which describes why

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which describes why" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to introduce an explanation or reasoning behind a statement or situation. Example: "The report includes a section which describes why the project was delayed due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Some of these systems provide the end user not only with such a personalized item list but also with an explanation which describes why a specific item is recommended and why the system supposes that the user will like it.

International Journal of Human-Computer Studies

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Also discovered was a racist "manifesto" which described why he had decided to launch the attack.

Independent

The next question asked which choice "best describes why you are comfortable diagnosing death based on the criteria of brain death?" Most (133, 69%; 62-75%) responded that "the conceptual basis of brain death makes it equivalent to death of the patient".

Annals of Intensive Care

Dr Ryrie, historian of religion at Durham says: "The kind of personal statement that warms an admissions tutor's heart is the kind which is honest: which describes, in genuinely personal terms, quite why the student loves the subject, and conveys something of their passion for it".

The Guardian

Appraisal theory, which describes the intrapsychic processes that explain why two people experiencing the same event may have completely different emotional reactions to it [ 14- 16], suggests that the objective degree of exposure to a stressor and the subsequent subjective distress are relatively independent of each other.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

She initiated a difficult conversation with her supervisor at her non-profit development job, in which she described why she was thinking of leaving.

Huffington Post

Why? Influence is that delicate concept which describes or predicts the behaviour embedded in these trillions of connections.

TechCrunch

Self-serving bias 2. Which of the following explanations describes why the amygdala would most likely be activated by the use of the I.A.T. in this study?

The New York Times

Re "A Path Paved in Dreams, Not in Gold" (Executive Life, July 14), which described how and why for-profit corporate executives sometimes switch to the nonprofit sector: Such successful transitions are probably the exception, not the rule.

The New York Times

He had watched a "Nova" program called "Why Planes Crash," which described a method known as "crew resource management," or C.R.M., which is used by commercial airlines and the military in pilot training.

The New Yorker

Try adverbs, which describe verbs.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which describes why" when you need to add a clause that explains the reason behind a preceding statement. It's particularly useful in formal writing to provide clear and logical connections between ideas.

Common error

Avoid using "that" when "which" is appropriate for nonrestrictive clauses. "Which" introduces additional, non-essential information, while "that" introduces essential information. Omitting "which" shouldn't change the core meaning of the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which describes why" functions as a relative clause introducing an explanation or reason. Ludwig confirms its correct usage. It connects a preceding statement with the explanation that follows, enhancing clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "which describes why" is a versatile tool for providing explanations and justifications in writing. Grammatically sound and frequently used, it effectively connects statements with their underlying reasons. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct. While alternatives like "that explains the reason" exist, "which describes why" offers a clear and logical flow, particularly suited for neutral to formal contexts like news articles, scientific reports, and professional documents. Be mindful of the restrictive vs. nonrestrictive clause distinction to ensure accuracy in usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that explains the reason

Replaces "describes" with "explains" and explicitly states "the reason".

that clarifies the cause

Substitutes "describes why" with "clarifies the cause", focusing on a causal explanation.

which elucidates the rationale

Replaces "describes why" with the more formal "elucidates the rationale".

that details the justification

Uses "details the justification" instead of "describes why", emphasizing a formal explanation.

which indicates the reason

Employs "indicates the reason" as a more direct and less descriptive alternative.

that outlines the explanation

Replaces the verb "describes" with "outlines" and uses the noun "explanation"

that presents the reasoning

Swaps "describes why" for "presents the reasoning", offering a more structured tone.

which spells out the motive

Replaces "describes why" with "spells out the motive", highlighting intent.

that provides the background

Focuses on providing context or background information instead of direct explanation.

that accounts for the effects

Shifts the focus to the consequences and their causes rather than the reason itself.

FAQs

How can I use "which describes why" in a sentence?

Use "which describes why" to introduce a clause that explains the reason or cause behind something mentioned earlier in the sentence. For example, "The report includes a section "which describes why" the project was delayed due to unforeseen circumstances".

What are some alternatives to "which describes why"?

You can use alternatives like "that explains the reason", "that clarifies the cause", or "that details the justification" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "which describes why" or "that describes why"?

Use "which describes why" when the clause is nonrestrictive and adds extra information that isn't essential to the sentence's core meaning. Use "that describes why" for restrictive clauses that are essential to the meaning.

What's the difference between ""which describes why"" and "that explains why"?

""which describes why"" typically introduces a nonrestrictive clause, providing additional information. "That explains why" usually introduces a restrictive clause that is crucial to the sentence's meaning. The choice depends on whether the information is essential or supplemental.