which says that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which says that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a statement or explanation that clarifies or elaborates on a previous point. Example: "The report includes a section which says that the project will be completed by the end of the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The COF was determined using the Coulomb law, which says that friction force (friction) is proportional to the applied load, i.e., the normal force (Fn).

Nanoscale Research Letters

How can a countable model satisfy the first-order sentence which "says that" there are uncountably many things?

SEP

which says that the installed version if 4.2.0, but that the latest release is version 4.2.2.

Harvard University

You will obtain a2 + b2 = c2, which says that the areas of the squares add up.

The New Yorker

However, one self-confessed recalcitrant is BA, which says that Enac has broken European competition regulations.

The Economist

Then, there's the other philosophy, which says that it's not their fault.

The New Yorker

This has infuriated Turkey, which says that Turkish-Cypriots must have a share of the spoils.

The Economist

This is a fundamental theorem from probability theory, which says that if you have independent identically distributed random variables.

Yale University

So, it's one which says that the new variable is equal to some combination of the old variables.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Although this topic has been studied for many years, there is a recent debate, which says that the use of large-density asymptotics in the previous studies is invalid.

Journal of Hydrology

Moore's law, which says that computing power doubles every 18 months, is still doing its stuff.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "which says that", ensure the clause following "that" provides a direct explanation or clarification of the subject being discussed.

Common error

While grammatically sound, avoid overusing "which says that" in casual writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "this means that" or rephrase the sentence for a more natural flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which says that" functions as a relative clause, specifically a nonrestrictive (or non-defining) clause. It adds extra information about the noun it modifies. Ludwig examples shows it introduces a statement, explanation, or rule, providing additional context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

35%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "which says that" is a versatile relative clause commonly used to introduce statements, explanations, or rules. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and high frequency across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. While appropriate for formal writing, avoid overuse in casual contexts for better flow. Consider alternatives like "which indicates that" or "which states that" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which indicates that

Replaces "says" with "indicates", suggesting a more subtle communication or sign.

which states that

Replaces "says" with "states", implying a formal or official declaration.

which explains that

Replaces "says" with "explains", focusing on the clarifying aspect of the statement.

which asserts that

Replaces "says" with "asserts", conveying a strong and confident declaration.

that demonstrates that

Replaces "says" with "demonstrates", highlighting evidence or proof.

that reveals that

Emphasizes the unveiling of new or previously unknown information.

that confirms that

Highlights the validation or verification aspect of the information.

that implies that

Changes the structure to focus on the implication rather than the direct statement.

that suggests that

Shifts the emphasis to suggestion, indicating a less direct or conclusive statement.

as evidenced by the fact that

Introduces a statement providing evidence for a claim, adding a formal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "which says that" in a sentence?

Use "which says that" to introduce a clause that explains or specifies something. For instance: "The contract includes a clause "which says that" all disputes will be resolved through arbitration".

What can I say instead of "which says that"?

You can use alternatives like "which indicates that", "which states that", or "which explains that" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "that says that" instead of "which says that"?

While "that says that" might be understood, ""which says that"" is generally preferred in formal writing as it correctly introduces a nonrestrictive clause.

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

"Which says that" introduces a specific statement or rule, while "that means that" implies a consequence or interpretation. For example: "The law includes a provision which says that all citizens must vote; that means that voter turnout should increase".