which is false

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which is false" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to clarify or specify that a preceding statement or claim is not true. Example: "The theory suggests that all swans are white, which is false, as there are black swans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It perpetuates the myth that America can grow forever, which is false.

The New York Times

The implication was that this was somehow going to translate into lower consumer costs, which is false.

The New Yorker

Representative Robert E. Andrews, Democrat of New Jersey, said, "I have met seniors who think their Medicare will be taken away, which is false".

The New York Times - Health

The claim, which is false, may have been the source of Conway's false declaration to CNN that Crites was a Democratic "operative".

The Guardian

Mr. Golisano's talk of bringing jobs back echoes other ads of his claiming New York has lost 300,000 jobs under Gov. George E. Pataki, which is false.

The New York Times

"Brazil's Big Scandal" (editorial, Nov. 2) used stereotyping in asserting that an investigation into Brazil's national soccer team should lead to investigations of other institutions, implying that institutions in Brazil operate outside the law, which is false.

The New York Times

"Mr Khan who has never met me, has no right to stand in front of millions of people and claim I have never read the constitution, (which is false) and say many other inaccurate things".

The Guardian

The Republican nominee also said in a statement: "Mr Khan has no right to stand in front of millions of people and claim I have never read the constitution (which is false) and say many other inaccurate things".

The Guardian

He calls the current reforms a path to single-payer government health care (which is false), and doesn't say anything about what he would do about insurance for people with pre-existing conditions, ending rescission, etc.

The Economist

"While I feel deeply for the loss of his son," he added, "Mr. Khan, who has never met me, has no right to stand in front of millions of people and claim I have never read the Constitution, (which is false) and say many other inaccurate things".

The New York Times

After Trump's remarks were first published in advance of their broadcast on Sunday, the candidate issued a statement declaring: "While I feel deeply for the loss of his son, Mr Khan who has never met me, has no right to stand in front of millions of people and claim I have never read the constitution, (which is false) and say many other inaccurate things".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing the phrase, ensure that the statement you are refuting is clearly defined and understood by your audience to avoid ambiguity. Avoid vague references.

Common error

Avoid using "which is false" without clarifying the specific claim being refuted. Simply stating that something is false without further explanation can lead to confusion and weaken your argument. Always provide context or evidence to support your assertion.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "which is false" is to act as a relative clause that modifies a preceding statement, indicating that it is not true. As verified by Ludwig, this phrase effectively clarifies that a prior claim is incorrect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "which is false" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate that a preceding statement is untrue. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as a relative clause and can be used in various contexts, including news, science, and formal writing. While alternatives like "that is incorrect" or "that is untrue" exist, "which is false" is a direct and effective way to correct misinformation. Remember to always provide context or evidence when using the phrase to ensure clarity and strengthen your argument.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that is incorrect

Replaces "false" with "incorrect", providing a direct synonym. It maintains a similar level of formality and impact.

that is untrue

Substitutes "false" with "untrue", offering another close synonym. This alternative retains a similar formal tone.

that is simply not true

Adds emphasis with "simply", highlighting the degree of untruth. This alternative reinforces the negation.

that is a lie

Replaces the neutral "false" with the stronger "lie", indicating intentional deception. This phrase adds a stronger negative connotation.

that's not the truth

Rephrases the statement to emphasize the absence of truth. This version is slightly less formal.

that is erroneous

Uses "erroneous", a more formal and technical term for "false". This alternative is suitable for academic or professional contexts.

that is unfounded

Suggests the statement lacks a basis in fact or evidence. Suitable when disputing claims lacking support.

that's a fallacy

Replaces "false" with "fallacy", implying a logical error or flawed reasoning. This alternative is more specific and suitable for analytical contexts.

that is a misconception

Indicates the statement is based on a misunderstanding or incorrect assumption. Implies the statement is wrong because of faulty logic.

that's a fabrication

Emphasizes that the previous statement was made up. Similar to "that is a lie" but can refer to a story or claim rather than a direct statement to someone.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "which is false" in a sentence?

Use "which is false" immediately after the statement you are correcting to ensure clarity. For example, "The theory suggests all swans are white, "which is false", as there are black swans."

What are some less formal alternatives to "which is false"?

Alternatives include phrases like "that's not true" or "that's wrong", which are suitable for casual conversations. For more formal settings, consider "that is incorrect" or "that is untrue".

Is it better to say "that is false" or "which is false"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "which is false" is typically used as a relative clause to add information about a preceding statement. "That is false" is used as a standalone statement. For instance, "He claimed the Earth was flat, "which is false"." Alternatively, "His claim that the Earth is flat. "That is false"."

What's the difference between "which is false" and "which is misleading"?

"Which is false" indicates a statement is factually incorrect. "Which is misleading" suggests the statement may be technically true but presents information in a way that could deceive or confuse the audience. Therefore, a claim could be misleading without being strictly false.