly investigated and accurately identified the true fundamental origin, rather than merely addressing a symptom or secondary effect. Otherwise, your analysis won't be insightful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the root of which" functions as a prepositional phrase, connecting a preceding noun or idea to its underlying cause or origin. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it clarifies the source or basis of the subject being discussed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the root of which" serves as a prepositional phrase that identifies the origin or cause of a previously mentioned subject. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correct usage, which appears most often in Science, News & Media and Encyclopedias. To ensure your writing remains clear, make sure the reference is explicit. By focusing on accurately identifying the fundamental cause, you prevent superficial analysis and enhance insightfulness. You can also use alternative expressions such as "the source of which" or "the origin of which" to convey the same meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the origin of which

Replaces "root" with "origin", focusing on the starting point or cause.

the source of which

Substitutes "root" with "source", emphasizing the point from which something originates.

the basis of which

Uses "basis" instead of "root", highlighting the foundation or support for something.

the foundation of which

Employs "foundation" instead of "root", stressing the underlying structure.

the cause of which

Replaces "root" with "cause", focusing on the reason or impetus behind something.

the heart of which

Uses "heart" instead of "root", metaphorically referring to the central or most important part.

the core of which

Substitutes "root" with "core", emphasizing the essential or fundamental element.

the origin from which it stems

Expresses the same idea using a more verbose structure, focusing on the starting point and how it develops.

the reason behind this

Simplifies the phrase to focus on the reason or explanation for something.

the beginnings of which

Highlights the initial stages or early development of something.

FAQs

How can I use "the root of which" in a sentence?

Use "the root of which" to refer back to a previously mentioned noun or concept, indicating its origin or fundamental cause. For instance, "The company faced several challenges, the "cause of which" was poor management".

What are some alternatives to "the root of which"?

You can use alternatives like "the source of which", "the origin of which", or "the basis of which" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "the root of which" or "the roots of which"?

Use "the root of which" when referring to a singular origin or cause. Use "the roots of which" when referring to multiple origins or contributing factors, as in "The problem had many underlying factors, the roots of which can be traced to several policy changes".

What's the difference between "the root of which" and "due to which"?

"The root of which" specifies the origin or fundamental cause, while "due to which" simply indicates a cause-and-effect relationship. "The root of which" implies a deeper, more fundamental source.