a customer who

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a customer who" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a specific customer in a descriptive context, often to provide additional information about their characteristics or actions. Example: "A customer who frequently shops with us will receive exclusive discounts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This rule states that merchants cannot charge a customer who pays by card more than a customer who pays by cash.

Journal of Monetary Economics

They are complaining about a customer who has declared bankruptcy.

The New York Times

You're talking to a customer who knows her radiator hoses, pal.

The New York Times

He chatted with a customer who could not seem to find the perfect navy blue overcoat.

The New York Times

A wrapup is a customer who knows exactly what he's after & wastes no time getting it.

The New Yorker

This Week's Question: How do you respond to a customer who posts a bad review online?

The New York Times

So had a customer who suggested "zabster" on Zabar's Facebook page.

The New York Times

It can be difficult to imagine a customer who represents the majority of the country.

The New Yorker

An egg is a customer who takes a lot of time & buys nothing.

The New Yorker

Every e-mail we send is to a customer who has opted in.

The New York Times

"We had a customer who said 'No French wine!' " Mr. Richard reported.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing segments of your customer base, use "a customer who" to add clarifying details. For instance, "a customer who spends over $100 monthly receives premium support."

Common error

Avoid making broad assumptions about customers based on limited data. For example, instead of saying "a customer who complains is always dissatisfied", investigate the root cause of complaints before drawing conclusions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a customer who" functions as a determiner phrase followed by a relative clause. It specifies a particular customer based on a defining characteristic or action described in the relative clause. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

14%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a customer who" is a grammatically correct and very common construction used to specify a customer based on certain attributes or actions. As Ludwig AI highlights, it appears frequently in "News & Media" and academic contexts. When writing, using "a customer who" allows you to provide clarifying details about specific segments of your customer base. Remember to avoid overgeneralizing about customer attributes and consider alternative phrases like "a client that" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

any customer that

Generalizes the statement to include any customer with the specified characteristic.

each customer that

Focuses on each individual customer meeting the given criteria.

a client that

Uses "client" instead of "customer", implying a more professional or ongoing relationship.

a buyer who

Substitutes "customer" with "buyer", emphasizing the act of purchasing.

a patron that

Uses "patron" instead of "customer", suggesting a more established or loyal relationship.

a consumer who

Employs "consumer" to highlight the act of consuming goods or services.

a guest who

Uses "guest" in place of "customer", typically in hospitality or service contexts.

a shopper who

Replaces "customer" with "shopper", suggesting a retail or shopping context.

a user who

Replaces "customer" with "user", often used in the context of services, software, or platforms.

an individual who is a customer

More formal and verbose, emphasizing the person's identity as a customer.

FAQs

How can I use "a customer who" in a sentence?

Use "a customer who" to introduce a relative clause that provides more information about a specific customer. For example, "A customer who is always offered a refund may be complaining only for monetary gain.

What phrases are similar to "a customer who"?

Similar phrases include /s/"a client that", /s/"an individual who is a customer", or /s/"a shopper who", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a customer that" instead of "a customer who"?

While "that" can sometimes replace "who" in relative clauses, "who" is generally preferred when referring to people. Therefore, "a customer who" is typically considered more appropriate.

What is the difference between "a customer who" and "customers who"?

"A customer who" refers to a single, specific customer, whereas "customers who" refers to multiple customers sharing a common attribute or behavior.