which had

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which had" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase to indicate something happened before a particular moment in time. For example, "The chair, which had been in the room for twenty years, finally gave out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

French interest, which had been overheated, chilled.

The New Yorker

Those which had been stunned felt none.

Independent

I had one which had three letters".

The New Yorker

Which had an odd consequence.

Yale University

which had 9GB free.

The Guardian - Tech

Which had engines?

The New York Times

-- which had broader implications for the economy.

University of California, Berkeley

(F) which had further qualified the assets.

Cornell University

John's, which had difficulty scoring.

The New York Times - Sports

Which had been my favourites?

The Guardian - Books

Which had he liked more?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which had" to provide additional, non-essential information about a noun. Remember to set off the clause with commas.

Common error

Avoid using "that had" when "which had" is more appropriate for non-restrictive clauses. "That had" is generally used for restrictive clauses that are essential to the sentence's meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which had" functions as a relative clause, introducing additional, non-essential information about a preceding noun. Ludwig confirms its proper grammatical use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

31%

Science

23%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "which had" is a versatile relative clause used to introduce additional information, as confirmed by Ludwig. Grammatically correct and widely applicable, it's most commonly found in news, academic, and scientific writing. While its function is primarily descriptive, offering supplementary context, "which had" maintains a neutral register, suitable for various communication styles. Remember to use "which had" for non-restrictive clauses, setting them off with commas, and consider alternatives like "that possessed" or "that included" for stylistic variation. Ludwig's examples demonstrate the phrase's broad usage across diverse contexts, affirming its importance in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that possessed

Replaces "which had" with a more formal synonym for "possessed", suitable for contexts where a more sophisticated tone is desired.

that included

Substitutes "which had" to emphasize the inclusion of something as a characteristic or component.

that featured

Replaces "which had" to highlight a prominent or noteworthy attribute or characteristic.

that contained

Similar to "that included" but emphasizes the presence of something within a specific entity or object.

that was equipped with

Offers a more descriptive alternative to "which had", specifying that something was outfitted or supplied with something else.

that presented

Replaces "which had" to focus on showcasing or displaying a particular quality or aspect.

that demonstrated

Substitutes "which had" to highlight the manifestation or exhibition of a specific attribute or characteristic.

that exhibited

Similar to "that demonstrated" but with a slightly more formal tone, indicating the display of a certain quality.

that bore

Replaces "which had" with a more literary or archaic term, suggesting the carrying or possessing of something.

that benefited from

Substitutes "which had" to emphasize the positive impact or advantage derived from possessing something.

FAQs

How do I use "which had" in a sentence?

Use "which had" to introduce a nonrestrictive clause, providing extra information about the noun it modifies. For example, "The book, "which had" a torn cover, was still readable."

Is it ever correct to use "that had" instead of "which had"?

"That had" is appropriate for restrictive clauses essential to the sentence's meaning. Example: "The only book that had a torn cover was removed from the shelf."

What are some alternatives to using "which had" in a sentence?

Alternatives include phrases like "that possessed", "that included", or "that featured", depending on the specific context. For example, "The museum, "that featured" ancient artifacts, was a popular tourist destination."

What's the difference between "which had" and "that had"?

"Which had" introduces nonrestrictive clauses (extra information), while "that had" introduces restrictive clauses (essential information). Correct: "The house, "which had" a large garden, was sold quickly." (extra info). Correct: "The house that had a large garden was sold quickly." (essential info).