which were absent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which were absent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to items, people, or elements that were not present or available in a particular context. Example: "The documents that were required for the meeting, which were absent, need to be submitted by tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Several carotenoid intermediates accumulated which were absent in the wild type.

Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics

We sequenced one of these genes, TAF15, in patients with ALS and identified missense variants, which were absent in a large number of healthy controls.

Stanford University

We identified three missense variants in EWSR1 in ALS patients, which were absent in a large number of healthy control individuals.

Stanford University

The first six fractions also contained Stx2a and ShET1, which were absent from OmpA-free fractions 8 to 12 (Fig. 2b).

Nature

Goal number 16 will recognise the importance of peace, good governance, justice and security – all elements which were absent from the MDGs.

The Guardian

Ms. Harrison said the arguments and infighting, which were absent from tonight's meeting, had sometimes rendered the council incapable of making decisions.

The New York Times

Fresh autografts also retained endothelial and smooth muscle cells, which were absent in decellularized grafts at implantation and at two weeks.

Journal of Surgical Research

Moreover new proteins, which were absent in control samples, were expressed in tumour samples, such as nucleophosmin (NPM) and stathmin (oncoprotein 18).

Journal of Chromatography B

The modified electrodes were characterized by electrochemical methods and XPS confirming the stable binding of thiols which were absent on the surface of unmodified and control treated electrodes.

Electrochimica Acta

The most striking difference between the summary Eckert published in November 2014 and the full Garcia report was in Garcia's criticisms of Fifa's then president Sepp Blatter, which were absent from Eckert's summary.

The Guardian - Sport

They had compared the Neanderthal DNA with that of five living humans: they found similarities between the DNA of Neanderthals and present-day Europeans and Asians, which were absent in Africans.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which were absent" to clearly indicate the absence of specific items, features, or characteristics in a comparative context. Ensure the clause adds essential information to the sentence.

Common error

Avoid using "that" instead of "which" when introducing a nonrestrictive clause (a clause that adds extra information but is not essential to the sentence's meaning). "Which" is generally preferred for nonrestrictive clauses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which were absent" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun or noun phrase by providing additional information about it. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used, adding descriptive detail by specifying what is not present.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

18%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "which were absent" is a grammatically sound and versatile relative clause used to specify the lack of certain elements. As Ludwig AI confirms, it finds frequent application across academic, scientific, and news-related content. While alternatives like "that were missing" or "that were lacking" exist, "which were absent" maintains a level of formality suitable for professional contexts. When writing, remember to use "which" for nonrestrictive clauses and avoid substituting it with "that" if the clause is essential to the sentence's core meaning. By understanding its function and communicative purpose, you can effectively integrate "which were absent" into your writing to provide clarity and descriptive context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that were missing

Focuses on the state of being gone or not found.

that were lacking

Highlights the deficiency or insufficiency of something.

that were not present

A more formal and direct way of stating absence.

which did not exist

Emphasizes the non-existence of something.

that were unavailable

Indicates something was not accessible or obtainable.

that were excluded

Highlights the act of being left out or omitted.

conspicuously absent

Highlights the noticeable and obvious nature of the absence.

noticeably missing

Emphasizes that the absence is easily observed.

that were void

Implies a complete emptiness or lack of something.

left out

A more concise and informal expression indicating omission.

FAQs

How can I use "which were absent" in a sentence?

Use "which were absent" to introduce a relative clause that describes elements not present in a specific context. For instance, "The features implemented in the new version, "which were absent" in the previous one, greatly improve usability."

What are some alternatives to "which were absent"?

You can use alternatives such as "that were missing", "that were lacking", or "that were not present", depending on the nuance you want to convey. Each alternative slightly shifts the emphasis but maintains the core meaning of absence.

Is it better to use "which were absent" or "that were absent"?

"Which were absent" is typically used for nonrestrictive clauses, adding extra information. "That were absent" can be used for restrictive clauses, which are essential to the meaning of the sentence. For example, "The files "that were missing" caused the system error" (restrictive) vs. "The files, "which were absent", were later found" (nonrestrictive).

What is the difference between "which were absent" and "which were not included"?

"Which were absent" implies a lack of presence, while "which were not included" suggests a deliberate exclusion. The choice depends on whether the absence is due to omission or simply non-existence in that context.