which were found

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which were found" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring back to something that has already been mentioned. Example sentence: The police searched the garden and found several clues, which were found to be related to the crime.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At the time I made notes of my impressions which were found amongst my papers.

Yale University

That scandal prompted a nationwide investigation into counterfeit academic credentials, which were found to be widespread.

The New York Times

Officials planned to count the ballots, which were found stuck in voting machines.

The New York Times

Those species include dolphins, which were found dead at four times the normal rate last year.

The Guardian

There were another 8,000 IEDs which were found and cleared.

The Guardian

The trousers and shoes he had worn that night, which were found later, were bloodstained.

The New York Times

Goldstine and von Neumann programmed the binary conversions which were found to take only about 5 milliseconds.

Princeton University

Coffee or tea, say researchers, which were found to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Harvard University

These measurements were summarised into hierarchical deformation mechanisms, which were found to contribute at varying strains.

Acta Biomaterialia

Then, the synthesized catalysts were tested under the optimal conditions which were found through CCDs.

Science of The Total Environment

Abdominal aortas, which were found slightly thicker than thoracic aortas, were characterized by a higher modulus.

Journal of Biomechanics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which were found" to add descriptive information about something previously mentioned in your sentence, ensuring clarity and flow.

Common error

Avoid using "that" instead of "which" when introducing non-restrictive clauses that provide additional, non-essential information. "Which" is appropriate when the clause can be removed without changing the sentence's core meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which were found" functions as a relative clause, specifically a non-restrictive (or non-essential) clause. This type of clause adds extra information to a noun phrase but is not essential to the sentence's core meaning. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

45%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which were found" is a grammatically sound and frequently used relative clause for adding descriptive details. It is deemed correct and usable in written English, according to Ludwig. Its prevalence spans across diverse contexts, notably in news, science, and academic writing. While it maintains a neutral register applicable in various settings, the examples provided by Ludwig underline its versatility and appropriateness in formal writing. The choice between "which" and "that" depends on whether the clause is essential or merely provides additional information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that were discovered

Replaces "found" with "discovered", emphasizing the act of uncovering something previously unknown.

that were located

Substitutes "found" with "located", focusing on the placement or position of something.

which had been located

Adds "had been" to emphasize that the location happened in the past.

that were detected

Replaces "found" with "detected", implying the use of instruments or methods to identify something.

that were identified

Substitutes "found" with "identified", highlighting the recognition or classification of something.

which came to light

Uses a more idiomatic expression to indicate that something became known or apparent.

that turned up

Offers a more casual alternative to "found", suggesting something appeared unexpectedly.

that surfaced

Implies that something previously hidden or submerged became visible or known.

which were revealed

Uses "revealed" to suggest that something was disclosed or uncovered, often after being concealed.

that were unearthed

Replaces "found" with "unearthed", emphasizing the act of digging or uncovering something buried.

FAQs

How do I use "which were found" in a sentence?

Use "which were found" to introduce a non-restrictive clause that provides additional information about something already mentioned. For example, "The artifacts, "which were found" during the excavation, are now on display."

What are some alternatives to "which were found"?

You can use alternatives like "that were discovered", "that were located", or "which came to light" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "that were found" instead of "which were found"?

While "that" can introduce restrictive clauses, "which" is generally preferred for non-restrictive clauses that add extra information. Using "which" ensures clarity, especially when the clause is not essential to the sentence's core meaning.

What's the difference between "that were found" and "which were found"?

"That were found" typically introduces essential information, while "which were found" adds extra, non-essential details. The choice depends on whether the clause is crucial to understanding the sentence.