Grammatically Correct 7/13/04
A weekly grammar tip created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors.
University of Houston-Victoria
3007 N. Ben Wilson
Victoria, TX 77901
Using “In which” in your writing
by John Davis

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)
Definitions
Preposition: a word that is used before a noun, pronoun, or gerund to show place, time, direction, etc. In the phrase “a tree in the park,” “in” is a preposition

Relative Pronoun: A pronoun such as “who,” “which,” or “that” by which a relative clause is connected to the rest of the sentence

Relative Clause: A part of a sentence that has subject and a verb in it and is joined to the rest of the sentence by a relative pronoun such as “who,” “which,” “that” etc. which acts as the subject for the relative clause. For example in the sentence “the man who lives next door is a doctor,” the words “who lives next door” create a relative clause.

Definitions from Longman Advanced American Dictionary (2001)
Recommended Grammar Website of the Week
by John Davis

At BBCworldservice.com experts answer grammar questions on an online discussion board. For more information on using “…in which…” in a sentence you can go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv286.shtml.

You can find answers to other questions on grammar by following this link http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv340.shtml. Either read the answer for the week or click on one of the archived answer links on the right side of the page.
Test Your Knowledge
by John Davis

While the following sentences are not necessarily incorrect in the appropriate situations, we ask you to manipulate them in the ways indicated.

Rewrite the following two sentences by using “in which.”

1. The bird landed in the field where a garden had been planted.

2. This is the room where the grape-juice stain was found.

Rewrite the next sentence using “in which” so that it does not end in a preposition.

3. Thirteen Going on Thirty is a horrible movie that Jennifer Garner was the star in.

Answers

1. The bird landed in the field in which a garden had been planted.

2. This is the room in which the grape-juice stain was found.

3. Thirteen Going on Thirty is a horrible movie in which Jennifer Garner was the star.

 

 

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

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