a child which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a child which" is not considered standard in written English; "a child who" is preferred when referring to people.
You can use "a child which" in informal contexts or when referring to a specific child in a non-human context, but it is generally not recommended. Example: "I met a child which had a remarkable talent for painting."

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Tickets: $50 a child, which includes transportation.

The New York Times - Arts

Tells about the writer's illness as a child, which left him blind.

The New Yorker

Parallels with Brown's own loss of a child, which he made by allusion, seemed forced.

The Guardian - Opinion

I wasn't given much money as a child, which I think is a very good thing.

The Guardian

Later she has a child, which would disqualify her from competition.

The New York Times

After her death at 8 in 1980, Deford authored Alex: The Life of a Child, which became a TV movie.

Princeton University

In this essay, Walker writes about her life as a child which now informs her political and personal landscape.

Harvard University

She had also married and had a child which was unheard of and she came from Liverpool.

Independent

He was at the first meeting of Israel Zion Hospital (as a child) which became Maimonides Medical Center of Brooklyn.

The New York Times

He denies two further counts of sexual activity with a child, which prosecutors have described as "more serious".

Independent

"After eight frustrating years, God gave them a child which Australia took back from them," his other cousin said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a child, use "who" instead of "which" for grammatical correctness. While "which" might be understood, "who" is the standard and preferred pronoun.

Common error

Avoid using "which" to refer to people. Using ""who"" is grammatically correct and more appropriate when referring to persons, including children. For example, instead of saying "a child which needs help", say "a child who needs help".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a child which" functions as a relative clause, attempting to add descriptive information about a specific child. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically questionable, since the relative pronoun “which” refers to things and animals and not people.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

34%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a child which" appears frequently in various sources, Ludwig AI suggests that using "who" is grammatically preferable when referring to people. This is because “which” typically refers to inanimate objects and animals. The phrase functions as a relative clause adding descriptive information, and appears most often in News & Media and Scientific contexts. For grammatically sound and universally accepted writing, consider using "a child who" instead.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a child who

Replaces "which" with the grammatically preferred relative pronoun "who" when referring to a person.

a child that

Substitutes "which" with "that", another acceptable relative pronoun, although "who" is generally preferred for people.

a kid which

Uses the more informal term "kid" instead of "child", while retaining the relative pronoun "which".

the child who

Adds the definite article "the" to specify a particular child, using "who" for correct grammar.

the child that

Adds the definite article "the" to specify a particular child, using "that" as the relative pronoun.

a young person who

Replaces "child" with the more general term "young person", using the correct relative pronoun "who".

a minor who

Uses the legal term "minor" in place of "child", and uses the grammatically correct "who".

a youngster who

Substitutes "child" with the synonym "youngster", using "who" for grammatical accuracy.

the offspring who

Replaces "child" with the more formal term "offspring", using the relative pronoun "who".

a dependent who

Uses the term "dependent" instead of "child", focusing on legal or financial dependency, while using "who".

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to use "which" when referring to a child?

While sometimes used, it's generally considered more correct to use "who" when referring to people, including children. Using "who" maintains grammatical standards.

What is the difference between "a child which" and "a child who"?

"A child which" is technically acceptable but not preferred when referring to people. "A child who" is the grammatically standard and recommended phrasing.

When can I use "which" instead of "who"?

"Which" is generally used for inanimate objects or animals. When referring to people, including children, "who" is the correct relative pronoun.

What are some alternatives to using "a child which" in a sentence?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "a child that" (though "who" is still preferred), or rephrase the sentence to avoid the relative pronoun altogether. Consider "a needy child" instead of "a child which needs help".