a passenger which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a passenger which" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct relative pronoun to use with "passenger" is "who" since it refers to a person. Example: "A passenger who missed the flight was upset."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

He was prosecuted by the National Transport Authority (NTA) for refusing to carry a passenger, which can result in a maximum €2,500 fine.

The Times

Or try a night skiddoo tour (€70 for one driver or €80 with a passenger), which does two loops, the second quite speedy.

The Guardian - Travel

To compensate for my fear of driving, I concocted a theory that in every successful relationship there's a driver and a passenger, which exactly describes my husband and me.

The New York Times

A House appropriations subcommittee voted to provide Amtrak with a subsidy of $550 million, compared with $1.8 billion this year, and to forbid the railroad to run trains that lose more than $30 a passenger, which would effectively end many of Amtrak's long-distance routes.

The New York Times

So far there has been only one of these, with the ridesharing behemoth Uber, which partnered with the startup in 2015 to provide an option for insurance coverage for those times when you are not carrying a passenger (which falls under a different insurance scheme).

TechCrunch

One recent evening, he handed a police officer 100 Syrian pounds, about $2, so he could park his cab at the airport and wait for a passenger, which would otherwise have been prohibited.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Shakespeare is their meat and potatoes, but they also do a mean Abbott and Costello and an original, improvised scene involving a subway preacher and an agitated passenger, which reaches a tense climax before dissolving into a rendition of the "Top Gun" anthem "Take My Breath Away".

The New York Times

There are a large number of passenger which every airline is trying to get back onto flights.

The Guardian

Posmysz co-wrote the script, and at a time when it appeared as though Munk's film would never be released she wrote a short novel, "The Passenger," which became the basis for Weinberg's opera.

The New Yorker

The service is free but drivers can charge a fixed price per passenger, which averages at around €20 per ride.

TechCrunch

Defined staffing levels, professionals who have to meet stipulated rest periods, a passenger quota which cannot be exceeded, a standard operating procedure which is run through and ticked every time there is a take-off.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to people, use the relative pronouns "who" or "that" instead of "which". For example, use "a passenger who" or "a passenger that".

Common error

Avoid using "which" to refer to people; it's grammatically incorrect and sounds unnatural. Stick to "who" or "that" when describing a person.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a passenger which" functions as part of a relative clause, attempting to provide additional information about the noun "passenger". However, the use of "which" is grammatically incorrect when referring to a person. Ludwig AI confirms this error.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a passenger which" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct relative pronoun to use when referring to a person is "who" or, in some cases, "that". Although examples exist across various sources like news and encyclopedias, it's crucial to avoid this phrasing in both formal and informal writing. Replace it with "a passenger who" or "a passenger that" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a passenger who

Replaces 'which' with the correct relative pronoun 'who' for referring to a person.

a passenger, who

Adds a comma for a non-restrictive relative clause.

a passenger that

Replaces 'which' with 'that', an acceptable alternative relative pronoun.

the passenger who

Uses the definite article 'the' to refer to a specific passenger.

a passenger on whom

Uses a more formal structure with 'on whom'.

the passenger that

Uses 'that' instead of 'who' after the definite article.

a passenger in whose

Emphasizes possession or relationship with 'in whose'.

an individual who is a passenger

Rephrases to emphasize the person's role as a passenger.

someone who is a passenger

Uses 'someone' for a more generic reference.

a person traveling as a passenger

Expands the description to clarify the act of being a passenger.

FAQs

How to correctly refer to a passenger in a relative clause?

Use "a passenger who" or "a passenger that" instead of "a passenger which".

What's the difference between "a passenger who" and "a passenger which"?

"A passenger who" is grammatically correct because "who" refers to people. "A passenger which" is incorrect because "which" refers to things.

Is it acceptable to use "that" instead of "who" when referring to a passenger?

Yes, using "that" is generally acceptable and grammatically correct as an alternative to "who".

Can I use "a passenger which" in any context?

No, "a passenger which" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in all formal and informal writing. Always use "a passenger who" or "a passenger that".