Grammatically Correct: Which versus That

Definitions

relative pronoun:
A pronoun that introduces a restrictive or nonrestrictive clause. A word that stands for a noun: that, which, who, whom, whose, whoever, whomever, whichever.

restrictive clause:
a part of a sentence that is necessary for the sentence to be understood. Describes which person, place, or thing is meant.

nonrestrictive clause:
a part of a sentence that gives additional information about a person, place, or thing. A nonrestrictive clause is not essential for the meaning of the sentence.

Definitions are from Longman Advanced American Dictionary

Grammatically Correct 7/7/04 A weekly grammar tip created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors.	University of Houston-Victoria 3007 N. Ben Wilson Victoria, TX 77901
Which versus That by Shawn Brett
Which and that are both known as relative pronouns. Which is generally used when introducing a nonrestrictive clause that only refers to an animal or thing. Which cannot refer to people. That is used when introducing a restrictive clause that refers to a person, animal, or thing. NOTE: Although that is acceptable when referring to people, who is the preferred term to use. Ex: The garage that my uncle built is falling down. Ex: The grass, which has grown quite tall, is in need of mowing. Which can be used to introduce restrictive clauses as long as no commas are used. This is a stylistic choice; you use the word that presents the meaning clearly. Ex: Pianos which have a fourth pedal to mute the strings are popular among apartment owners. Sometimes it is obvious when to use which/that when introducing a restrictive clause. Ex: That which does not kill me makes me stronger. It would be awkward to say “That that does not kill me makes me stronger.”	Definitions relative pronoun: A pronoun that introduces a restrictive or nonrestrictive clause. A word that stands for a noun: that, which, who, whom, whose, whoever, whomever, whichever. restrictive clause: a part of a sentence that is necessary for the sentence to be understood. Describes which person, place, or thing is meant. nonrestrictive clause: a part of a sentence that gives additional information about a person, place, or thing. A nonrestrictive clause is not essential for the meaning of the sentence. Definitions are from Longman Advanced American Dictionary
Recommended Grammar Website of the Week by Shawn Brett
In addition to our own website, this week we recommend Capital Community College’s Guide to Grammar and Writing. This website offers a variety of examples regarding all aspects of grammar from punctuation to sentence structure. There are also pages within this site dedicated to the writing process and constructing research papers (outlining, tone, formatting, APA/MLA). Visit Capital Community College’s Guide to Grammar and Writing at http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/.
Test Your Knowledge by Shawn Brett
Test your understanding by correcting the following sentences. 1. The officer which drove the motorcycle is no longer here. 2. The school, that is on 32nd street, is expected to outgrow its capacity. 3. A leaflet is a piece of paper which gives information about something. Answers 1. The officer that drove the motorcycle is no longer here. Note: It is also acceptable to use “who” in place of “that.” 2. The school that is on 32nd street is expected to outgrow its capacity. 3. This sentence is correct, remember that it is acceptable to use “which” with a restrictive clause as long as this is done intentionally for style purposes. It would also be correct to use “that.” A leaflet is a piece of paper that gives information about something.
Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas. Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu. Subscribe/Unsubscribe/View Archive