those who

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'those who' is a correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a group of people. For example: "Those who attended the event said it was a great success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Those who lost, those who remain.

The Guardian

Those who pay up.

The New York Times - Travel

Those who tried, died.

The Economist

Those who smoked did.

The New York Times

Those who favor N.Y.U.

The New York Times

Those who remain dance.

The New York Times - Arts

Those who know — good.

The New Yorker

Those who don't, aren't.

The New York Times

Those who unearthed.

The New Yorker

Those who rape.

Independent

To judge those who haven't?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "those who" to clearly define a specific group based on a shared characteristic or action. For example: "Those who are interested in volunteering should sign up here."

Common error

Ensure the context clearly indicates who "those who" refers to. Without sufficient context, the phrase can become vague and confuse the reader. Always define or imply the relevant group beforehand.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "those who" functions as a determiner phrase introducing a relative clause. It singles out a subset of people based on a specific condition or characteristic. Ludwig confirms its common use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

21%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "those who" is a versatile and grammatically correct phrase used to identify a specific group of people based on a shared characteristic or action. According to Ludwig, this phrase is commonly found in News & Media, Wiki and Formal & Business contexts, and it is deemed grammatically correct. When using "those who", ensure that the context is clear, and the verb agreement is correct. Consider alternatives such as "the people who" or "individuals who" to adjust the tone to the writing's register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the people who

Replaces "those" with "the people" for a slightly more explicit reference.

individuals who

Substitutes "those" with "individuals" for a more formal tone.

people that

Uses "that" instead of "who" to introduce the relative clause.

those that

Similar to "people that", offering a slight variation in wording.

whoever

Implies anyone who fits the following description.

the ones who

Emphasizes specific individuals within a larger group.

members who

Specifically refers to individuals belonging to a certain group.

participants who

Refers to people involved in a particular activity.

applicants who

Suitable when speaking about candidate selection processes or job postings.

candidates who

Similar to the previous one, suitable for formal settings.

FAQs

What's the difference between "those who" and "the people who"?

While both phrases refer to a group of people, "those who" is slightly more concise and can sound more formal. "The people who" is more explicit and can be used for emphasis or clarity. Semantically, they're almost interchangeable; consider using "the people who" when you want to avoid ambiguity.

How can I rephrase "those who" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using "individuals who" or "persons who". These alternatives offer a more detached and professional feel compared to the simpler "those who".

Is it ever incorrect to use "those who"?

The phrase "those who" is generally correct, but ensure that the verb following "who" agrees in number with the implied subject. For example, "Those who are interested" is correct; "Those who is interested" is incorrect.

What are some common sentence structures that use "those who"?

Common sentence structures include conditional statements like "Those who study hard will succeed", descriptive statements like "Those who attended the conference found it valuable", and imperative statements like "Those who wish to participate must register online".