a client of mine

USAGE SUMMARY

"a client of mine" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a customer or customer relationship that you have. For example, "I just spoke with a client of mine who is looking for a new website design."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Jason Ferguson is a client of mine.

The Guardian - Sport

Pitsco Education, which sells educational products for grades K-12, was a client of mine.

The New York Times

One of the women turned out to be a client of mine.

The New York Times

I had been going back and forth with a client of mine about getting life insurance.

The New York Times - Magazine

Her strategy: "The employee could decide to become a client of mine.

The New York Times

"I'd never advise a client of mine to go forward under these circumstances," she said.

The New York Times

Consider a client of mine, Jacqueline, the only woman on the board of an engineering company.

Harvard Business Review

They were a client of mine at ZwillGen PLLC, so I'm honored and thrilled to come on board full time.

Stanford University

"A client of mine recently came in with a picture of Ruth from a Zara campaign," Ms. Donoghue recalled.

The New York Times

Mr. Beck has said he "was a client of Goldline long before they were a client of mine," adding: "I personally don't buy gold as an investment.

The New York Times

I thought of the Tata Nano, of C.K. Prahalad, and contacted Vijay Govindarajan (a client of mine at the time) and asked him about the idea.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a client of mine", ensure the context clearly indicates the professional service or relationship you provide. This clarifies your role and the nature of the association.

Common error

Avoid using "a client of mine" in overly casual conversations where simpler terms like "customer" or just mentioning the person's name would be more appropriate. Overuse can sound pretentious or overly formal in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a client of mine" functions as a possessive noun phrase, indicating a professional relationship where the speaker provides services to a client. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

26%

Academia

26%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a client of mine" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to a person whom you provide a professional service. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and appropriateness across various written contexts. While its usage is most prevalent in news media, formal business, and academic environments, it's essential to consider the specific setting to avoid sounding overly formal or pretentious in casual conversations. When choosing alternatives, consider options like "my client" or "one of my clients" for conciseness, or opt for a more descriptive phrase if greater clarity is needed. Pay attention to the context and purpose to ensure the chosen phrasing is well suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

One of my clients

Replaces the indefinite article 'a' with 'one of', emphasizing that the person is among several clients.

A customer of mine

Substitutes "client" with "customer", implying a transactional relationship.

My client

Omits the indefinite article, implying a more direct and specific relationship.

Someone I represent

Replaces "client" with a more descriptive phrase focused on representation.

An individual I advise

Replaces "client" with a descriptive phrase related to advice-giving.

A person I work for

Replaces "client" with a general description of working relationship.

A patient of mine

Replaces "client" to indicate a professional relationship in the medical field.

A patron of mine

Substitutes "client" to suggest a relationship where the person supports artistic or charitable work.

Someone who uses my services

Replaces "client" with a longer, descriptive explanation of service usage.

A person I provide services to

Similar to the previous one but with very minor structural changes.

FAQs

What's a simpler way to say "a client of mine"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "my client", "one of my clients", or simply refer to them by name if the relationship is already clear.

How does "a client of mine" differ from "my client"?

"A client of mine" implies that you have multiple clients, while "my client" can refer to a specific client you are currently discussing or a more significant client relationship.

When is it appropriate to use "a client of mine"?

It's appropriate in professional settings when you want to mention a client without necessarily identifying them specifically, or when emphasizing that they are one of several clients you serve.

What are some alternatives to "a client of mine" in a medical context?

In a medical setting, you might say "a patient of mine" instead, to accurately reflect the professional relationship.