a customer of ours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a customer of ours" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to another person or company that has a business relationship with someone or a company. For example: "We are delighted to have a customer of ours returning for a second purchase."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"The Secret Service is a customer of ours," said Jeff Nelson, a spokesman for Verizon.

The New York Times

"If anything, they were a customer of ours".

Forbes

When EDS was a customer of ours, they had a $1B annual credit with Computer Associates.

TechCrunch

(Full disclosure: Microsoft is a customer of ours). And it was only recently that female employees took a stand to reform Nike's toxic workplace culture.

Forbes

For example, a customer of ours, a direct-to-consumer sustainable meat and fish grocer, finds that when there is mention of a food recall in the news, consumers become more aware of their food choices.

Forbes

For transparency, Glasses Direct are a customer of ours". "I am fortunate that a good friend of mine, Andy Phillipps, who co-founded the hugely successful Active Hotels, is an investor and on the board here.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Yahoo! is a huge customer of ours; I know them extremely well.

Forbes

"The Department of Defense is a big customer of ours," said Vass.

Huffington Post

The retailer, she added, was both friend and enemy mixed together: "They are also a very important customer of ours and they have done fantastic things for the book industry.

The New York Times - Tech

It doesn't matter if you're a super-loyal customer of ours or you're 100 years old.

TechCrunch

It soon becomes clear that Don is quite high on the Aspergers scale – and this is handled so wonderfully that a teacher customer of ours has said that she thinks all teachers should be made to read it to give them a better understanding of students with this syndrome.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "customer" with "client" in contexts where a long-term or professional service is being provided.

Common error

Avoid using "a customer of ours" in very casual conversations; simpler phrases like "someone who buys from us" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a customer of ours" functions as a possessive phrase that identifies a person or entity as someone who purchases goods or services from a particular business or organization. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a customer of ours" is a grammatically correct and useful way to refer to someone who purchases goods or services from a business. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. While it's most commonly found in news and business contexts, its formality is generally neutral to professional. When using this phrase, consider the context to ensure it appropriately reflects the nature of the business relationship. For more casual situations, simpler alternatives like "someone who buys from us" might be more fitting. Remember to be original and relevant when using the phrase and avoid being overly formal, except in a business setting. Alternatives can include, "one of our clients", "a frequent buyer from us" or one of our patrons

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one of our clients

Replaces "customer" with "client", suggesting a more formal or professional relationship.

a client of ours

Swaps out "customer" for "client", suggesting a professional services context.

one of our patrons

Replaces "customer" with "patron", implying support or loyalty, often in the arts or charitable sectors.

one of our regulars

Highlights repeated business, emphasizing frequency of visits.

a frequent buyer from us

More directly emphasizes the act of purchasing regularly.

someone who buys from us often

A less formal way to say the same as the previous suggestion, emphasizing the frequency of purchases.

a purchaser from our company

Formal alternative, suitable for business contexts.

a user of our services

Focuses on the utilization of services rather than just product purchases.

an account we service

Emphasizes the ongoing service aspect of the relationship.

an individual we serve

Highlights the act of providing a service or product to someone.

FAQs

What's a simpler way to say "a customer of ours"?

You could say "someone who buys from us" or "one of our clients" depending on the context. The phrase "a customer of ours" isn't wrong but can be replaced by alternatives that are clearer.

How can I use "a customer of ours" in a sentence?

You can use it to refer to someone who purchases goods or services from your business. For example, "We are pleased to announce that "one of our long-standing customers" has expanded their order."

Is there a difference between "a client of ours" and "a customer of ours"?

While the terms are often used interchangeably, "client" typically implies a more professional or ongoing service relationship, while "customer" can refer to a one-time transaction. Therefore using "a client of ours" can signal more trust.

What are some alternatives to "customer" that maintain a formal tone?

Consider using terms like "client", "patron", or "purchaser", depending on the specific relationship. For instance, in a legal setting, "client" is generally preferred; a museum might refer to "patrons"; and businesses often use the term "purchaser".