which mean that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which means that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a consequence of a situation. For example: "The roads are icy, which means that driving conditions are dangerous."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

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

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

Cornell University

It is figures like these which mean that the sooner tough decisions are taken, the better.

The Economist

They speak of each other generously, in the unmistakable accents which mean that they think generously of each other.

The New Yorker

They raid crops, which mean that kids don't go to school because they have to guard the crops all day.

The Guardian

But they are also only guidelines, which mean that spokespeople can say more or less — or choose their own terminology.

Independent

To make matters worse, the coalition has introduced hasty electoral reforms which mean that registration must now be completed individually, rather than as a household.

The Guardian - Opinion

There's some murmuring among the developers that MeeGo has run into some end-stage bugs which mean that it can't be shown off on working phones yet.

The Guardian - Tech

"It's often as a result of some decisions that have been taken by those families which mean that they are not best able to manage their finances.

The Guardian

If you try to take the money before that age, the old tax rules apply – which mean that a minimum 55% is taken by HMRC.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the clause introduced by "which mean that" logically follows from the preceding statement to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "which mean that" when "that means that" would be more appropriate. "Which" clauses are non-essential and add extra information. If the clause is essential to the sentence's meaning, use "that means that" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which mean that" functions as a connector introducing a clause that explains the consequence or implication of a previous statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is acceptable in English. Examples show it commonly bridges cause and effect in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which mean that" serves as a versatile connector, effectively linking a statement to its consequence or implication. As shown by Ludwig AI, this clause is acceptable. While generally grammatically sound, it might benefit from more concise alternatives, such as meaning that, especially in formal contexts. Common across news, scientific, and business domains, it maintains a neutral register. Pay attention to the proper use of 'which' versus 'that' to avoid grammatical errors. Overall, while acceptable, writers should strive for precision and conciseness when employing "which mean that".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meaning that

A more direct and common synonym, suitable for most contexts.

implying that

This alternative emphasizes the suggestive nature of the consequence, rather than stating it directly.

suggesting that

This alternative, like implying that, softens the directness of the consequence.

resulting in

Focuses on the outcome or consequence of the initial statement.

leading to

Highlights the progression from the initial statement to the resulting consequence.

entailing that

A more formal alternative, suitable for academic or legal contexts.

because of this

Emphasizes the causal relationship between the initial statement and the consequence.

therefore

A concise way to indicate a logical conclusion or consequence.

consequently

Similar to therefore, but slightly more formal.

thus

Another formal alternative to therefore, indicating a logical deduction.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "which mean that"?

You can use alternatives like "meaning that", "implying that", "suggesting that", or "therefore" depending on the context.

How do I use "which mean that" correctly in a sentence?

"Which mean that" introduces a non-restrictive clause, providing additional information. Ensure the clause adds extra detail but isn't essential to the sentence's core meaning. For essential clauses, consider "that means that".

Is "which mean that" formal or informal?

"Which mean that" is generally considered acceptable in both formal and informal writing, although more concise alternatives may be preferred in formal contexts for improved clarity.

What's the difference between "which mean that" and "that means that"?

"Which mean that" introduces a non-essential clause providing extra information, while "that means that" introduces an essential clause that's crucial to the sentence's meaning. Use "which" with commas to set off the non-essential information.