a random person

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a random person" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to an individual who you do not know. For example: "I saw a random person walking down the street."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A random person could visit your profile page and see all of this stuff.

TechCrunch

A random person who you never heard of 30 seconds ago said something problematic on the internet?

Vice

It's the equivalent of saying you aren't personally responsible for murder if a random person kills someone on your property.

Huffington Post

Each model included a random person specific intercept to account for within person correlation.

Critical Care

A random person.

The Guardian

"We'd picked up a random person who had lost a phone and was missing her husband.

The New Yorker

Occasionally, the man stopped and berated a random person — "You think I'm crazy?

The New Yorker

Or what about when you want to have sex with a random person three nights in a row?

The New Yorker

"It shows that you are somebody who has volunteered," Mr. Stasior said, "not just a random person".

The New York Times

(Imagine, by contrast, if a random person ran screaming toward you on the street, saying that Mars was invading Earth).

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

In real life, you wouldn't let a random person into your home without getting to know them first!

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a random person" when you want to emphasize the lack of a specific connection or relationship to the individual in question.

Common error

Avoid using "a random person" when a more specific description is available. For example, instead of saying "a random person helped me", specify "a helpful stranger helped me" if applicable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a random person" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It refers to an individual who is not specifically known or identified, emphasizing their anonymity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a random person" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to denote an unspecified or unknown individual. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and its prevalence across varied contexts, spanning from news and media to scientific and general web content. When writing, using more descriptive terms may provide more clarity, but "a random person" remains a useful phrase for conveying the idea of anonymity or lack of specific identity. Be mindful of its neutral register and avoid overgeneralization when more specific descriptions are available.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a stranger

Focuses on the unfamiliarity of the person.

an unknown individual

Highlights the lack of identification of the person.

a chance acquaintance

Emphasizes the accidental nature of the encounter.

anybody

Highlights the lack of importance regarding who the person is.

somebody or other

Indicates a non-specific person.

a passerby

Implies someone who is simply passing by.

a nameless person

Highlights the anonymity of the person.

a faceless individual

Emphasizes the lack of a recognizable identity.

an average person

Focuses on the typical or ordinary nature of the individual.

an arbitrary person

Highlights the selection of someone without any specific reason or system.

FAQs

How can I use "a random person" in a sentence?

You can use "a random person" to refer to someone unknown or unspecified. For example, "A random person asked me for directions".

What's a good alternative to "a random person"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a stranger", "an unknown individual", or "anybody".

When is it appropriate to use "a random person"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize that the person is not known, relevant, or specifically identified in the context of the sentence.

Is "a random person" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "an unidentified individual" might be preferred in very formal writing.