whose significance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whose significance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the importance or meaning of something that belongs to or is associated with a person or thing. Example: "The painting, whose significance has been debated for decades, is finally being recognized as a masterpiece."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These are books whose significance exceeds anything they actually said.

The New Yorker

This relates to an incident whose significance escaped me for two readings.

The Guardian - Books

Two things were said in those days whose significance I would only later grasp.

The New York Times - Magazine

Both theories made sense of many disparate biological facts whose significance had gone unrecognized.

The New York Times - Books

Too much importance has been attached to these byelections, whose significance is more symbolic than practical.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was one whose significance -and cost-to Humphrey would become apparent in years to come.

The New Yorker

Those are facts whose significance cannot be destroyed by any mere manner of bookkeeping or classification of expenditures.

Cornell University

The log record is one of many pieces of information whose significance and accuracy the investigators must weigh.

The New York Times

"You'll come with us," he said, in a declaration whose significance was not lost in Burlington, Vt.

The New York Times

It's one thing to learn that our leaders relied on dodgy info whose significance they were prepared to exaggerate.

The Guardian - Film

But now they want Democrats to serve as window dressing for a bill whose significance is being greatly exaggerated.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "whose significance" to clearly indicate the importance or relevance of something belonging to or associated with a particular subject. Ensure the context makes it clear what the subject is.

Common error

Avoid confusing "whose" with "who's". "Whose" indicates possession (e.g., "whose significance"), while "who's" is a contraction of "who is" or "who has".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "whose significance" is to act as a relative possessive determiner modifying a noun. It connects a noun phrase to a relative clause indicating importance or relevance. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage in academic, news, and scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

26%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "whose significance" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed construction across diverse fields, including news, academia, and science, as validated by Ludwig. It serves to emphasize the importance or relevance linked to a particular subject. Alternatives such as ""whose importance"" and ""the relevance of which"" offer similar nuances. It's vital to use "whose" correctly, avoiding confusion with "who's", and to maintain clarity about the subject to which the significance is attributed. Ludwig AI provides ample examples to guide effective usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

whose importance

Replaces "significance" with a more direct synonym, emphasizing the degree of importance.

the importance of which

Rearranges the phrase to focus on the "importance" as the primary subject.

the relevance of which

Substitutes "significance" with "relevance", highlighting the pertinence or applicability.

the meaning of which

Replaces "significance" with "meaning", focusing on the interpretation or implication.

the weight of which

Uses "weight" as a metaphor for importance, suggesting the impact or influence.

the impact of which

Focuses on the effects or consequences, rather than inherent importance.

the value of which

Highlights the worth or merit associated with the subject.

the noteworthiness of which

Emphasizes how deserving of attention the matter is.

the consequence of which

Focuses on the results or outcomes, implying a cause-and-effect relationship.

the magnitude of which

Emphasizes the scale or extent of the subject's importance.

FAQs

How can I use "whose significance" in a sentence?

Use "whose significance" to show the importance or relevance of something that belongs to or is associated with something else. For example: "The document, "whose significance" was initially overlooked, later proved crucial."

What are some alternatives to "whose significance"?

Alternatives include phrases like "whose importance", "the importance of which", or "the relevance of which", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How does "whose significance" differ from "what is significant about it"?

"Whose significance" connects the importance directly to a subject in a possessive way. "What is significant about it" introduces a more general inquiry about the importance, without the direct link.

Is it correct to use "of which the significance" instead of "whose significance"?

While grammatically correct, "of which the significance" is less common and often sounds more formal or stilted compared to the more direct and natural ""whose significance"".