what a relation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what a relation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express surprise or admiration about a relationship or connection between people or things. Example: "After hearing their story, I thought to myself, what a relation they have built over the years!"

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I must clearly show what a relation is" (1897 CP 3.456).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

– What is a relation?

TechCrunch

Section 2 characterizes what is a relation, the relevant arguments involved in the scope of this paper and the corresponding NLP task of Relation Extraction.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

What a public relations coup that would be!

Huffington Post

They, and some atheist contemporaries as well, think in terms of a "constituent ontology" as opposed to what Wolterstorff calls a "relation ontology" or what might be called a "nonconstituent ontology".

SEP

Despite growing concerns over Erdoğan's anti-democratic behavior, European leaders haven't been willing to declare Turkey's EU bid doomed for fear of what a might happen if relations with Ankara went from bad to outright disastrous, Mounk said.

Vice

The extension to kinds and relations is straightforward and only occasionally do I say what a certain theory says about relations.

SEP

The Scheme contains proposals in relation to what a coy agony aunt in the back page of Woman's Own used to call problems of under-performance.

The Guardian

Britain's government hopes to change their view of the country, drum up investment and improve bilateral relations in what a foreign office official politely calls a "relatively unchallenging" forum.

The Economist

The critic Kenneth Baker of The San Francisco Chronicle wrote that the project demonstrated brilliantly the degree to which "we have no calculus to unravel relations between what a picture shows and what it explains".

The New York Times - Arts

(Click to enlarge) The final check – and in my opinion, the most interesting one – is to what extent there exists a relation between the number of pledges per capita, and GDP per capita.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what a relation" to express surprise or acknowledgment of a notable connection, link, or association between two or more things. This phrase is most effective when the relationship is unexpected or particularly significant.

Common error

Avoid using "what a relation" when simply stating that a relationship exists. The phrase carries an element of surprise or appreciation, so it's unsuitable for neutral or purely informational contexts. Instead, opt for more direct statements of relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what a relation" primarily functions as an exclamatory expression to highlight or acknowledge a notable connection or link between two or more entities. This expression conveys a sense of surprise, recognition, or appreciation for the relationship, often in contexts where the connection is significant or unexpected. As noted by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "what a relation" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to emphasize or acknowledge a notable connection. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It carries a tone of surprise, recognition, or appreciation, fitting well in contexts where the relationship is significant or unexpected. Its frequency is common, with prevalence in scientific and news sources. While suitable for both formal and informal settings, its tone makes it less appropriate for neutral contexts. Alternatives include "what a connection" and "what a bond", depending on the desired nuance. The key is to use it when you want to highlight the surprising or noteworthy nature of a relationship, avoiding simple statements of fact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what a connection

Replaces 'relation' with a synonym emphasizing a link or bond.

what a link

Emphasizes a direct connection between two things.

what an association

Highlights a connection or correlation between items.

what a correlation

Focuses on the statistical relationship between variables.

what an interrelation

Highlights a mutual or reciprocal relation.

what a bond

Implies a strong connection, often emotional or personal.

what an affinity

Suggests a natural liking or connection.

what an interconnectedness

Highlights the state of being connected with each other.

what a tie

Highlights something that unites or binds.

what a correspondence

Implies similarity or analogy.

FAQs

How can I use "what a relation" in a sentence?

You can use "what a relation" to express surprise or admiration about a connection or link. For example, you might say, "After discovering their shared history, I realized what a relation they had!"

What's the difference between "what a relation" and "what a connection"?

While both phrases express a link between things, "what a relation" can sometimes imply a more formal or defined link, whereas "what a connection" may suggest a broader association. You can use alternatives like "what a connection".

Is "what a relation" formal or informal?

"What a relation" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the specific situation and the tone you wish to convey. It's generally suitable for expressing surprise or recognition of a significant link.

What phrases are similar in meaning to "what a relation"?

Similar phrases include "what an association", "what a bond", or "what a link". The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey regarding the nature of the relationship. You can use phrases like "what an association" or "what a bond".