which was expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which was expected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to something that was anticipated beforehand. For example: "The company's latest financial results were in line with expectations, which was expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Jackets are third in rushing, which was expected.

The New York Times

The American team, which was expected to win easily, bungled two of its three baton passes.

The New York Times - Sports

The election campaign, which was expected to be bitter and violent, has been far from either.

The New Yorker

"The broker got hammered on the trading side, which was expected," he said.

The New York Times

The latest appeals court decision, which was expected, was hailed by the regional Bell companies.

The New York Times

The override, which was expected, was 37 to 8, with 2 abstentions.

The New York Times

The announcement from the state department – which was expected – was hailed by environmentalists as a victory.

The Guardian

The dry, sunny weather has turned to rain, which was expected to continue throughout the day.

The Guardian

Those charges are not affected by yesterday's plea, which was expected.

The New York Times

The invitation by Aventis, which was expected, came after European stock markets closed.

The New York Times

OmniVision also delayed releasing its quarterly financial statement, which was expected yesterday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which was expected" to clearly signal that an outcome or event was anticipated, avoiding surprise or uncertainty for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "which was expected" in overly simple sentences where the expectation is already obvious. Reword to create a more concise and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which was expected" functions as a nonrestrictive relative clause, providing additional, non-essential information about a preceding noun or clause. Ludwig examples show this phrase modifying events, decisions, or conditions, adding context about their predictability. It serves to temper surprise or emphasize predictability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "which was expected" is a versatile tool for indicating predictability in writing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. With a neutral register, it's suitable across various contexts, from News & Media to Science, serving to manage reader expectations by indicating that a particular outcome was anticipated. Be sure to wield it wisely, avoiding redundancy by crafting more succinct statements when the anticipation is self-evident.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as anticipated

A more concise way of expressing the same idea, using an adverbial phrase instead of a relative clause.

as predicted

Focuses on the act of prediction, emphasizing that the outcome aligns with a prior forecast.

as foreseen

Highlights the ability to see or anticipate the event beforehand.

as it was foreseen

More formal rephrasing that emphasizes the fact that the event was foreseen.

predictably

An adverb emphasizing the lack of surprise in the outcome.

unsurprisingly

Emphasizes the lack of surprise associated with the event.

as it was anticipated

More formal version using "anticipated" instead of "expected".

in line with expectations

Expresses that the result matched what was anticipated.

as was to be expected

Emphasizes the inevitability or logical consequence of the event.

consistent with forecasts

Focuses on the alignment with formal forecasts or predictions.

FAQs

How can I use "which was expected" in a sentence?

You can use "which was expected" to add context and indicate that an event or result was not surprising. For instance, "The company reported lower profits, "which was expected" due to the economic downturn."

What are some alternatives to "which was expected"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "as anticipated", "predictably", or "unsurprisingly" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "that was expected" instead of "which was expected"?

Yes, "that was expected" is grammatically correct. However, "which" introduces a nonrestrictive clause, adding extra information, while "that" introduces a restrictive clause, essential for defining the noun it modifies. Context dictates the appropriate choice.

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

"Which was expected" refers back to a specific noun or event. "What was expected" refers to a general expectation or concept. For example, "The outcome, "which was expected", occurred on Tuesday" vs. "What was expected did not align with reality".