which mean

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which mean" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
For example, "The letter was written in Aramaic, which mean it was written in Hebrew."

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Which mean "stop" and which mean "go"?

Princeton University

Two things which mean you never have to grow up".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Some books make use of beautiful original illustrations which mean they are especially attractive.

The Guardian

Public companies have anxious shareholders, which mean they cut staff and shut papers.

The Guardian

Or Superstars, which mean you like hip-hop (if they're in bright colours, then, specifically, Pharrell).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Britain has international agreements with countries like the US which mean pensions are uprated".

The Guardian - Money

My mother gives my father one of those meaningful looks which mean nothing to me yet.

The New Yorker

Which mean that the searching eyeballs also automatically latch onto Kirkus's reviews.

The New York Times - Books

More people meant that we could tackle more projects, which mean that my time fragmented.

Harvard Business Review

Most business decisions are collaborative, which mean groupthink and consensus work to compound our individual biases.

Harvard Business Review

On a few of them, you could see nodules, which mean that they were probably fixing nitrogen.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the clause introduced by "which mean" clearly and unambiguously explains or defines the preceding noun or clause.

Common error

Be mindful of subject-verb agreement. The phrase "which means" should be used when referring to a singular antecedent, while "which mean" should refer to a plural antecedent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which mean" introduces a relative clause that provides additional information about the preceding noun or clause. Ludwig shows its extensive use in clarifying or explaining something mentioned earlier in the sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

16%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "which mean" is widely used to introduce clarifying or explanatory clauses. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability, highlighting its function in providing additional context or definition. While generally neutral in register, it's important to ensure subject-verb agreement, using "which means" for singular antecedents and "which mean" for plural ones. Its prevalence is particularly notable in news and media, as shown in Ludwig's examples, making it a versatile tool for clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that is defined as

Provides a formal definition of the preceding term or concept.

that equates to

Replaces "mean" with "equates to", emphasizing the equivalence.

that signifies

Replaces "mean" with a more formal synonym, "signifies."

that indicates

Substitutes "mean" with "indicates", suggesting a pointing-to relationship.

that implies

Replaces "mean" with "implies", focusing on the indirect suggestion.

that suggests

Similar to implies, but carries a slightly weaker sense of implication.

which entails

Emphasizes a necessary consequence or result.

which results in

Focuses on the outcome or consequence of the preceding statement.

that translates to

Highlights the practical effect or interpretation of something.

that is tantamount to

Introduces a strong equivalence, implying the same effect or value.

FAQs

How can I use "which mean" in a sentence?

Use "which mean" to introduce a clause that explains or defines the preceding noun or idea. For example: "The results were inconclusive, which mean further investigation is needed."

What's a good alternative to "which mean"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "that is defined as", "that implies", or "that indicates".

When should I use "which means" instead of "which mean"?

"Which means" is used when the antecedent is singular, while "which mean" is used when the antecedent is plural. For example: "The data, which mean a lot to the team, were carefully analyzed."

Is "which mean" always grammatically correct?

While commonly used, ensure that the subject-verb agreement is correct. "Which means" is grammatically correct when referring to a singular noun, whereas "which mean" is used for plural nouns. Ludwig AI states it is an acceptable phrase.