{"id":4656,"date":"2021-04-21T06:00:49","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T11:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/?p=4656"},"modified":"2021-05-04T11:19:32","modified_gmt":"2021-05-04T16:19:32","slug":"which-vs-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/pronouns\/which-vs-that\/","title":{"rendered":"Which<\/em> vs. That<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

The which<\/em> vs. that<\/em> usage dilemma pops up when working with dependent clauses<\/a>\u2014also known as subordinate clauses\u2014that require one of these two relative pronouns. A dependent clause contains a subject and a predicate but cannot stand alone as a complete, independent sentence.<\/p>\n

Which<\/em> and that<\/em><\/a> are used with essential (also called restrictive) clauses, which contain information necessary to the meaning of the sentence, and nonessential (nonrestrictive) clauses, which enhance the meaning of the sentence with additional information but are not necessary.<\/p>\n

More specifically, which<\/em> and that<\/em> are used with a specific type of dependent clause called a relative clause. In this type of clause, the relative pronouns which<\/em> or that<\/em> are substituted for the subject or object in the sentence. Identifying this relationship between which<\/em> and that<\/em> and the nouns they describe helps us figure out how to use these two relative pronouns.<\/p>\n

Which <\/em>vs. That<\/em>: The Rules<\/h2>\n

The first step is to determine whether your dependent relative clause is essential or nonessential to the meaning of the sentence. Does the information have to be there, or does the sentence make sense without it?<\/p>\n

You can use this standard rule of thumb<\/a> to help make your decision: If the dependent clause is essential (restrictive or defining), use that<\/em>. If the dependent clause is nonessential (nonrestrictive or nondefining), use which<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Another way to check your usage is to imagine a set of parentheses around your which<\/em> or that<\/em> clause. If you can remove the information in parentheses and the sentence still makes sense, then you have a nonessential clause and can use which<\/em>. If you need the information in the parentheses, you have an essential clause that requires that<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Essential<\/strong>: Dogs that<\/em> perform tricks receive treats.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this sentence, “that perform tricks” is necessary to define the specific group of dogs that receive treats.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nonessential<\/strong>: David read the history book, which<\/em> had a blue cover, for his homework assignment.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this sentence, “which had a blue cover” provides additional but not necessary information.<\/span><\/p>\n

Note that the essential clause “that perform tricks” is not set off with commas, but the nonessential phrase “which had a blue cover” is. This is a standard use of punctuation with essential clauses (no commas) and nonessential clauses (commas).<\/p>\n

Which <\/em>vs. That<\/em>: Are There Really Rules, or Just Preferences?<\/h2>\n

A contemporary shift in style has resulted in some exceptions to the rules for which<\/em> and that<\/em> usage. A writer may make the stylistic decision<\/a> to use which<\/em> instead of that<\/em> as a restrictive pronoun, for example, simply because which <\/em>sounds better to the ear. Writers who strive for greater precision, however, will follow the defined usage of that<\/em> as a restrictive pronoun and which<\/em> as nonrestrictive.<\/p>\n

In certain contexts, a writer also may choose to substitute which<\/em> for that<\/em> to avoid repetition. For example, a sentence beginning “I read a magazine article that<\/em> says that<\/em>\u2026” is correct but clunky. The writer may replace the first that<\/em> with which <\/em>(“\u2026article which <\/em>says that<\/em>\u2026”), allowing for better sentence flow.<\/p>\n

It also is important to keep in mind the multiple functions of that<\/em> in English. It appears in text so often in so many ways that readers see it and may assume it is an unnecessary or even a “filler” word. But before you strike through that<\/em> with your metaphorical red pen and replace it with which<\/em>, first determine whether the information in the dependent clause needs to be there.<\/p>\n

Pop Quiz<\/h2>\n

Using what you understand about which<\/em> and that<\/em>, choose the pronoun that is most precise for each sentence. Then determine whether the sentence should contain commas. If so, place the commas in the correct locations in the sentence.<\/p>\n

1. Mary said she will buy the car [that \/ which] has the best fuel efficiency.<\/p>\n

2. I’ll take a slice of pizza [that \/ which] will be my lunch.<\/p>\n

3. Wyoming [that \/ which] was granted statehood in 1890 elected the first female governor pursuant to a special election in the United States.<\/p>\n

4. Joe just joined a blues band [that \/ which] is planning a tour.<\/p>\n

5. Our family car [that \/ which] has a red interior does not get good gas mileage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pop Quiz Answers<\/h3>\n

1. Mary will buy the car that<\/strong> has the best fuel efficiency.<\/p>\n

2. I’ll take a slice of pizza, which<\/strong> will be my lunch.<\/p>\n

3. Wyoming,<\/strong> which<\/strong> was granted statehood in 1890,<\/strong> elected the first female governor pursuant to a special election in the United States.<\/p>\n

4. Joe just joined a blues band that<\/strong> is planning a tour.<\/p>\n

5. Our family car,<\/strong> which<\/strong> has a red interior,<\/strong> does not get good gas mileage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The which vs. that usage dilemma pops up when working with dependent clauses\u2014also known as subordinate clauses\u2014that require one of these two relative pronouns. A dependent clause contains a subject and a predicate but cannot stand alone as a complete, independent sentence. Which and that are used with essential (also called restrictive) clauses, which contain […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[74,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-clauses-sentences","category-pronouns"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4656"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4656"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4656\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grammarbook.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}