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How To Use " In Which"

How To Use " In Which"

Date: Sep 22 2007

Topic: Grammar

Author: somaliland

Lesson

Using “...in which…” in a sentence is one of the more confusing aspects of writing. It is correctly used in more formal writing. In certain situations not using it will be appropriate for an informal document. To determine whether to use “in which,” you need to consider your writing situation. Does your audience expect strict formal grammar? Is this an informal writing situation? First let’s define what parts of speech the phrase “in which” consists of. “In which” is a combination of a preposition (in) and a relative pronoun (which). You can use “in which” as a precise way to introduce a relative clause after a noun that refers to a place or to a time. For example instead of saying
In my laboratory there is a blue cabinet where old equipment is stored.
You can say
In my laboratory there is a blue cabinet in which old equipment is stored.
Or instead of saying
The man sat at the computer where his old accounting files were stored. (place)
It was a time when the old were revered as sages. (time)
You can say
The man sat at the computer in which his old accounting files were stored.
It was a time in which the old were revered as sages. (time)

Use “in which” to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition, especially in more formal writing. Ending a sentence with a preposition has become more accepted in some formal writing situations, but you will need to refer to your analysis of your audience’s expectations.
For example
This is the computer that the virus was discovered in. (Informal)
You can change it to
This is the computer in which the virus was discovered. (Formal)
   

 

Comments

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lenney

lenney

China

learn

08:11 AM Jan 22 2008 |

andrea1217

China

Don't understand!111

 

07:20 AM Jan 22 2008 |

andrea1217

China

Don't understand!111

 

07:20 AM Jan 22 2008 |

andrea1217

China

Don't understand!111

 

07:20 AM Jan 22 2008 |

jesse0925

China

good

07:11 AM Jan 22 2008 |

hihoo

hihoo

Saudi Arabia

good lesson

06:59 AM Jan 22 2008 |

sinawang

sinawang

China

I can't understand too.haha

06:19 AM Jan 22 2008 |

Lenaaa

Lenaaa

Russian Federation

Yes, it’s good info. Thanks

08:27 PM Jan 21 2008 |

alimostafa3

Egypt

this is very good information about in which

08:17 PM Jan 21 2008 |

love1992

love1992

China

I can't understand.haha

07:28 PM Jan 21 2008 |

sheham@yahoo.com

United States

Winkwhat is the wrost wring that you have ever do<

06:07 PM Jan 21 2008 |

RKA

RKA

Afghanistan

that is a good way to use which

 

02:28 PM Jan 21 2008 |

ramshetty.s

India

good

06:20 AM Jan 21 2008 |

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