Can You Start a Sentence with “Of Which”?

Yes, you can start a sentence with “of which,” and doing so is perfectly grammatically correct.

It’s important to use it appropriately and in context. This phrase is typically found in more formal or academic writing, and it functions as part of a relative clause that modifies the noun in the preceding sentence (or clause).

Still with us? Don’t worry—we’ll break this down step by step.

What Does “Of Which” Mean?

To fully grasp when and why you’d use “of which,” you first need to understand its grammatical purpose.

• “Of” is a preposition that shows relationship or connection. It’s often used to show belonging, origin, or composition (e.g., “a glass of water”).
• “Which” is a relative pronoun used to introduce a clause that adds more detail or information about a noun.

Combined, “of which” indicates a relationship or link to something described earlier in the sentence. It is often used to emphasize the relationship between two ideas or to provide additional detail.

For example:

• “She bought 12 books, of which three were on gardening.”

Translation? Out of the 12 books she bought, three were specifically about gardening.

Breaking Down Sentence Structure “Of Which”

When starting a sentence with “of which,” you’re constructing a relative clause. Relative clauses provide extra information, either essential or nonessential, about the subject.

When you bring “of which” to the front of the sentence, it makes the text slightly more formal and structured.

For instance:

• Standard structure: “The house has five rooms, and three of which have been recently renovated.”
• Rewritten with “of which” at the start of the second sentence:
• “The house has five rooms. Of which, three have been recently renovated.”

This doesn’t change the meaning, but it reorganizes the flow to separate the ideas into two sentences. This structure often appears in literature, essays, or formal reports.

Read More: 50 Examples of Perder Verbs in a Sentence

When Is It Appropriate to Start a Sentence with “Of Which”?

Now that you know it’s grammatically correct, when is it a good idea to use “of which” at the beginning of a sentence?

The key lies in understanding your tone, purpose, and audience. Here are some contexts where starting with “of which” can work wonders:

1. Formal Writing

“Of which” is most frequently found in academic, technical, or literary contexts where more sophisticated sentence construction is expected.

For example:

• “The dataset provided insights into several industries. Of which, renewable energy and technology showed the most growth.”

2. Adding Elegance to Descriptions

This phrase can add a certain level of refinement to descriptions in essays, articles, or even creative writing.

For example:

• “He owned an extensive collection of sculptures, of which the bronze figure stood out as the most captivating piece.”

3. Breaking Up Long Sentences

When writing complex sentences, moving certain elements (like “of which”) to the beginning of a standalone sentence can keep your writing clear and digestible.

For example:

• Long sentence:
• “The research findings were divided into three categories, of which two had significant implications on climate policy.”
• Streamlined:
• “The research findings were divided into three categories. Of which, two had significant implications on climate policy.”

4. Conveying Relationships Between Concepts

Use “of which” at the start of a sentence to illustrate relationships among datasets, lists, or quantities.

For example:

• “There were 20 applications in total. Of which, ten were considered exemplary.”

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

While using “of which” is grammatically correct, there are a couple of pitfalls you’ll want to avoid:

1. Overuse

Using “of which” too frequently in your writing can make the tone overly formal and may lead to redundancy. Mix it up with other sentence structures to maintain a more varied and engaging flow.

2. Misplacement

Make sure “of which” logically connects to the noun or idea in the preceding sentence. Otherwise, you risk confusing your reader.

Incorrect:

• “He presented an award to the students. Of which are from diverse academic backgrounds.”

(The connection between the award and the diverse backgrounds feels incomplete.)

Correct:

• “He presented awards to 30 students, of which ten were recognized for academic excellence.”

3. Casual Writing

If you’re writing in an informal or conversational tone (think emails, casual blog posts, or texts), starting a sentence with “of which” might feel out of place or too stiff. Opt for simpler structures instead.

For example:

• Casual/personal tone:
• “I watched three shows last night, and two of them were amazing!”

(Here, “of them” replaces “of which” for a more conversational feel.)

Read More: 200+ Sentences with “Sh” “Ch” Words for Easy Practicing

Alternatives to “Of Which”

If you feel that using “of which” too often weighs down your writing, here are some other ways to convey similar meaning:

• “Out of them” / “Out of those”

Example: “There were seven projects. Out of those, four were successful.”

• “Among them”

Example: “She designed several dresses, among them a stunning silk gown.”

• A restructured sentence

Example: Instead of “The team created three prototypes, of which one was selected for testing,” you could say, “The team created three prototypes, and one was selected for testing.”

Tips for Mastering Sentence Structure

To further refine your writing and use phrases like “of which” effectively:

• Practice Reading

The more you read formal or professional texts, the more familiar you’ll become with how “of which” is used naturally in context.

• Write and Edit

Experiment with different sentence structures in your drafts, and ask yourself whether starting with “of which” improves clarity and flow.

• Use Tools and Resources

Grammarly, Outwrite, or similar writing tools can help highlight when your sentences need smoothing or reorganization.

How This Phrase Adds Style (And Substance!)

Whether you’re writing a research paper, crafting a compelling business proposal, or even working on your first novel, the ability to incorporate “of which” into your sentences demonstrates a solid grasp of grammar and style.

It’s one of those small but impactful tools that can elevate your writing when used thoughtfully.

If you’re ready to refine your grammar skills even further, explore more style-related topics and become the confident writer you aspire to be.