which is necessary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'which is necessary' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to something that is necessary in order to achieve a certain goal or outcome. For example, "Having a strong work ethic is necessary in order to be successful in business."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Tells about the constant coastal replenishment which is necessary.

The New Yorker

calls, which is necessary to ensure that L.T.E.

The New York Times

"He definitely brings intensity and passion, which is necessary for this game," Holik said.

The New York Times - Sports

Which is necessary, I suppose if you use the same kind of charm on everyone.

The New Yorker

Central to a well-considered cyber-security strategy is retaining only that information which is necessary.

The Guardian

With age, naturally, comes the on-course patience which is necessary for links success.

The Guardian - Sport

The latter two speak English with a slight Spanish accent, which is necessary for the program.

The New Yorker

It would also undermine cooperation with Mexico, which is necessary to handle the migrant crisis.

The Guardian - Opinion

This process destroys the underlying template, which is necessary to create a high-quality crystal.

MIT Technology Review

We are biologically wired for connection, which is necessary for our survival.

University of California, Berkeley

We decide only this constitutional issue, which is necessary to disposition of the case before us.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "which is necessary", ensure the clause is nonrestrictive and set off by commas. This clarifies that the information is additional rather than essential to the meaning of the sentence. If the information is essential, use "that is necessary" instead.

Common error

Avoid omitting the comma when "which is necessary" introduces a nonrestrictive clause. Omitting the comma can change the meaning, implying the information is essential for identifying what you're referring to rather than providing extra detail.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which is necessary" functions as a relative clause, providing additional, non-essential information about a noun or pronoun. It modifies the preceding element by clarifying or elaborating on its attributes, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis and numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

35%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "which is necessary" is a relative clause used to provide additional, non-essential information. It's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including news, academia, and science. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples. When using this phrase, remember to set it off with commas to indicate its nonrestrictive nature. Alternatives like "that is needed" or "that is required" can be used depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that is needed

Replaces "necessary" with "needed", a more common and slightly less formal term.

that is required

Substitutes "necessary" with "required", emphasizing a condition that must be met.

that is essential

Replaces "necessary" with "essential", highlighting the importance of something.

that is vital

Substitutes "necessary" with "vital", stressing the critical nature of something.

that is crucial

Replaces "necessary" with "crucial", indicating something of great importance.

that is indispensable

Substitutes "necessary" with "indispensable", emphasizing that something cannot be done without.

that is obligatory

Replaces "necessary" with "obligatory", which suggests a requirement or obligation.

that is compulsory

Substitutes "necessary" with "compulsory", indicating something that is enforced or required by rule.

that is unavoidable

Replaces "necessary" with "unavoidable", highlighting that something is inevitable or cannot be prevented.

what is imperative

Substitutes "which is necessary" with "what is imperative", indicating something of utmost importance and urgency.

FAQs

How to use "which is necessary" in a sentence?

Use "which is necessary" to add extra, non-essential information about something. For example, "The software update, "which is necessary" for security, will be installed automatically".

What can I say instead of "which is necessary"?

You can use alternatives like "that is needed", "that is required", or "that is essential" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "that is necessary" or "which is necessary"?

"That is necessary" is used for restrictive clauses, essential to the sentence's meaning. "Which is necessary", set off by commas, introduces nonrestrictive clauses, providing additional but not essential information.

What's the difference between "which is necessary" and "what is necessary"?

"Which is necessary" refers back to a specific noun or idea already mentioned. "What is necessary" refers to a general concept or action that is needed, without a specific antecedent.