under which circumstances

USAGE SUMMARY

"under which circumstances" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to ask what specific conditions or situations qualify for a particular outcome or action. For example, "What circumstances are required for me to be eligible to receive the bonus?".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The tapes would have shown under which circumstances Abu Zubaydah coöperated and when he stopped coöperating.

The New Yorker

But it wouldn't say why, or under which circumstances, it might refund other nonrefundable tickets.

The Washington Post

This finding might also provide an explanation under which circumstances tACS does not show effects.

Nature

The different methods are compared and it is evaluated under which circumstances they can be applied.

Analytica Chimica Acta

We show under which circumstances cost-sharing and compensations emerge as incentive devices.

Journal of Public Economics

Origin-of-life research strives to answer the questions how and under which circumstances the first replicating life forms emerged.

Nature

It is shown under which circumstances the axial stress vanishes at every location and at every time instant.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

The main question of our study was whether it is an effective means of restoration and under which circumstances.

Ecological Engineering

We show why and under which circumstances a literal adoption of phases from published sequences can lead to incorrect results.

Journal of Magnetic Resonance

Decide whether, or under which circumstances, to use the systems for communication and coordination that already have been established in the Emergency Operations Plan.

University of California, Berkeley

Such a diversity mechanism would improve the quality of regulatory decision-making by generating information on which regulations work best under which circumstances.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "under which circumstances", ensure the sentence clearly specifies both the conditions and the resulting action or outcome. For example, "Under which circumstances should fees be refundable to air travelers?"

Common error

Avoid using "under which circumstances" in simple sentences where a more direct phrasing like "when" or "if" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under which circumstances" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a dependent clause. It sets the stage for specifying the conditions or situations necessary for a particular event or action to occur, as Ludwig AI confirms with many examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "under which circumstances" is a grammatically correct and versatile way to inquire about or specify the conditions necessary for a particular event or action. As Ludwig AI states, it is suitable for a broad variety of contexts, especially science, news, and academic writing. While "under what conditions" is a very similar alternative, be mindful of the contexts in which a simpler phrasing like "when" or "if" might be more appropriate. It's also important to use this phrase to make your point very clear and avoid convoluted sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under what conditions

This alternative replaces "circumstances" with "conditions", emphasizing the specific requirements or prerequisites.

in what situation

This alternative is more concise and general, focusing on the specific situation rather than the broader concept of circumstances.

considering the circumstances

This alternative emphasizes the act of taking the circumstances into account when making a judgment or decision.

given what situation

This alternative emphasizes that you are taking into account a particular situation when making a decision.

depending on the situation

This alternative highlights that the action or outcome varies based on the situation.

in which case

This alternative shifts the focus to the outcome or result that follows from the circumstances.

subject to what conditions

This alternative introduces a sense of limitation or dependence on specific conditions.

conditional on what

This alternative focuses on the conditional nature of the relationship, emphasizing that something is dependent on specific factors.

when is it appropriate

This alternative focuses on the appropriateness of an action or decision, based on the circumstances.

when is it suitable

Similar to "when is it appropriate", but emphasizes suitability rather than permissibility.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "under which circumstances" for clarity?

For simpler phrasing, consider alternatives like "when", "if", or "in what situation". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "under what conditions" and "under which circumstances"?

While similar, "under what conditions" often refers to specific requirements or prerequisites, whereas "under which circumstances" implies a broader set of surrounding factors. They are largely interchangeable but conditions implies a stricter and more defined set of limitations.

How to use "under which circumstances" in a sentence?

Use "under which circumstances" to introduce the specific conditions or situations that must be met for a particular outcome to occur. For example, "Under which circumstances might you get interested?"

What are some alternatives to "under which circumstances"?

You can use alternatives like "in what situation", "in what case", or "when is it appropriate depending on the context".