two of which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "two of which" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a construct that indicates the speaker/writer is referring back to two previously mentioned things. For example: I threw a party and served three different desserts, two of which were chocolate-based.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

steam-powered three-wheeler (two of which are wooden).

The New York Times

Only two of which are officially frowned upon.

The Guardian - Sport

There are three videos, two of which were produced here.

The New York Times - Arts

She also completed four other novels, two of which were serialized in the New York Mercury and two of which were published in book form.

Britannica

The crash happened in an area where four sets of tracks come together — two of which are Amtrak's and two of which belong to CSX.

The Washington Post

Within the series proposal there are seven books described, only two of which have authors assigned.

Cornell University

5. Three letters of recommendation, two of which should address academic potential.

Yale University

These technical developments have resulted in several patents, two of which are commercially licensed.

Columbia University

They diversified into 16 families, only two of which are now extinct.

University of California, Berkeley

Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which must be from clinical supervisors.

University of California, Berkeley

So there are at least 10244 such pieces, no two of which are exactly the same.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "two of which", ensure the antecedent is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, "I read three books, two of which were novels" is clearer than "I read three books, two of which were interesting."

Common error

Avoid using "two of which" when the reference is ambiguous or unclear. Ensure the reader can easily identify the group from which the "two" are being selected. An ambiguous sentence could be: "There were many things, two of which were broken."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "two of which" functions as a relative pronoun construction, connecting a main clause to a subordinate clause that specifies two items from a previously mentioned set. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Academia

31%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "two of which" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to specify two items from a previously mentioned group. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent use across various contexts. Its primary function is to provide specific details, making it suitable for both formal and informal writing, although most commonly used in News & Media and Academia. To ensure clarity, always make certain that the antecedent of "two of which" is clearly defined. By understanding its function and avoiding common errors, writers can confidently and effectively incorporate "two of which" into their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a couple of which

Replaces "two" with a more casual expression implying a small number.

of which there are two

Inverts the sentence structure to place emphasis on the existence of two items.

two among them

Uses a more general term "among them" instead of a more specific "of which".

two from those

Replaces "of which" with "from those", slightly altering the grammatical structure.

of those, two

Rearranges the sentence to emphasize 'those' before specifying the quantity.

out of which, two

Adds "out of" for clarity and slightly changes the focus.

two from the group

Replaces "of which" with "from the group", making the reference more explicit.

a pair of which

Substitutes "two" with "a pair", which is suitable in certain contexts.

among which are two

Changes the structure to highlight that two items are included within the larger group.

of which, a couple

Uses "a couple" for a less precise count, implying approximately two.

FAQs

How do I use "two of which" in a sentence?

Use "two of which" to refer back to a previously mentioned group of three or more items, singling out exactly two. For example: "I bought five apples, "two of which" were green."

What can I say instead of "two of which"?

You can use alternatives like "a couple of which", "of which there are two", or "two among them" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "two of who" instead of "two of which"?

No, it is not correct. "Which" is used for things, while "who" is used for people. Therefore, "two of whom" would be correct when referring to people, and ""two of which"" is used when referring to things.

What's the difference between "two of which" and "both of which"?

"Two of which" implies that you're selecting two specific items from a larger group of three or more, while "both of which" implies you're referring to all items in a group of only two.