those which

USAGE SUMMARY

"those which" is perfectly correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to a specific group of people or things among many (e.g. "Among the collection of books, those which are written by J.K. Rowling are my favorites.").

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Those which had been stunned felt none.

Independent

"There will be those which can't be".

The Guardian

Only those which won't hurt his chances?

The New York Times - Magazine

Those which stop changing stop being cities.

The New Yorker

These fall, broadly, into three camps: those which use eggs and cream, those which use eggs and butter, and those which keep it simple and just use eggs.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Insurance pays for those, which raises everybody else's premium.

The New York Times - Magazine

Those which endure are memorable for their warnings.

The New Yorker

Those which did, insisted Wnendt were "very representative".

The Guardian - Film

His favorite charities are those which helped children.

The New York Times

Most intriguing are those which derive from a dominant characteristic.

The Guardian

Behavioral therapies, even those which work initially, often fail.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "those which", ensure the context clearly identifies the group you are referring to. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the criteria or characteristics that define "those".

Common error

Avoid using "that" when "which" is grammatically required in nonrestrictive clauses. Ensure you understand the difference between restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses to use "those which" correctly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "those which" functions as a relative pronoun introducing a nonrestrictive (or nonessential) clause. This type of clause provides additional information about the antecedent (the "those") but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence, similar to examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "those which" is grammatically sound and frequently employed to introduce relative clauses, specifying a subset from a larger group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's perfectly acceptable in written English. Its usage spans across diverse contexts, from news and media to scientific and academic writing, though it is slightly more formal than alternatives like "those that". When using "those which", clarity is key; ensure that the antecedent is clear to avoid ambiguity. Remember to use "which" appropriately in nonrestrictive clauses, differentiating it from "that" which is used in restrictive clauses. With its widespread use and grammatical correctness, "those which" remains a valuable tool in effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the ones that

More informal alternative; uses "that" instead of "which".

those that

Slightly more concise and often interchangeable in many contexts.

the items that

More generic; suitable when referring to objects or things.

the specified ones

Emphasizes a previously defined or specified group.

those meeting the criteria

Emphasizes adherence to particular conditions.

the qualifying ones

Highlights that elements satisfy predefined conditions.

the aforementioned

More formal; refers to items previously mentioned.

the instances that

Highlights specific occurrences or examples.

the cases where

Focuses on situations or scenarios meeting certain criteria.

the aforementioned items

Formal; suitable for academic or business writing, denotes things described earlier.

FAQs

How can I use "those which" in a sentence?

Use "those which" to refer to a specific subset of items or individuals from a larger group, for example: "Among the applicants, "those which" meet the minimum qualifications will be interviewed."

What are some alternatives to using "those which"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "the ones that", or "those that" to achieve a similar meaning. The choice depends on the desired level of formality.

Is it better to use "those which" or "those that"?

While both are often interchangeable, "those which" is generally considered more formal. "Those that" is more common in everyday speech and writing, but both are grammatically correct. Choose based on the tone and context of your writing.

What's the difference between "those which" and "these which"?

"Those which" refers to items or individuals at a distance (either physically or conceptually), while "these which" is grammatically incorrect. Always use "these that" instead of "these which", for example: "these that are here."