persons that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "persons that" is correct and usable in written English, though it is less common than "people who." You can use it in formal or legal contexts where precision is required, often referring to individuals in a specific group or category.
Example: "The organization is dedicated to supporting persons that have experienced discrimination in the workplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is the issue of "missing persons" that has caused most anger.

The Guardian

(In 1993, Stephen J. Cannell tried a show titled, appropriately, "Missing Persons," that didn't make it through its first season).

The New York Times - Arts

They must cut all ties with "Suppressive Persons"—that is, those who oppose their faith.

The Economist

"We desperately want to catch the person or persons that did this," said Chip Prather, the Orange County fire authority chief at a news conference in Irvine.

The New York Times

Aid agencies have warned that thousands of people are seeking shelter in camps for internally displaced persons that are already beyond capacity, raising concerns of a cholera outbreak.

The Guardian

And it is evident to me that some of those persons that were killed were not themselves gunmen, were not confronting the security forces.

The New Yorker

Figure 22 Persons that are not detected by FD haar.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

"The persons that are able to fix the situation it is the negotiators.

TechCrunch

(ii) For the persons that are alive, actors take action to dislocate them in a camp.

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

(iii) The persons that are alive and have normal injury, actors provide them first aid.

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

The exception to this is persons that do not respond at every wave.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider using "people who" or "individuals who" as more common and sometimes more appropriate alternatives to "persons that".

Common error

Avoid using "persons that" in informal contexts where simpler alternatives like "people who" would be more natural and less stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "persons that" functions as a relative clause, specifying a particular group of individuals. Ludwig AI confirms its usability but suggests considering more common alternatives in certain contexts. The examples provided illustrate its use across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "persons that" serves as a grammatically correct relative clause, primarily used to categorize individuals based on specific attributes. While versatile, Ludwig AI suggests it leans toward formal contexts like scientific, legal, and professional writing, where precision is paramount. Alternatives like "people who" and "individuals who" offer broader applicability. The phrase is very common, appearing across authoritative sources, highlighting its enduring relevance. When using "persons that", ensure that it aligns with the intended tone of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

people who

Replaces "persons" with the more common "people" and uses the relative pronoun "who" instead of "that".

individuals who

Substitutes "persons" with the more formal "individuals" and uses the relative pronoun "who".

those who

Uses "those" to refer to people, followed by the relative pronoun "who".

folks that

Replaces "persons" with the more informal "folks" while keeping "that".

the ones that

Uses "the ones" to refer to specific people within a group, followed by "that".

those individuals that

Combines "those individuals" with "that" for a slightly more emphatic phrasing.

parties who

Replaces "persons" with "parties", often used in legal or formal contexts, followed by "who".

members who

Substitutes "persons" with "members", implying belonging to a group, and uses "who".

applicants that

Replaces "persons" with "applicants", specifying people applying for something and keeps "that".

residents who

Substitutes "persons" with "residents", referring to people living in a specific area, followed by "who".

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "persons that"?

The phrase "persons that" is most appropriate in formal or legal contexts where precision is required. In everyday conversation or less formal writing, "people who" is generally preferred.

Is "persons that" grammatically correct?

Yes, "persons that" is grammatically correct, although it's less common than "people who". It functions as a relative clause, specifying a particular group of people.

What are some alternatives to "persons that" in formal writing?

In formal writing, you can use alternatives like "individuals who", "those who", or specify the group of people more directly (e.g., "applicants who", "residents who").

What's the difference between "persons that" and "people who"?

While both phrases introduce a relative clause to describe a group, "people who" is more commonly used in everyday language, whereas "persons that" is reserved for more formal or legalistic contexts. The term "persons" itself carries a more formal tone than "people".