which are some

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which are some" is not standard in written English. It can be used in informal contexts but may sound awkward. Example: "There are several options, which are some of the best available." Alternative expressions include "which include" and "which consist of."

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

May riffs on the films of John Cassavetes, which are some of the best that exist.

The New Yorker

p. Which are some of the companies creating secure software to be used in online consultations?

The New York Times

Commuter rail services extend to Aylesbury and High Wycombe, which are some of London's wealthiest suburbs.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One in four had C-level positions, which are some of the highest-level jobs within a company.

The Guardian - Tech

Which are some of the most important questions in dating rapport between two people in terms of the first interaction.

The Guardian - Money

When they are incinerated, they can produce dioxins, which are some of the most toxic substances known to science.

The Guardian

WellPoint, Aetna and Cigna, which are some of the nation's largest for-profit insurers, are also flirting with the concept.

The New York Times

They end up on the streets, and increasingly, in jails and prisons, which are some of the largest providers of mental health care in the country.

Columbia University

Shortly thereafter, I distribute the opening lines of Virgil's Aeneid, which are some of the most famous examples of Latin verse.

University of California, Berkeley

We are proud of our industrial partners which are some of the top companies, large and small, in the emerging marketplace for intelligent systems and machines.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The team came to its conclusion after carefully analyzing angrites, which are some of the oldest and most pristine of planetary rocks.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using it in a relative clause, ensure a comma precedes the phrase to correctly signal a non-restrictive clause

Common error

Writers frequently use "which are some" when a simple preposition or a stronger verb would suffice. For instance, replacing it with "including" or "which include" often results in a more professional and streamlined sentence structure.

Linguistic Context

Grammatically, "which are some" functions as a relative pronoun followed by a linking verb and a quantifier. According to Ludwig, while the phrase is functional, it often acts as a placeholder to append extra information to a plural noun.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Analysis of Ludwig data reveals that "which are some" is a widely utilized phrase in contemporary journalism and technical writing to introduce specific instances of a plural subject. While Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase is not standard and can appear awkward, it remains a staple in descriptive reporting for outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian. It serves a practical purpose in allowing writers to point out significant examples within a larger set. However, to achieve a more polished tone, writers should consider replacing it with "including" or "some of which are", both of which offer better sentence rhythm and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some of which are

Provides a more formal structure for non-restrictive relative clauses

which include

Uses a more direct verb to introduce examples

among which are

Emphasizes the items within a larger set

including

The most concise and widely preferred way to introduce a subset

such as

Focuses on providing illustrative examples

comprising

Indicates the components that make up a whole

consisting of

Specifies the constituent parts of the subject

notably

Draws specific attention to the mentioned examples

specifically

Used when the examples are meant to be more precise

for example

A standard introductory phrase for illustrative instances

FAQs

How to use "which are some" in a sentence?

The phrase "which are some" is typically used to introduce a list of examples within a broader category, for example: "There are many vibrant cities in Italy, which are some of the most visited destinations in Europe."

What can I say instead of "which are some"?

You can use more direct alternatives such as "including", "such as", or the more formal "some of which are".

Is "which are some" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. However, Ludwig AI notes it can sound slightly awkward in formal writing and may be perceived as wordy compared to "among which are".

What is the difference between "which are some" and "some of which are"?

The phrase "some of which are" is generally considered more standard for introducing non-restrictive relative clauses, whereas "which are some" is more commonly found in informal journalism and speech.