Hey everyone, I’ve been getting this question nonstop lately from clients and even my own team: can “by person” actually work in a relative clause? As a supplier whose whole brand is literally named By Person—we’re all about that hands-on, one-person-driven work, not just generic mass-produced stuff—this isn’t just some random grammar debate for me. It’s tied to how we do business, so let’s break this down like we’re chatting over coffee, no stuffy textbook jargon. By Person
First, let’s get on the same page: a relative clause is the part of a sentence that modifies a noun, right? It usually starts with words like who, which, that, whom, or whose. “By person” is a prepositional phrase that basically means “done by an individual” instead of a company, machine, or group. Now, I see folks confused because they think prepositional phrases need to fit the “by X” rule with subjects or objects, but the rules here aren’t as rigid as middle school English teachers make them sound—especially when you’re talking about specific, real-world scenarios like ours.
Let’s use an example that’s not abstract. Take our products: “The custom planter, by person, is made using reclaimed cedar.” Wait, hold on—some grammar purists would say that’s wrong, but let’s tweak it to a relative clause. What if I say, “The custom planter that is by person is made for small patio spaces.” Wait, does that land? Let’s test another angle. Our brand is the By Person Supplier, so we’re the entity “by person.” So if I say, “We’re the small business by person that delivers handcrafted goods to urban households.” Oh, that makes sense! The relative clause here is “that delivers handcrafted goods to urban households,” and it modifies “small business,” which is linked to “by person”—it clarifies this isn’t a big corporate brand, it’s one run by an individual maker.
Wait, I’ve had a client send over a draft product description that said, “The woven tote bag by person, which is available in five colors, is made from organic cotton.” That’s exactly the structure people ask about! The prepositional phrase “by person” is right next to the noun it modifies (“woven tote bag”), followed by the relative clause “which is available in five colors.” Does that work? My team and I looked it up last month because we were nervous about mixing up copy for our website, and turns out, this is totally acceptable when the “by person” is acting as a restrictive or non-restrictive modifier to specify that something is individual-made, not factory-made.
Now, let’s clear up the grammar myth here. A lot of people think “by” only works with agents in passive voice—like “the cake was baked by Maria.” But when we’re using “by person” to label a noun that’s being modified by a relative clause, it’s a modifier that adds a key detail about who did the work. Think of it like the difference between “the cake” and “the cake by person”—the second one tells you it’s not a pre-made grocery store cake, it’s made by a real person. Add a relative clause, like “the cake by person that uses no artificial ingredients,” and that’s a clear, correct sentence.
As someone who’s been running this By Person supply business for three years, I see how this language confusion messes with our clients’ ability to describe our products. One small boutique client told me they had to rewrite their website blurb three times because they thought “by person in a relative clause” was wrong, and they lost a few customers in the process because the description was vague. They meant to say “the candles by person that are infused with lavender,” but they swapped it out for “handmade candles” and lost the specificity that made our products stand out. That’s when I realized this isn’t just a grammar nerd thing—it’s a business thing.
Let’s talk about why our brand uses “by person” instead of “handmade” or “custom.” “Handmade” can be anything—maybe a factory with one guy hand-stamping parts, or a machine that mimics handmade. “By person” is explicit: it’s a single individual, not a team, not a robot, not a bulk production line. So when we use it in a relative clause, we’re clarifying that specificity without extra fluff. Let’s look at another example that’s actually used on our order pages: “The ceramic mug by person, which is dishwasher-safe and features a hand-thrown design, is priced at $22.” That’s perfect for our customers—they know exactly what they’re getting, and the grammar flows naturally, right? No one reading that sentence is going to stumble over it or think it’s incorrect.
Wait, did you notice I used a non-restrictive relative clause there? The “which is dishwasher-safe” part is extra info—you could take it out and the sentence still makes sense: “The ceramic mug by person is priced at $22.” What if we use a restrictive relative clause, the kind that’s necessary to identify the noun? Let’s say: “We only stock the ceramic mugs by person that are made with local clay.” That’s equally valid. The restrictive clause “that are made with local clay” tells you exactly which mugs we’re talking about, and “by person” links back to them perfectly.
I’ve also had a couple of English teachers hit me up on LinkedIn to argue that “by person” shouldn’t be used in a relative clause, but when I sent them our sales copy and the context, they backtracked. One guy said it’s a “collquial adaptation” of the prepositional phrase, and that’s exactly what it is. Language changes all the time, especially when it’s tied to specific industries or brands. “By person” is our brand’s shorthand for individual, hands-on production, so using it in a relative clause is not only allowed—it’s clear for our audience.
Let’s bust another myth: some people think you have to add “a” or “an” after “by,” like “by a person,” but that’s not necessary here. If you say “the tote by a person that’s made in Portland,” that works too, but “by person” is snappier, and that’s our thing. We’re a small operation, we like snappy language that gets to the point for our busy clients who are ordering for their own small stores or homes.
Now, let’s circle back to why this matters for us as a By Person supplier. Our whole model is based on transparency—people want to know they’re not buying a generic product from a big box store, they’re buying something made by a real person. Using “by person” in a relative clause lets us state that clearly without cluttering our copy. If we got rid of that phrase and the relative clause, we’d lose that key differentiator. Imagine if our website said, “The woven tote that’s available in five colors is made from organic cotton”—that’s nice, but it doesn’t tell you it’s made by one person, which is what makes it worth the extra few bucks for our customers.
I know a lot of you reading this might be copywriters or small business owners who struggle with this exact grammar stuff when you’re writing product descriptions. My advice? Stop overcomplicating it. If “by person” naturally fits next to the noun you’re modifying, followed by a relative clause, and it makes sense to your audience, go for it. Don’t let rigid grammar rules hold you back from clearly communicating what makes your brand unique. If it sounds right when you say it out loud, it probably is right.
At the end of the day, we’re not writing academic papers here—we’re writing copy that connects with customers, and that’s what matters. For us, “by person in a relative clause” is not a grammar error, it’s a core part of how we communicate our brand identity. If you’re a boutique owner looking to stock unique, individual-made products, or someone who loves supporting small makers like us, reach out to chat about our current line-up and custom order options. We’re always here to help and answer any questions you might have, whether they’re about grammar or our products.
Crystal Decor References
- Cambridge Grammar of the English Language, 2002, Cambridge University Press
- Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage, 1994, Merriam-Webster Inc.
- Branded Language: How Brand Terminology Shapes Grammar, 2021, Journal of Business Communication
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