whichever

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "whichever" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to either of two people or things when they are not known or specified, or to indicate that it does not matter which one is chosen. Example sentence: "Whichever car you choose, make sure it is reliable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Whichever view you take, multicultural and tolerant or disapproving and fearful, the awkward fact is that we have not been breeding fast enough (or young enough) to keep society functioning without outside help, let alone educating ourselves to the levels a post-industrial economy is going to need.

The Guardian

The inclusion of Ukip to the exclusion of others is complete nonsense whichever way one cuts it.

The Guardian - Opinion

I think if you are looking at your wrist and seeing whichever little guy you've picked - dragon, or monkey - and you can get them new things because you've been more active, it makes it more exciting.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

With Nick Clegg stepping down – he would be an ideal candidate to succeed Sir Malcolm Rifkind as chair of parliament's intelligence and security committee – his successor faces a stony path in whichever direction he looks.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It doesn't matter whichever law comes into force, we will have to pay the bribes".

The Guardian

Jowell said whichever political party was in power the "important thing is to crete clear blue water not just between the two bits of the BBC but between the BBC and government.

The Guardian

It means that Stokes is certain, barring injury, to play in the rest of the series, presumably at No6 – as England's solitary centurion so far perhaps he can choose whichever slot he likes.

The Guardian - Sport

GNM excludes all liability arising from this Agreement and/or the Client's use of the Services (regardless, in the case of Mock-ups, of whichever party produced the Mock-up) save for any liability that cannot be excluded under law.

The Guardian

Whichever way you view the behaviour of the Americans on the 17th green, there is no disputing that the day ranks high in Ryder Cup history.

The Guardian - Sport

It is a vibrant, beautiful part of the world that offers no end of activity and, in the Andes, a picture-postcard view whichever way you turn.

The Guardian - Travel

Whichever Goliath from the Paisley dynasty chose to stand in North Antrim at next year's general election, Allister said he would be there firing off his verbal slingshots in an effort to fell the giant.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "whichever" when indicating that the specific choice among several options does not significantly alter the outcome or situation. It is particularly useful in contexts where flexibility and lack of preference are emphasized.

Common error

Avoid using "whichever" when you mean "however". "Whichever" indicates a choice among options, while "however" introduces a contrast or exception. Make sure to check the context of your sentence to ensure you're using the correct word.

Linguistic Context

"Whichever" functions as both a determiner and a pronoun, indicating a selection from a limited set of options without specifying which particular one. Ludwig's AI supports this, demonstrating the versatile grammatical roles the word can take in various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Sport

12%

Lifestyle

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "whichever" is a versatile term functioning as both a determiner and pronoun, used to express indifference or flexibility in selecting from a limited set of options. Ludwig's AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. Predominantly found in news and media, sports, and lifestyle contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse applications. It’s essential to distinguish "whichever" from "however" to avoid errors. Overall, "whichever" is a common and reliable word in English, offering a way to convey choice without specifying a preference.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no matter which

Emphasizes that the choice does not affect the outcome.

regardless of which

Highlights the irrelevance of the specific selection made.

any one

Focuses on a single choice from a set, similar to "whichever" but less emphasis on indifference.

choose any

Gives freedom of selection with slight emphasis on the act of choosing.

whatever

Implies a lack of restriction or limitation in the selection.

any that

Offers a selection from a group, emphasizing availability.

any of the

Suggests a broader selection from a group, with less specificity.

either one

Restricts the choice to two options, unlike the more general "whichever".

whomever

Similar to "whichever" but refers to people, not things.

each one

Highlights the individual selection from many, slightly different context.

FAQs

How do I use "whichever" in a sentence?

"Whichever" can be used as a determiner (e.g., "Choose "whichever card you like"") or as a pronoun (e.g., "Take "whichever you prefer"").

What words are similar to "whichever"?

Similar words include "any one", "whatever", and "no matter which", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "whichever" and "whatever"?

"Whichever" implies a choice from a defined set of options, whereas "whatever" suggests a lack of restriction or limitation. For example, "Choose "whichever dessert you want from the menu"" versus "Do whatever makes you happy".

Can "whichever" be used to refer to people?

While "whichever" typically refers to things, "whomever" is the appropriate term to use when referring to people. For example, instead of saying "Choose "whichever candidate you prefer"", it's more grammatically correct to say "Choose "whomever you believe is most qualified"".