a man that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a man that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific man and providing additional information about him. Example: "He is a man that always stands up for what he believes in."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I'm a man that accept challenge.

The New York Times - Arts

Icahn is a man that can multitask.

The New York Times

"I'm a man that belongs alone," Kiwanuka tells us.

The Guardian - Music

He's "a man that believes in radical macho-ism.

The New Yorker

You were a man that never used the telephone out of the Reichsbank?

Yale University

He was a man that was dedicated and praised for the conviction of his faith.

Columbia University

He has been a man that has meditated since he was 18 years old.

University of California, Berkeley

Ms Capriati defended herself on Twitter, claiming: "I pushed a man that was verbally assaulting me".

Independent

A woman says, "I feel that is a man that destroyed us".

The New York Times

In a man that would be called "business acumen"; in Katie it was called "being manipulative".

The Guardian

Isn't all qualified in that Jesus Christ was a man that never sinned, yet "all" have sinned?

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a man who" instead of "a man that" in formal writing for improved clarity and adherence to traditional grammatical conventions.

Common error

Avoid using "a man that" excessively in formal documents; opt for "a man who" to maintain a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a man that" functions as a relative clause, introducing additional information or description about a specific man. This is confirmed by the numerous examples provided by Ludwig, where it connects a noun (man) to a descriptive clause. Ludwig AI confirms it's correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a man that" functions as a relative clause, offering additional information about a specific man. While grammatically correct and prevalent in various contexts, including news, academia, and science, it's generally considered less formal than "a man who". As Ludwig AI suggests, using "a man who" is preferable in formal writing. Although "a man that" is very common, overuse should be avoided in formal documents to maintain a professional tone. You should use it with confidence in informal speech and writing, but be mindful of the context for maintaining proper tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a man who

Replaces "that" with "who", emphasizing the person.

a man that is

Adds "is" to clarify the descriptive clause.

a fellow that

Substitutes "man" with "fellow", providing a slightly more informal tone.

an individual that

Replaces "man" with "individual", making it more formal and neutral.

a person that

Uses "person" instead of "man", broadening the scope to include any gender.

someone who

Employs "someone" instead of "a man", making it gender-neutral and less specific.

a gentleman that

Replaces "man" with "gentleman", giving a more refined connotation.

a guy that

Substitutes "man" with "guy", offering a more casual tone.

a chap that

Uses "chap" instead of "man", which is more common in British English.

a bloke that

Replaces "man" with "bloke", another British English colloquialism.

FAQs

What's a more formal alternative to "a man that"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "a man who" instead of "a man that".

Is "a man that" grammatically correct?

While grammatically acceptable, "a man that" is often perceived as less formal than "a man who".

When is it appropriate to use "a man that"?

"A man that" is suitable in informal contexts, while formal writing benefits from using "a man who".

What phrases are similar in meaning to "a man that"?

Similar phrases include "an individual that", "a person who", and "someone who", depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.