which obtained him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which obtained him" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and lacks proper context, making it difficult to determine its intended meaning. Example: "The award was a recognition which obtained him great respect in the community."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He never played for Tampa Bay, which obtained him four days earlier in a trade with Anaheim.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The messages were brought to light in October 2007 by The Daily News, which obtained them from the city under the Freedom of Information Law.

The New York Times

Ms. Holzer found these documents at the Web site of the independent, nongovernmental National Security Archive (nsarchive.org), which obtained them through the Freedom of Information Act.

The New York Times - Arts

One hundred of those body scan images have been leaked by Gizmodo, which obtained them through the Freedom of Information Act.

Huffington Post

The Associated Press, which obtained a copy of the G.A.O.

The New York Times

That piqued the interest of law firm Hogan Lovells, which obtained a copy of the lease.

The Guardian - Money

Santander, which obtained Banco Real in Brazil through the deal, has done well by comparison.

The New York Times

The remainder will come from Bhatia Development, which obtained its own financing.

The New York Times

The offer was reported by The Associated Press, which obtained the documents from the Treasury Department through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The New York Times

Kellogg, which obtained peanut paste for its crackers from the Peanut Corporation, said it had not found problems with its crackers.

The New York Times

But Buffalo Medical Center, which obtained permission to do the operations in 1998, closed its program last year for lack of patients.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "which obtained him", consider more natural and grammatically correct alternatives like "that earned him" or "which granted him". This improves clarity and avoids awkward phrasing.

Common error

Avoid using "obtained him" as it sounds unnatural. Using more direct verbs like "earned", "gained", or "granted" will make your writing clearer and more impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which obtained him" functions as a relative clause, intending to provide additional information about a preceding noun. However, as noted by Ludwig, it is not considered correct in standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "which obtained him" is a relative clause that, while understandable, is generally considered grammatically incorrect and awkward in standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, clearer and more direct alternatives like "that earned him" or "which granted him" are preferable. The primary context of use is in news and media, but its rarity suggests it should be avoided in formal writing. To improve clarity and impact, opt for more active and precise verbs to convey the intended meaning of acquisition or achievement. Using these alternatives will improve clarity and make your sentences sound more natural and professional.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that gained him

Emphasizes the idea of acquiring something, often an advantage or benefit.

that earned him

Focuses on the idea of deserving or gaining something through effort or merit.

which afforded him

Suggests that something enabled or permitted him to have something else.

that brought him

Implies that something caused him to receive something, often positive.

that provided him with

Highlights the act of supplying or furnishing someone with something.

that won him

Highlights the idea of gaining something through competition or achievement.

that secured for him

Focuses on the act of obtaining something, often with effort, for someone.

that facilitated his access to

Highlights the action of facilitating a more natural sounding of QUERY with the expression 'his access'.

leading to him getting

Indicates a series of steps resulting in someone obtaining something; a more explanatory alternative.

by which he came to have

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying someone acquired something.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "which obtained him"?

You can use alternatives like "that earned him", "that gained him", or "that provided him with" depending on the specific context.

How to improve the phrasing when using "obtained"?

Consider rephrasing the sentence to use a more active voice. For example, instead of "which obtained him", try "which he obtained" or "that he obtained".

Is "which obtained him" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "which obtained him" is not considered standard or elegant English. It's better to use alternatives like "that earned him" or "which granted him" for improved clarity.

What's the difference between "which obtained him" and "which he obtained"?

"Which he obtained" is a more common and grammatically sound way to express the idea of someone receiving or acquiring something. The phrase "which obtained him" is less direct and sounds awkward.