which is fundamental

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which is fundamental" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the importance or essential nature of a concept, idea, or element in a discussion. Example: "Understanding the basic principles of physics, which is fundamental, is crucial for any aspiring engineer."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Is something that is part of reality as it is in itself something which is fundamental, or which is real in the relevant sense?

SEP

"We're talking about something which is fundamental for the country.

The Guardian

"The other problem, which is fundamental, is that the police are penetrated by organized crime".

The New York Times

They also re-enact, as have myriad images of windows since the invention of photography, the movement of light through an opening, which is fundamental to the medium.

The New York Times

"This matter touches upon the most important of constitutional rights – namely the right to free expression – which is fundamental to any properly functioning democracy," she said.

The Guardian

"I brought it back because it kind of gives them the mind-set of getting the bat on the ball, which is fundamental to hitting.

The New York Times - Sports

However, that electron cannot occupy the 1s orbital, for it has a property known as spin, which is fundamental to its behaviour.

Encyclopedia Britannica

To him, design is — or should be — joyous, inclusive and empowering, "an erotic pragmatism" which is "fundamental to the survival of our humanity".

The New York Times - Arts

"They have revolutionised understanding of how cells are organised which is fundamental to huge number of diseases".

BBC

No, Miller explained, because that would violate the patient's freedom to choose, which is fundamental to human dignity.

Science Magazine

Now, we introduce notion of simple point which is fundamental for the definition of topological operators in discrete spaces.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "which is fundamental", ensure the clause clearly connects to the noun it modifies, providing essential information about that noun's importance or underlying nature. For example: 'Understanding the core principles, which is fundamental, enables effective problem-solving.'

Common error

Avoid using "that" instead of "which" when introducing a nonrestrictive clause. "Which is fundamental" is typically used in nonrestrictive clauses, which add extra information but are not essential to the sentence's meaning. Using "that" in this context can be grammatically incorrect and change the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which is fundamental" functions as a relative clause, specifically a nonrestrictive (or nonessential) clause. It adds extra information about a noun without being crucial to the sentence's core meaning. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "which is fundamental" is a grammatically sound and frequently used relative clause. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively emphasizes the importance of a concept or element. Predominantly found in science, news, and encyclopedia sources, it maintains a neutral to formal tone. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity in its connection to the modified noun and avoid common errors like substituting "that" for "which" in nonrestrictive clauses. Alternatives such as "which is essential" and "which is crucial" offer nuanced ways to express similar importance, each with slight semantic variations. By understanding these nuances, writers can precisely convey the intended significance in their communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which is essential

Replaces "fundamental" with "essential", implying something indispensable or necessary.

which is crucial

Substitutes "fundamental" with "crucial", suggesting something critically important or decisive.

which is key

Replaces "fundamental" with "key", indicating something vital and central to the matter.

which is vital

Substitutes "fundamental" with "vital", emphasizing its importance for survival or success.

which is basic

Replaces "fundamental" with "basic", indicating something foundational or elementary.

which is paramount

Substitutes "fundamental" with "paramount", indicating supreme importance or dominance.

which is indispensable

Replaces "fundamental" with "indispensable", stressing that it's absolutely necessary and cannot be done without.

which is integral

Substitutes "fundamental" with "integral", suggesting that it forms an essential part of a whole.

that is foundational

Uses a different structure and replaces "which" with "that" and "fundamental" with "foundational", highlighting the base or groundwork nature.

that is elementary

Uses a different structure and replaces "which" with "that" and "fundamental" with "elementary", focusing on the initial or simplest aspects.

FAQs

How do I use "which is fundamental" in a sentence?

Use "which is fundamental" to add a nonrestrictive clause that highlights the essential nature of something. For example, "The understanding of basic algebra, "which is fundamental", is necessary for advanced mathematics."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "which is fundamental"?

You can use alternatives like "which is essential", "which is crucial", or "which is key" to convey a similar meaning of importance.

Is it better to use "that is fundamental" or "which is fundamental"?

"Which is fundamental" is typically used in nonrestrictive clauses, adding extra information. "That is fundamental" is used in restrictive clauses that are essential to the sentence's meaning. Choose based on whether the clause is essential or additional.

What's the difference between "fundamental" and "essential"?

While both words indicate importance, "fundamental" refers to something that is a basic, underlying foundation, while "essential" refers to something that is absolutely necessary or indispensable. You can use "which is essential" if you wish to emphasize the necessity of something.