which accounts for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which accounts for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to explain or describe why something is the way it is. For example, "The high price of the product can be attributed to its excellent quality, which accounts for its popularity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Which accounts for the uniform and depressing cinematic landscape.

The New Yorker

Which accounts for a lot of experiences in the Fall".

The Guardian - Music

The monoterpenes are mostly volatile, which accounts for their fragrances.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Oil, which accounts for 70% of exports, is running out.

The Economist

Demand for services, which accounts for 60percentt of the index, fell 1.5percentt.

The New York Times

which accounts for the energy correction of the received sequence.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

A mechanism has been investigated which accounts for the failures.

Failure Analysis Case Studies II

As to the accidents caused by the substance, they are either caused by the form (which accounts for action), the matter (which accounts for passion), or the entire composite (which accounts for relation).

SEP

As a Platonist, he was interested less in substance as the hypokeimenon, which accounts for difference, than in its other sense of ousia, which accounts for sameness.

SEP

Univariate comparisons were performed using PROC LOGLINK, which accounts for study design and weighting.

Journal of Dairy Science

Norovirus is an important pathogen which accounts for majority of the viral related acute gastroenteritis.

Infection, Genetics and Evolution

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which accounts for" to clearly articulate the reason behind a specific observation or result. Ensure the connection between the cause and effect is evident in your sentence.

Common error

Avoid using "which accounts for" when simply describing a characteristic or feature without implying a direct cause-and-effect relationship. For example, instead of saying "The building is tall, which accounts for its many windows", consider "The building is tall and therefore has many windows" or "The building is tall, featuring many windows".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which accounts for" functions as a relative clause introducing an explanation or reason for a preceding statement. It connects two parts of a sentence by indicating a cause-and-effect relationship, similar to how Ludwig examples demonstrate its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which accounts for" is a versatile phrase used to explain cause-and-effect relationships across various contexts. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. As shown by numerous examples, it's most common in scientific and news-related writing. When using this phrase, ensure a clear causal connection and avoid misusing it in non-causal descriptions. Alternative phrases like "that explains" or "that is attributable to" can be used to diversify your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that explains

Direct causal explanation, less formal.

that is attributable to

Formal attribution of cause or origin.

that is responsible for

Highlights agency or direct causation.

that explains the reason for

Emphasizes the reasoning behind something.

that clarifies

Focuses on making something understandable.

that represents

Highlights representation rather than direct causation.

that embodies

Suggests a more abstract representation.

that constitutes

Focuses on composition or makeup.

that indicates

Suggests a signal or sign of something.

that reflects

Emphasizes a mirroring or representation aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "which accounts for" in a sentence?

Use "which accounts for" to explain the cause or reason behind something. For example, "The increase in sales, "which accounts for" the company's profit, is due to the new marketing campaign."

What are some alternatives to "which accounts for"?

You can use alternatives like "that explains", "that is attributable to", or "that is responsible for", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "that accounts for" instead of "which accounts for"?

Yes, "that accounts for" can often be used interchangeably with "which accounts for", but "which" introduces a nonrestrictive clause, while "that" introduces a restrictive clause. Choose based on whether the clause is essential to the sentence's meaning.

What is the difference between "which accounts for" and "due to"?

"Which accounts for" is typically used within a clause to explain a preceding statement, while "due to" directly introduces the cause. For example, "The profits increased, "which accounts for" the bonus" versus "The bonus was awarded "due to" increased profits".