non-citizens

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "non-citizens" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to individuals who do not hold citizenship in a particular country or state. Example: "The new policy will affect non-citizens living in the area, particularly in terms of access to public services."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He doesn't specify non-citizens.

The New Yorker

Non-citizens can't vote in American elections.

The Economist

What we know is that non-citizens voted.

The Guardian

Neither proved that non-citizens voted in 2016.

The Guardian

The country does treat non-citizens differently from Americans.

The New York Times

And some non-citizens come equipped with useful languages.

The Economist

There are 282,000 non-citizens in Latvia, more than one in 10 of the population.

The Guardian

Those eleven or twelve million non-citizens, he points out, are in the United States illegally.

The New Yorker

What rights do these non-citizens, non-criminals, non-soldiers have?

The New York Times

In reality, the average detention time for such non-citizens was more than a year.

The Guardian - Opinion

The law forbids non-citizens from engaging in small-scale mining.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the term "non-citizens", consider the context and audience. In some cases, more specific terms like "foreign nationals" or "immigrants" might be more appropriate, depending on the focus of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "non-citizens" interchangeably with "illegal immigrants". Citizenship status and legal residency are distinct concepts, and using the wrong term can lead to inaccurate or biased representations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "non-citizens" primarily functions as a noun phrase, identifying a group of individuals who lack citizenship in a specific country. Ludwig examples show it used in discussions about rights, policies, and legal situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

25%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "non-citizens" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to refer to individuals who do not hold citizenship in a particular country. As Ludwig AI confirms, it commonly appears in news, scientific, and formal contexts. While generally neutral, it's important to be mindful of the specific context and audience, sometimes choosing more specific alternatives like "foreign nationals" or "immigrants". When writing, ensure accuracy by distinguishing "non-citizens" from "illegal immigrants" and being precise about rights and restrictions applicable to this group.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

non-nationals

Similar to "non-citizens", but highlights the lack of national affiliation.

foreign nationals

Emphasizes nationality rather than citizenship status. It's a broader term that includes all people from other countries.

non-citizen immigrants

Specifies that the immigrants have not become citizens yet. This term is more precise.

non-naturalized individuals

Emphasizes that these individuals have not gone through the naturalization process to become citizens.

aliens

A more legalistic term, often used in immigration law. Can sometimes carry negative connotations.

foreign residents

Combines residence with foreign origin. This phrase makes it clear the residents are not citizens.

immigrants

Refers specifically to people who have moved to a new country, regardless of their citizenship status.

residents

Focuses on the fact that people live in a specific country, although they might not be citizens.

stateless persons

Describes individuals not recognized as citizens by any country. Carries a different legal weight.

expatriates

Usually refers to people who live outside their native country, often for work or personal reasons. Implies a voluntary choice.

FAQs

How can I use "non-citizens" in a sentence?

You can use "non-citizens" to refer to individuals who do not hold citizenship in a particular country. For example: "The new policy will affect "non-citizens" living in the area, particularly in terms of access to public services."

What's the difference between "non-citizens" and "foreign nationals"?

"Non-citizens" refers specifically to individuals who do not have citizenship in a particular country, while "foreign nationals" is a broader term encompassing all people from other countries, regardless of their immigration status.

What's the difference between "non-citizens" and "immigrants"?

"Non-citizens" refers to the legal status of not being a citizen, whereas "immigrants" describes people who have moved to a new country, irrespective of whether they've obtained citizenship.

Are there situations where I should avoid using the term "non-citizens"?

While generally neutral, in contexts requiring greater sensitivity or when discussing specific legal rights, using more specific terms like "foreign residents" or referring to specific visa categories might be more appropriate than the broader term ""non-citizens"".