which was

USAGE SUMMARY

"which was" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has already been mentioned or implied. For example, "I opened the door, which was a mistake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Which was…?

The Guardian

Which was cheap.

The New Yorker

Which was pretty good.

The New York Times

Which was your favorite?

The New York Times - Travel

Which was enough.

The New York Times

Which was refreshing.

The New Yorker

Which was a bother.

The New York Times

"Which was fashion".

Independent

Which was true enough.

The Guardian - Opinion

Which was utterly false.

The New Yorker

(Which was Bert, unpoetically).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which was" to add non-essential, descriptive information to a sentence. If the information is essential for understanding the sentence's core meaning, consider using "that was" instead.

Common error

Avoid using "which was" when the information is essential to the meaning of the sentence. In such cases, "that was" is more appropriate because "that" introduces restrictive clauses, whereas "which" typically introduces non-restrictive clauses set off by commas.

Linguistic Context

"Which was" serves as a relative pronoun and auxiliary verb combination, introducing a non-restrictive (or non-essential) clause that provides additional information about a preceding noun or clause. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, evidenced by numerous examples in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which was" is a versatile phrase used to introduce non-essential clauses, adding descriptive or explanatory information to a sentence. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, particularly in news and media. While highly common, it's important to differentiate its usage from "that was", which introduces essential information. Consider alternatives like "that was" or rephrasing for conciseness. The best practice is to reserve "which was" for non-restrictive clauses set off by commas. Avoiding this error will help ensure clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was

Replaces "which" with "that", slightly altering the grammatical structure but maintaining the same meaning.

it was

Restructures the sentence to use "it" as a pronoun referring to the previous subject, followed by "was".

this was

Substitutes "which" with "this", emphasizing the immediately preceding information.

that being

Uses a participial phrase to connect the clauses, providing a more concise alternative.

and that was

Adds a conjunction to create a compound sentence, emphasizing the subsequent information.

what was

Changes the clause to a question format, useful for rhetorical purposes or seeking clarification.

being as it was

Introduces a more formal and descriptive tone, emphasizing the state or condition of something.

in that it was

Emphasizes a specific aspect or characteristic of the preceding information.

as it was

Indicates a state or condition existing at a particular time.

and it happened to be

Introduces an element of chance or coincidence to the subsequent information.

FAQs

How do I use "which was" correctly in a sentence?

Use "which was" to introduce non-essential or additional information about something already mentioned. The clause introduced by "which was" should be set off by commas. For example: "I visited Paris, "which was" amazing, last summer."

Is there a difference between using "which was" and "that was"?

Yes, "which was" introduces non-restrictive clauses (additional information), while "that was" introduces restrictive clauses (essential information). For example, "The car, "which was" red, belonged to my neighbor" (non-essential) vs. "The car "that was" red belonged to my neighbor" (essential).

What are some alternatives to "which was" that I can use in my writing?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "that was", "it was", or rephrase the sentence to avoid using a relative clause altogether. Consider using "and that was" to add emphasis.

Can I start a sentence with "which was"?

While grammatically possible, starting a sentence directly with "which was" is uncommon and can sound awkward. It's usually better to include it within a clause that modifies a noun or pronoun mentioned earlier in the sentence or in a previous sentence.