firms that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "firms that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to specific companies or businesses that meet certain criteria or characteristics. Example: "Firms that prioritize sustainability are becoming increasingly popular among consumers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Those firms that have them, flaunt them.

The New York Times

Firms that can't manage their risk should be replaced by firms that can.

The New York Times

American firms that crave foreign talent often cannot hire it.

The Economist

All of the firms that did sign are software houses.

The Economist

At most listed firms that would trigger a stockmarket bloodbath.

The Economist

Firms that pay modest wages have high rates of turnover.

The New Yorker

Firms that can keep on bundling have done better.

The Economist

"Now we have firms that will demand synergies.

The Economist

The stockmarket likes firms that earn money in predictable ways.

The Economist

Firms that appear to care may reap other benefits too.

The Economist

Firms that resist may end up scoring an own goal.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "firms that", ensure that the characteristic or action following "that" is clearly defined and relevant to the context. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures your meaning is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "firms that" when referring to all firms in a particular industry or sector. Instead, specify the firms that meet the criteria you're describing to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "firms that" functions as a relative clause, specifying or describing a particular group of companies based on a certain characteristic or action. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms this pattern across numerous examples, as showcased in the provided source data.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "firms that" serves as a versatile relative clause, frequently employed to specify companies based on particular traits or actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase enjoys wide usage across various contexts. While suitable for formal and professional settings, you might want to consider alternatives like "companies that" or "businesses that" to suit different tones or emphasize specific meanings. It's crucial to ensure clarity and avoid overgeneralizations when utilizing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

companies that

Replaces "firms" with the more general term "companies".

businesses that

Substitutes "firms" with "businesses", offering a slightly broader scope.

organizations that

Uses "organizations" instead of "firms", suitable for non-profit or governmental entities.

corporations that

Replaces "firms" with "corporations", specifically referring to incorporated businesses.

enterprises that

Employs "enterprises" as a more formal synonym for "firms".

institutions that

Uses "institutions", appropriate for academic or financial entities.

agencies that

Substitutes "firms" with "agencies", often used in governmental or service contexts.

groups that

Replaces "firms" with "groups", indicating a less formal or structured entity.

establishments that

Uses "establishments" as a more formal equivalent to "firms".

practices that

Refers to the routines, habits, and traditions of companies.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "firms that" to sound more formal?

To achieve a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "enterprises that", "organizations that", or "institutions that", depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "companies that" and "firms that"?

While "firms" and "companies" are often interchangeable, "firms" tends to be used in more professional or formal contexts, particularly in law, finance, and consulting. "Companies" is a more general term.

Is it grammatically correct to use "firms which" instead of "firms that"?

While both "that" and "which" can be used to introduce relative clauses, "that" is generally preferred for restrictive clauses (essential to the meaning of the sentence), and "which" for non-restrictive clauses (adding extra information). In most cases, "firms that" is the better choice.

How do I use "firms that" in a sentence?

Use "firms that" to specify a subset of firms based on a particular attribute or action. For example, "Firms that invest in employee training often see higher productivity levels."