{"id":323,"date":"2021-10-31T00:08:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-31T00:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/caroldevwilson.xyz\/?p=323"},"modified":"2025-07-17T10:07:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T15:07:23","slug":"is-it-that-or-which","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carolannwilson.net\/?p=323","title":{"rendered":"Is It\u00a0That\u00a0or\u00a0Which?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Is It That<\/em> or Which<\/em>? By Carol Ann Wilson<\/p>\n

Most writers don’t know the answer to this question. They use what “sounds best. “Lawyers and their secretaries especially have trouble with whether to use that<\/em> or which<\/em>. The general rule is, use that<\/em> to introduce essential<\/em> clauses and which<\/em> to introduce nonessential<\/em> clauses. Even though there are exceptions (Gregg Reference Manual<\/em> \u00a7 1062), let’s see if we can master the general rule before distinguishing the exceptions. Select the right word (don’t peek at the answers till you’re done):<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The report (that, which) I sent last week will be of some help.<\/li>\n
  2. Her report, (that, which) was handwritten instead of typed, was a week late.<\/li>\n
  3. The printer (that, which) was ordered on Thursday had to be returned.<\/li>\n
  4. The printer, (that, which) was on sale, increased our assets by $800.<\/li>\n
  5. The form (that, which) we need for this case is # 3010.<\/li>\n
  6. The yellow car is the one (that, which) ran the light.<\/li>\n
  7. The first meeting (that, which) he needs to attend is on Monday.<\/li>\n
  8. The meeting for sysops, (that, which) he needs to attend, is on Monday.<\/li>\n
  9. The Franklin Company is the one (that, which) gives us the best service.<\/li>\n
  10. He cited two reasons (that, which) could explain the error.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Answers to That\/Which Quiz:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. that\u2013essential to describe the particular report<\/li>\n
    2. which\u2013nonessential to the meaning of the sentence (notice the phrase is offset by commas)<\/li>\n
    3. that\u2013essential to describe the particular printer<\/li>\n
    4. which\u2013nonessential to the sentence<\/li>\n
    5. that\u2013essential to describe the particular form<\/li>\n
    6. that\u2013essential to describe which car ran the light<\/li>\n
    7. that\u2013essential to describe the particular meeting he needs to attend<\/li>\n
    8. which\u2013nonessential to the meaning of the sentence, which is about the meeting<\/li>\n
    9. that\u2013essential to describe the particular company<\/li>\n
    10. that\u2013essential to the meaning of the sentence (the two reasons will no doubt be particularized in the sentence that follows<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Is It That or Which? By Carol Ann Wilson Most writers don’t know the answer to this question. They use what “sounds best. “Lawyers and their secretaries especially have trouble with whether to use that or which. The general rule is, use that to introduce essential clauses and which to introduce nonessential clauses. Even though there are exceptions (Gregg Reference Manual \u00a7 1062), let’s see if we can master the general… Continue reading Is It\u00a0That\u00a0or\u00a0Which?\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"yoast_head":"\nIs It\u00a0That\u00a0or\u00a0Which?\u00a0 - carolannwilson.net<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/carolannwilson.net\/?p=323\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Is It\u00a0That\u00a0or\u00a0Which?\u00a0 - carolannwilson.net\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Is It That or Which? By Carol Ann Wilson Most writers don’t know the answer to this question. 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