which believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which believed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a group or entity that held a belief or conviction about something in a descriptive manner. Example: "The ancient civilization, which believed in multiple gods, constructed grand temples to honor them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A generation which believed itself radicalised by the Sixties now had a Conservative government.

Independent

"My parents were brought up in families which believed theatre people weren't to be trusted.

The Guardian - Film

Once upon a time the left accepted a universalism which believed in the moral equality of all people.

Independent

The government takeover was approved by A.I.G.'s board, which believed that the only other alternative was bankruptcy.

The New Yorker

Goldman, it is alleged, provided staff appraisals to the fund, which believed it had secured a "partnership" with the bank.

Independent

Could companies which believed in the rule of law, owning papers that championed it, duck when the going got tough?

The Guardian

Three days later he and his People's party were toppled by an electorate which believed it had been misled.

The Guardian

Its arrival, entailing as it did a surrender of financial sovereignty, was accompanied by a wave of anger from a public which believed it had been deceived.

Independent

If they were genuine, he knew, it would advance the cause of theosophy, which believed in the existence of spirit life.

The New York Times

DeMint and Toomey stood on the side of the Republican divide which believed the Party had failed because it had strayed from its core principles.

The New Yorker

But at its heart was an elaborate doctrine which believed that the whole human person body as well as spirit could be saved.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "which believed", ensure the clause clearly refers to a specific, identifiable group or entity holding the belief to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid substituting "which" with "that" when introducing a nonrestrictive clause. "Which" is appropriate when the clause provides additional, non-essential information about the noun it modifies. Using "that believed" is grammatically incorrect in this context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which believed" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun or noun phrase by providing additional information about a group or entity's beliefs. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Wiki

15%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Science

13%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which believed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that introduces nonrestrictive clauses to describe the beliefs of a group or entity. It's commonly found in news, encyclopedias, and academic writing, and serves to provide additional context or descriptive detail. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is widely accepted. When using "which believed", ensure clear reference to the subject holding the belief, and avoid substituting it with "that" in nonrestrictive clauses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which thought

Substitutes 'believed' with 'thought', indicating a less firm or certain conviction.

which considered

Substitutes 'believed' with 'considered', implying a more thoughtful evaluation or assessment.

which felt

Replaces 'believed' with 'felt', indicating a subjective or emotional conviction.

which viewed

Replaces 'believed' with 'viewed', suggesting a perspective or opinion.

which imagined

Replaces 'believed' with 'imagined', suggesting a focus on conjecture or fantasy rather than factual belief.

which envisioned

Replaces 'believed' with 'envisioned', highlighting a mental image or anticipated future.

which suggested

Substitutes 'believed' with 'suggested', indicating an implication or hint rather than a firm conviction.

which was

A more general phrase that requires additional context to convey the specific meaning of 'believed'.

which attributed

Highlights the act of assigning a quality or cause, rather than holding a belief.

which loved

Emphasizes affection or strong preference, a departure from simple belief.

FAQs

How can I use "which believed" in a sentence?

Use "which believed" to introduce a nonrestrictive clause that describes the beliefs held by a particular group or entity. For example, "The community, which believed in sustainable living, implemented strict recycling policies."

What are some alternatives to "which believed"?

You can use alternatives such as "which considered", "which thought", or "that held the belief", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "that believed" instead of "which believed"?

No, it is generally not correct to use "that believed" in place of "which believed" when introducing a nonrestrictive clause. "Which" is the appropriate relative pronoun in this context.

What's the difference between "which believed" and "who believed"?

"Which believed" refers to groups, organizations, or abstract entities, while "who believed" refers to individual people or groups of people. For example, "the company, which believed in innovation" vs. "the employees, who believed in teamwork."