That vs. Which
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
That vs. Which
Last week’s grammar tip focused on the rules for using who vs. that. This week, we will learn the rules to guide us on when to use that vs. which.
NOTE: We feel that maintaining the distinction between that and which in essential and nonessential phrases and clauses is useful, even though the principle is sometimes disregarded by experienced writers.
Rule 1: That may refer to people, animals, groups, or things. (As mentioned last week, who is preferred when referring to people.)
Rule 2: Which refers to animals, groups, or things.
Since that and which may each refer to animals, groups, or things, how do we know when to use that and when to use which?
Rule 3: That introduces essential clauses while which introduces nonessential clauses.
Example: I do not trust editorials that claim racial differences in intelligence.
We would not know which editorials were being discussed without the that clause.
Example: The editorial claiming racial differences in intelligence, which appeared in the Sunday newspaper, upset me.
The editorial is already identified. Therefore, which begins a nonessential clause.
NOTE: Essential clauses do not have commas surrounding them, while nonessential clauses are surrounded by commas.
Example: Chess is a game that requires intense concentration.
The second part of the sentence is essential for conveying the meaning of the sentence.
Rule 4: If this, that, these, or those has already introduced an essential clause, you may use which to introduce the next clause, whether it is essential or nonessential.
Example: Those responses to the questions, which were not well thought out, eliminated him from further job consideration.
Rule 5: Try not to use that twice in a row in a sentence.
Example: That is a problem that can’t be solved without a calculator.
This sentence would be better written as: That is a problem which can’t be solved without a calculator.
The best way to write the sentence would be: That problem can’t be solved without a calculator.
Example: That is a promise that cannot be broken.
Again, the above sentence could be rewritten as: That is a promise which cannot be broken.
The best way to rewrite it would be: That promise cannot be broken.
Rule 6: Whenever you have more than one that or which in a sentence, see if you can rewrite it in a way that removes at least one that or which.
Pop Quiz
Choose whether that or which is correct for each sentence. Then determine whether the sentence should contain commas. If so, place the commas in the correct location in the sentence.
1. Hannah is on the team that/which won the county softball championship.
2. The Fairview Hawks softball team that/which my daughter played on won the county softball championship.
3. The Golden Gate Bridge that/which was completed in 1937 is considered by many to be the most beautiful bridge in the world.
4. The bridge that/which connects the city of San Francisco with Marin County was completed in 1937.
5. That rooster that/which crows every morning at dawn is going to drive me crazy.
6. That is a point that/which is worth considering.
Quiz Answers
1. Hannah is on the team that won the county softball championship.
2. The Fairview Hawks softball team, which my daughter played on, won the county softball championship.
3. The Golden Gate Bridge, which was completed in 1937, is considered by many to be the most beautiful bridge in the world.
4. The bridge that connects the city of San Francisco with Marin County was completed in 1937.
5. That rooster, which crows every morning at dawn, is going to drive me crazy.
6. That is a point which is worth considering. (“That is a point that is worth considering” is also acceptable, but the best answer is either “That point is worth considering.” OR “That is a point worth considering.”)
If the article or the existing discussions do not address a thought or question you have on the subject, please use the "Comment" box at the bottom of this page.
Please help. Which sentence is correct?
This factor at first blush appears inconsistent with Treas. Reg. 31.3121, which provides that if employee status exists, the label placed by the parties on the status of the worker is not material.
OR
This factor at first blush appears inconsistent with the Treas. Reg. 31.3121 that provides that if employee status exists, the label placed by the parties on the status of the worker is not material.
Thanks,
Eric
Treas. Reg. 31.3121 is already identified. Therefore, which begins a nonessential clause. Also, our Rule 4b of Commas says, “Use commas to set off expressions that interrupt the sentence flow.” Therefore, we recommend setting off “at first blush.” You could also reword “not material” to “immaterial.”
Please note the following sentences:
1) She belongs to an organization that specializes in saving endangered species.
2) She belongs to a great organization, which specializes in saving endangered species.
The first sentence contains a restrictive clause. Why does [i]great[/i] cause the second sentence to include a nonrestrictive clause? Does it provide enough information to identify the group to which she belongs, making the group’s specialization nonessential?
Thank you.
Yes, the word great adds enough information to identify the word organization. Your first example sentence lacks any kind of word to identify organization.
I am struggling to find the rule on usage of that with provide. The sentence is
quantify my efforts that provide
quantify my efforts that provides
Which one is correct?
Whether you use that or which has no bearing on provide vs. provides. Because you have not provided a complete sentence, we assume that the context is something like “I must quantify my efforts that provide assistance to the team.” Since the noun efforts is plural, provide is correct.
Please comment:
Q: “What were you saying?”
A: “That that ‘that’ that that speaker used was ungrammatical.”
Our comment is that the sentence was purposely constructed to cleverly use the word that five consecutive times. While grammatically correct, we doubt anyone wanting to communicate clearly would ever say such a sentence. We recommend rewriting the answer. Example:
“The speaker’s use of the word that was ungrammatical.”
I was wondering if you could clarify this sentence for me: The book that I read yesterday is old.
Why use “that”? We could simply say”the book is old.”
Either of the following sentences are grammatically correct:
The book that I read yesterday is old.
The book I read yesterday is old.
See our post Overseeing Omissions in Writing for more information.