which was about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which was about" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example: I had a conversation with my friend yesterday which was about how she was feeling after a difficult week.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This ratio was much higher than that of the plate-like clamp which was about 1.3.

Journal of Biomechanics

Its volume drew applause, which was about right, since that's all there is to this piece.

The New York Times - Arts

She used her dwindling funds to pay the taxi fare, which was about thirty dollars.

The New Yorker

The middle band was gelatinase-A (MMP-2), which was about 72 kDa.

BMC Biotechnology

The xDriver had to drive to the goal, which was about 5,000 m ahead.

Cognitive Computation

Con:... the strongest of which was about slavery.

The Washington Post

Which was about three months before Nirvana came along.

The Guardian - Music

Which was about once or twice a sentence.

The Guardian

Maryland v. King, which was about the constitutionality of collecting DNA from arrestees.

Harvard University

We had a pilot program called "Try Lingual which was about multilingualism.

Harvard University

Then, intellectually, I was very interested in the middle part, which was about orality and literacy.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which was about" to introduce a relative clause that provides additional information about a preceding noun or pronoun. Ensure the clause is nonrestrictive and set off by commas.

Common error

Avoid using "that" in place of "which" when introducing a nonrestrictive clause. "That" is typically used for restrictive clauses that are essential to the meaning of the sentence, while "which" introduces clauses that add extra, non-essential information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which was about" introduces a nonrestrictive relative clause, providing additional, non-essential information about the noun or pronoun it refers to. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

25%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which was about" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to introduce nonrestrictive relative clauses, adding extra details or context to a preceding noun or pronoun. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is widely accepted and commonly used in different types of writing, ranging from journalistic articles to academic papers. Its prevalence in "News & Media", "Science", and "Academia" underscores its broad applicability. Remember to set the clause off with commas and to not confuse it with "that was about" when introducing nonrestrictive clauses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which discussed

This is a direct alternative focusing on the act of discussing the topic.

that concerned

This alternative focuses on the subject matter being discussed, emphasizing the 'topic' aspect.

that was related to

This emphasizes a link or association with the subject, indicating a connection.

that centered on

This suggests that the subject matter was the main focus or core of the discussion.

that pertained to

This alternative implies a direct relevance or connection to the subject at hand.

that dealt with

This suggests a more direct and perhaps problem-solving approach to the subject matter.

that revolved around

This implies the subject matter was a central element, with other aspects connected to it.

that had to do with

This is a more informal way of saying 'that concerned' or 'that pertained to'.

that explored

This suggests a more investigative or in-depth examination of the subject.

that touched on

This implies a brief or passing mention of the subject matter, rather than a deep dive.

FAQs

How to use "which was about" in a sentence?

Use "which was about" to add a nonrestrictive clause providing extra information about a preceding noun. For example, "I watched a documentary, "which was about" the history of jazz music."

What can I say instead of "which was about"?

You can use alternatives like "that concerned", "that pertained to", or "which discussed" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "which was about" or "that was about" when introducing a nonrestrictive clause?

When introducing a nonrestrictive clause (an element set off by commas), it is generally preferable to use "which was about". "That" is typically reserved for restrictive clauses.

What's the difference between "which was about" and "what was about"?

"Which was about" refers back to a specific noun or subject previously mentioned, providing additional details. "What was about", on the other hand, is often used to inquire about the content or subject matter of something, as in "What was the movie about?"