which was for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which was for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the purpose or intended recipient of something in a sentence. Example: "The donation was made to the charity, which was for helping underprivileged children."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Which was for the best.

The New York Times - Arts

Which was, for Odeh, maddening.

The New Yorker

Which was for the past five years.

The Guardian - Music

You saw a clip of L.627, which was, for me, a very political film.

The Guardian - Film

A fourth facility, which was for high-security detainees in Kingston, Ontario, has been closed.

The Guardian

That shades into his second gift, which was for providing opportunities for vivid mime and acting.

The New York Times - Arts

"We applied the labels which was for a higher-grade species," he said.

The New York Times

The paper unfortunately survived; my response, which was for me unusually brusque, didn't.

The Guardian

Most passionately "The Great Gatsby," which was, for him, "holy writ".

The New York Times - Books

The underwriter of the hot offering, which was for 724 Solutions, is on trial.

The New York Times

We had one more trial left, which was for Crohn's disease.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which was for" to clearly indicate the intended use or recipient of something, ensuring your sentence is unambiguous and easy to understand.

Common error

Avoid using "that was for" when "which was for" is more appropriate. "Which" introduces non-restrictive clauses (additional, non-essential information), while "that" introduces restrictive clauses (essential information). If the clause can be removed without changing the core meaning of the sentence, use "which".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which was for" functions as a relative clause introducing additional, non-essential information about the purpose or intended recipient of something. Ludwig examples show it linking a noun phrase to its function or beneficiary.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

26%

Science

14%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "which was for" is a correct and common way to introduce a non-restrictive clause specifying the purpose or intended recipient of something. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it's frequently used in news, academic, and scientific contexts. Key considerations include using "which" appropriately to introduce non-essential information and choosing it over alternatives like "that was for" in formal writing. The phrase functions to provide clarification and is generally considered neutral in register. Remember to use it to enhance understanding by specifying use or destination!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was intended for

Focuses on the intention behind the action, emphasizing purpose.

that was meant for

Highlights the designed recipient or purpose.

which was designed to

Focuses on the intended design or plan.

that served as

Emphasizes the function or role something played.

that functioned as

Similar to "that served as" but with a stronger emphasis on the actual function.

that had the purpose of

Directly states the intended aim or goal.

which served to

Highlights the action or outcome that something facilitated.

that catered to

Implies that something was specifically designed to meet certain needs.

that provided

Highlights what something offered or made available.

that constituted

Emphasizes the composition or formation of something.

FAQs

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

Use "which was for" to add non-essential information specifying the purpose or recipient of something mentioned earlier in the sentence. For example, "The donation went to a charity, "which was for" helping underprivileged children".

What are some alternatives to "which was for"?

You can use alternatives like "that was intended for", "that was meant for", or "that served as" depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

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

While "that was for" might be used in informal contexts, "which was for" is generally more appropriate in formal writing when introducing a non-restrictive clause. The choice depends on whether the clause provides essential information or additional details.

What's the difference between ""which was for"" and "which was intended for"?

"Which was for" is a more concise way of stating the purpose. "Which was intended for" is more explicit and can add emphasis to the intention behind something.