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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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who items

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "who items" is not correct and usable in written English.
It appears to be a fragment and lacks clarity or context, making it difficult to determine its intended meaning. Example: "I need to know who items belong to."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As such, I give you TARDIS teatime, an assembly of Who items for your eating space.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Price your items competitively with vendors who sell items at the farmers market.

On average, said a Citi spokeswoman, those who register items get back $80 an item.

News & Media

The New York Times

The questionnaire included 26 questions and included both WHO developed items [ 18] and internally developed items (Additional file 3).

For those who misplace items, the Loc8tor (www.loc8tor.com), starting at about $100, can find up to seven items.

This was a large overestimate for those who dropped items from test (and an underestimate from those who kept testing learnt items). .

News & Media

BBC

"The sweetest scheme is when you have businessmen who need items for gifts.

News & Media

The New York Times

Several of those who won items seemed surprised at the media attention that followed.

News & Media

The New York Times

Some people who bought items from Less Less tried to return them to Lot-Less.

News & Media

The New York Times

Gerald Landon, who had items of "considerable value" in the safe said: "It's terrible.

News & Media

The Guardian

The mechanized process is augmented by workers who sort items by hand.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "who items" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and grammatically correct alternatives like "which items" or "whose items" to ensure your meaning is accurately conveyed.

Common error

A common mistake is using "who" to refer to inanimate objects or items. "Who" should only be used to refer to people. Use "which" or "that" when referring to items. For example, instead of "the items who are on sale", say "the items "which are" on sale".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

2.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "who items" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It attempts to link a pronoun designating a person ("who") with a noun referring to objects ("items"), creating a syntactically flawed construction. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase lacks clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Wiki

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "who items" is generally grammatically incorrect and lacks clarity. As noted by Ludwig AI, this construction is a flawed way to inquire about items associated with a person. While it appears in a few contexts like News & Media, Wiki, and Science, it's best to avoid using it in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives such as "which items", "whose items", or "the items that belong to whom" to ensure accurate and effective communication. Always prioritize grammatical correctness and clarity when conveying information.

FAQs

What's the correct way to ask about items belonging to someone?

Instead of asking about "who items", use "whose items" to directly inquire about the owner. For example, "Whose items are these?" is grammatically correct and clearly expresses the question.

How can I rephrase "who items" to be more specific?

To be more specific, use "which items". This phrase indicates you are referring to particular items from a larger set. For example, "Which items are included in the sale?"

Is it ever correct to use "who" when referring to items?

No, it is not correct to use "who" when referring to items. "Who" is exclusively used for people. Use "which" or "that" for items.

What are some alternatives to "who items" in a business context?

In a business context, instead of "who items", consider using "the items that belong to whom" or "the items for which client". This ensures a professional and clear communication.

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Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

2.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: