which however

USAGE SUMMARY

"which however" is a perfectly acceptable construction in written English.
You use it to demonstrate a contrast between two ideas. For example, "He was excited about the event, which however, he was unsure he would be able to attend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Which, however you look at it, is pretty sick.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Which, however you look at it, seems unlikely.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

One which, however, was constructed on sand from Florida's shore.

The Guardian - Sport

b5, which, however, puts pressure on the white center.

The New York Times

This is a difficult discussion, which however we cannot evade.

The Economist

None of which, however, solves the mystery of spectators.

Independent

The McKay Commission proposes a fourth answer which, however, is somewhat feeble.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

In 1962 he founded and became president of the Workers Partyy, which, however, was unsuccessful at the polls.

Britannica

Also shown is a linear regression model for both cases, which - however - is not significant.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

Addressing them is a long-term intervention, which however need consideration.

Unicef

By comparison, America has a deeply embedded tradition of democratic institutions which, however fitfully, seek to accommodate difference and diversity.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which however" to introduce a contrasting element or a qualification to a previous statement. Ensure that the sentence remains clear and concise.

Common error

Avoid using "which however" excessively in your writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and cumbersome. Vary your sentence structure and use alternative conjunctions or phrases to introduce contrast.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which however" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase within a relative clause. It adds a sense of contrast, concession, or qualification to the clause introduced by "which". As Ludwig AI states, it's a valid construction for showing contrast.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

32%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "which however" serves as a conjunctive adverbial within relative clauses, adding a note of contrast or qualification. Grammatically sound and commonly used, as Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently across news, scientific, and academic domains. While versatile, overuse should be avoided to maintain clarity. Consider alternatives like "but which" or "yet which" for variety. Remember to use commas correctly to set off the interrupting "however". The examples from Ludwig highlight its diverse applications, providing a solid understanding of its usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but which

Uses a simpler conjunction to introduce the contrasting element.

yet which

Reverses the order of the conjunctions, emphasizing the contrasting element.

though which

Emphasizes concession while maintaining a similar structure.

while which

Introduces a sense of contrast or simultaneous occurrence.

even though which

Strengthens the concessive aspect of the phrase.

nonetheless which

More formal alternative emphasizing the contrast.

nevertheless which

Another formal alternative highlighting the opposition.

in spite of which

Highlights that the contrasting element exists despite the first clause.

despite which

Similar to "in spite of which", but more concise.

notwithstanding which

A highly formal alternative expressing concession.

FAQs

How to use "which however" in a sentence?

"Which however" is used to introduce a contrast or qualification. For example, "The plan seemed promising, which however, had several potential drawbacks."

What can I say instead of "which however"?

You can use alternatives like "but which", "yet which", or "though which" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to include a comma before and after "however"?

When "however" interrupts a clause, it's typically set off by commas. The same applies when using "which however". For example: "The movie, which however was quite long, was enjoyable."

What's the difference between "which however" and "however"?

"However" can stand alone to introduce a contrasting sentence or clause, while "which however" is used specifically to add a contrast within a relative clause that starts with "which". For example: "He tried his best. However, he failed." vs. "The attempt, which however valiant, was unsuccessful."