students who

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "students who" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a certain group of students. For example, "Students who complete this assignment will receive bonus points."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They are students who play athletics.

The New York Times - Sports

They help students who are stumbling.

The New York Times

Students who object may be dismissed.

The Economist

"We want students who want us".

The New York Times

Students who get involved often become hooked.

The New York Times

Some of the students who performed.

The New York Times

It now dismisses students who perform poorly.

The New York Times

There are students who disrupt too much.

The Guardian

Students who met Obama praised her affability.

The Guardian

Students who flout the rules comply reluctantly.

The Guardian

It was the students who were watching.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "students who", ensure the clause following "who" provides essential information that defines the specific group you are referring to.

Common error

Avoid using "that" instead of "who" when referring to people. While "that" can sometimes replace "who" in restrictive clauses, "who" is generally preferred when referring to people. For instance, prefer "students who attend regularly" over "students that attend regularly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "students who" functions as a relative clause introducing a description or characteristic of a specific group of students. It identifies a subset of students based on a particular attribute or action. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "students who" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to specify a subset of students based on shared attributes or actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used and accepted in written English. The phrase functions as a relative clause, typically found in both news media and scientific publications. While "students who" is generally preferred, alternatives like "learners who" or "pupils who" can be used depending on the context. When using the phrase, ensure that the clause following "who" provides essential information to define the specific group of students you're referencing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pupils who

Replaces "students" with "pupils", which is more common in the context of primary or secondary education.

learners who

Uses "learners" instead of "students", emphasizing the act of learning.

individuals who are students

Rephrases to highlight the individuals' status as students.

those students that

Uses "those students" for emphasis and replaces "who" with "that".

scholars who

Replaces "students" with "scholars", implying a higher level of academic achievement.

students that

Omits "who" for a slightly less formal tone. It may not always be grammatically correct depending on the context.

students which

Substitutes "who" with "which" (less common and might be considered grammatically incorrect by some).

students having

Uses "students having" to specify a characteristic or condition.

students with

Uses "students with" to denote possession of a quality or attribute.

all students that

Adds "all" to include every student, making the group more inclusive.

FAQs

How can I use "students who" in a sentence?

Use "students who" to introduce a relative clause that specifies a particular group of students based on a characteristic or action. For example, "Students who study hard tend to achieve better grades".

Is it always correct to use "who" after "students"?

In most cases, yes. "Who" is the correct relative pronoun to use when referring to people, including students. However, in some informal contexts, "that" might be used, although it's generally better to stick with "who" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

What's the difference between "students who" and "students that"?

"Students who" and "students that" are often used interchangeably, but "who" is typically preferred when referring to people. Using "who" generally sounds more formal and grammatically correct, especially in academic or professional writing.

Are there alternatives to "students who" that I can use for variety?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "learners who", "pupils who", or rephrase the sentence to use a different structure altogether. For example, instead of "students who excel", you could say "high-achieving students".