a patron which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a patron which" is not correct in standard written English; it should be "a patron who." You can use "a patron who" when referring to a person who supports or frequents a particular establishment or organization.
Example: "She is a patron who frequently visits the local art gallery to support emerging artists."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

She gives the example of the Digismart scheme, of which she is a patron, which uses digital tools to mentor struggling school children, and has been introduced at 500 schools.

The Guardian

When I first met Mendes in March, he was coy about Taberna, periodically muttering: "I may have some project that I might do …" The best chefs now remind me of poets in the Henrician court or painters in Renaissance Florence – they command huge cultural status, for good reasons, but they also rely on a patron, which in 2015 means a landlord or a proprietor.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The first instance concerned a scandal involving the governor's accepting lavish gifts from a political patron, which cast a pall over Mr. Cuccinelli, who took gifts from the same donor.

The New York Times

His name and his signal achievement as an art patron, which Serota and many others had hoped to make a significant part of Tate Modern, are nowhere in evidence there today.

The New Yorker

The group eventually decides on Jerome, a hip bar patron, which Peter goes on to regret when he eventually finds out that Jerome and Lois used to date.

Wikipedia

Nothing annoys bartenders like being called "Hey Barkeep!" repeatedly over the course of a night by one unruly patron, which is a surefire way to get you 86ed for no good reason.

WikiHow

The idea emerged among activists linked to a leftwing revue and the team behind the hit documentary film Merci Patron!, which depicts a couple taking on France's richest man, billionaire Bernard Arnault.

The Guardian

But it's the back story of this work - complete with a standoff between artist and patron - which inspired Darren Waterston.

BBC

Even so, Pappacoda said, the county felt that firing Dore was justified because in creating the fake patron — which involved a made-up address and driver's license number — the library was "creating a false public record".

Huffington Post

The Patron, which seemed overly subdued in a margarita, really shone when consumed on its own.

Huffington Post

In December 2008 the museum negotiated a $30 million bailout from Eli Broad, Los Angeles's leading cultural patron, which allowed it to maintain its facilities and avoid selling off artwork.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "who" instead of "which" when referring to people. Using "which" can sound dehumanizing or grammatically incorrect.

Common error

Using "which" to refer to people is a common mistake. Always use "who" for people and "which" for things. For example, use "the patron who donated" instead of "the patron which donated".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a patron which" functions as part of a relative clause, but uses the incorrect relative pronoun. According to Ludwig AI, the correct relative pronoun for people is 'who', not 'which'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a patron which" is grammatically incorrect; the correct phrasing is "a patron who". This phrase aims to add detail to a sentence by describing a patron, a person who supports an organization. Although sources like The Guardian and The New York Times show the phrase being used, Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect, advising the use of "who" instead of "which" when referring to people. Always use "who" to refer to people to ensure grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a patron who

Replaces "which" with "who", the correct relative pronoun for people.

a supporter that

Uses "supporter" as a synonym for "patron" and "that" as the relative pronoun.

an advocate who

Replaces "patron" with "advocate" and uses the correct relative pronoun "who".

a benefactor who

Substitutes "patron" with "benefactor", implying a more significant contribution, and uses "who".

a customer who

Replaces "patron" with "customer", indicating a business relationship, and uses "who".

a client who

Replaces "patron" with "client", implying a formal service relationship, and uses "who".

a sponsor that

Uses "sponsor" instead of "patron", implying a financial contribution, and uses "that".

an individual who supports

Rephrases the sentence to be more descriptive.

someone that backs

Replaces "patron" with a more informal description of support.

an attendee who

Replaces "patron" with "attendee", focusing on presence rather than support, and using "who".

FAQs

What is the correct way to refer to a person using a relative pronoun?

When referring to a person, the correct relative pronoun to use is "who", not "which". For example, say "a patron who" instead of "a patron which".

Can I use "that" instead of "who" when referring to a person?

While "who" is generally preferred, "that" can be used as a relative pronoun to refer to a person, especially in restrictive clauses. However, in this case "a patron who" is preferred.

What can I say instead of "a patron which"?

The correct phrase is "a patron who". You can also use alternatives like "a supporter who" or "an advocate who" depending on the context.

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

"A patron who" is grammatically correct because "who" refers to people. "A patron which" is incorrect because "which" refers to things or animals, not people.