citizens that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "citizens that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific group of citizens in a descriptive or defining manner. Example: "The citizens that participated in the rally expressed their concerns about climate change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It evoked the kind of abuse and disregard for citizens that spawned the civil-rights movement.

The New Yorker

Others remind citizens that making one's own way to Mecca is "illegal".

The Economist

The banner had an annotation for Russian citizens that read, "Your friends, the Poles".

The New York Times

"We'll legalize them as workers, not as citizens; that would be a disaster," Mr. Najib said.

The New York Times

The changes would permit companies, and private citizens, that are victims of cybercrimes to hack back.

The New Yorker

He said the bank had organised tax dodges for US citizens that ran for decades.

The Guardian - Business

"We have quite a few concerned citizens that watch us very closely," said Dickson.

The Guardian

It evoked the kind of abuse and disregard for citizens that spawned the Civil Rights Movement.

The Guardian

"Nobody has the right to deny the will of the citizens that exercised their right to vote," says Mr Basha.

The Economist

Each neighborhood leader would then tweet the detailed route to citizens that follow the tweet.

Safety Science

The supply-side concerns citizens that participate in trading a share of the data they collect.

EPJ Data Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "citizens that", ensure the following clause provides essential information defining a subset of citizens, not just extra information about all citizens. For example, "citizens that pay taxes" is more precise than "citizens that live in the city" if the context is about tax revenue.

Common error

While "citizens that" is grammatically acceptable, using "citizens who" is often preferred, especially in more formal contexts. Using "who" emphasizes the human aspect of citizenship. Consider replacing "that" with "who" for improved clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "citizens that" functions as a relative clause, specifying a particular subset of citizens based on a defining characteristic or action. It modifies the noun "citizens", limiting its scope to those who meet the criteria outlined in the following clause. Ludwig examples support this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "citizens that" is a grammatically correct and commonly used relative clause for specifying a subset of citizens based on shared characteristics or actions. While Ludwig AI indicates its acceptability, "citizens who" is often preferred for a more formal tone. The phrase appears frequently in news, scientific, and business contexts. When using this phrase, clarity is key: ensure the following clause is essential for defining the specific group of citizens you are discussing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

citizens who

Replaces "that" with the more standard relative pronoun "who" for referring to people.

residents that

Substitutes "citizens" with "residents", broadening the scope to include non-citizens living in a place.

people who are citizens

Rephrases to explicitly state the group being referred to is people who hold citizenship.

individuals who are citizens

Uses "individuals" instead of "people" for a slightly more formal tone.

nationals who

Replaces "citizens" with "nationals", implying a connection to a specific nation.

members of the public that

Broadens the scope to include anyone considered part of the general public, including citizens.

inhabitants who

Similar to "residents", "inhabitants" refers to those who live in a particular place.

electors who

Refers specifically to citizens who are eligible to vote.

constituents that

Implies a relationship of representation, referring to citizens represented by an elected official.

taxpayers who

Narrows the scope to citizens who pay taxes.

FAQs

Is it more correct to use "citizens who" or "citizens that"?

Both "citizens who" and "citizens that" are grammatically correct, but "citizens who" is generally preferred, particularly in formal writing, as it sounds more natural when referring to people. However, Ludwig AI confirms that "citizens that" is perfectly acceptable.

Can I use "which" instead of "that" or "who" with "citizens"?

No, "which" is generally used for non-human entities. With "citizens", you should use "who" or "that", with "who" being the more common choice.

What does "citizens that" mean?

The phrase "citizens that" refers to a specific group of citizens who share a common characteristic or condition, as defined by the clause that follows. For instance, "citizens that vote" refers only to those citizens who participate in elections.

What are some alternative ways to express the idea of "citizens that"?

Instead of "citizens that", you could use phrases like "citizens "who"", "residents "that"", or "people who are citizens", depending on the nuance you want to convey.