which amounts to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'which amounts to' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used when there is a sum of money or a quantity of something that can be described numerically. For example, "The total cost of the project amounted to $10,000, which amounts to an average of $200 per unit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Which amounts to the same thing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Which amounts to much the same thing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

All of which amounts to a serious worry.

The Guardian

Or Big Oil, which amounts to the same thing.

The Guardian - Opinion

Or how sincere they were willing themselves to be, which amounts to the same thing.

The New Yorker

The funding, which amounts to £250m a year, will be confirmed in the budget on Wednesday.

The Guardian

Tells about the Vietnamese government's unwillinness to weaken the infrastructure which amounts to a subterranean government.

The New Yorker

All of which amounts to a sad, if predictable, cop-out on Trump's part.

The New Yorker

Thus we've reduced the photograph exposure by two stops, which amounts to halving the exposure twice.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Drug companies hate the reimportation bill which amounts to price controls.

Forbes

The BER degradation due to the insertion of pilot symbols (which amounts to for ) is included.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which amounts to" to provide a numerical value or quantity that clarifies a previous statement. For example, "The project's budget was initially $50,000, which amounts to approximately $1,000 per week."

Common error

Avoid using "which amounts to" when you intend to convey causation or purpose. Use causal connectors like "due to" or purpose connectors such as "in order to" instead. For instance, don't say 'The delay, which amounts to the weather' but rather 'The delay was due to the weather'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which amounts to" primarily functions as a relative clause introducing additional information, often quantifying or clarifying a preceding statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase. Examples show it connecting a preceding clause to a numerical result, such as "The funding, which amounts to £250m a year, will be confirmed..."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

14%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which amounts to" is a versatile phrase used to add clarifying details, typically involving numerical values or quantities. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and widely used, particularly in contexts such as news reporting, academic writing, and professional communications. The phrase serves to specify a quantifiable aspect of a preceding statement. While it's important to use "which amounts to" correctly, avoiding confusion with causal or purposeful connectors, it's a valuable tool for ensuring clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which is equivalent to

This alternative maintains a similar level of formality and focuses on the equivalence between two things.

which is the same as

This alternative is slightly more informal and emphasizes the identical nature of two things.

which equates to

This alternative is more concise and focuses on the numerical or quantifiable aspect of the equivalence.

which totals to

This alternative specifically refers to a sum or final quantity.

that is to say

This alternative provides further clarification or explanation of a previous statement.

in other words

This alternative restates a previous statement in simpler terms.

which comes down to

This alternative suggests that the core of a matter can be simplified to something.

which effectively means

This alternative highlights the practical consequences of a statement.

which can be interpreted as

This alternative focuses on the subjective understanding of something.

which boils down to

This alternative conveys that something complex can be reduced to a fundamental point.

FAQs

How can I use "which amounts to" in a sentence?

Use "which amounts to" to clarify a preceding statement by expressing it in terms of quantity or numerical value. For example: "The company's debt reached $1 million, which amounts to a significant portion of its assets."

What are some alternatives to "which amounts to"?

Alternatives include "which is equivalent to", "which is the same as", or "which equates to" depending on the specific context.

Is "which amounts to" formal or informal?

"Which amounts to" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts without sounding out of place.

Can I use "that amounts to" instead of "which amounts to"?

Yes, "that amounts to" is also grammatically correct; however, "which amounts to" is generally preferred when adding non-essential or additional information.