which essentially means

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which essentially means" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to clarify or explain the meaning of a term or concept in a more straightforward way. Example: "The term 'sustainability' refers to practices that do not deplete resources, which essentially means ensuring that future generations can meet their needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The machine extracts "meaning" from vast quantities of what computer scientists call unstructured data, which essentially means anything designed to be consumed by humans rather than computers.

The Economist

The fourth column is called "Assumptions" – which essentially means a risk analysis.

The Guardian

One of his favorite terms is "It gusso now," which essentially means, "It goes like this".

The New York Times

Which essentially means she is part of the new school of colourful, cartoonish rap.

The Guardian - Music

Which essentially means if you know how to take a derivative, you know how to take a partial derivative.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

They focused on a phenomenon called metabolic handoff, which essentially means one microbe's waste is another microbe's food.

University of California, Berkeley

Each year, hundreds of soldiers are charged with various forms of dereliction, which essentially means failing to do one's job.

The New York Times

Auto production in Italy, which essentially means Fiat, fell by almost 10percentt last year to 1.4 million cars annually.

The New York Times

Previously low in self-respect, Tess's survival campaign depends on trying to "fit in" which essentially means being invisible.

The Guardian

Red Sky calls the new advertising "strategic entertainment," which essentially means merging product news or advertising with entertainment.

The New York Times

One is technical: completion of the so-called 'Paris rulebook,' which essentially means resolving outstanding issues in the historic Paris Agreement passed in 2015.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "which essentially means", ensure that the explanation immediately follows the term or concept being defined for maximum clarity.

Common error

Avoid overusing "which essentially means" in close proximity within your writing. Too many clarifying phrases can make your writing sound repetitive and less engaging. Consider varying your explanatory phrases or restructuring your sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which essentially means" functions as a discourse marker that introduces a clarification or explanation of a preceding term or concept. Ludwig AI confirms its role in simplifying complex information for better understanding, as showcased in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which essentially means" is a versatile and common phrase used to provide clear and concise explanations, making complex topics more accessible. Ludwig AI analysis highlights its prevalence in news and academic contexts, emphasizing its role in enhancing comprehension across various registers. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to avoid overuse and consider alternative phrasing for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which is to say

This alternative offers a slightly more formal tone while retaining the explanatory function.

that is to say

Similar to "which is to say", this phrase provides a slightly more emphatic clarification.

in other words

This option presents a more direct and common way to rephrase something for clarity.

put simply

This alternative highlights a simplification of the original concept.

to put it another way

This suggests a rephrasing of the information using a different perspective.

that amounts to

This phrase emphasizes the practical consequence or result of something.

that implies

This option focuses on the logical conclusion or suggestion derived from something.

what that signifies is

This alternative emphasizes the meaning or importance of something.

this indicates that

This option focuses on using something as evidence or a sign of something else.

this boils down to

This suggests reducing a complex idea to its most fundamental elements.

FAQs

How can I use "which essentially means" in a sentence?

The phrase "which essentially means" is used to clarify a term or concept by providing a simplified explanation. For example: 'The term 'unstructured data' refers to information not organized in a predefined manner, "which essentially means" anything designed to be consumed by humans rather than computers'.

What are some alternatives to "which essentially means"?

You can use alternatives such as "in other words", "that is to say", or "put simply" to explain a concept in a different way.

Is it always necessary to use "which essentially means" when defining a term?

No, it's not always necessary. Use "which essentially means" when you believe the term might be unfamiliar to your audience and a brief explanation will improve understanding. If the term is common knowledge or already well-defined within the context, it might be redundant.

What's the difference between "which essentially means" and "which basically means"?

Both phrases serve a similar purpose of providing a simplified explanation. "Which essentially means" may imply a slightly more formal or precise clarification, while "which basically means" is often considered more informal and offers a general understanding.