To Restrict or Not to Restrict: That Is the Question
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Who, that, or which; restrictive or non-restrictive: Most of us have at some point had to grapple with interpretation, pronoun choice, and punctuation for a statement containing essential or non-essential information. For example, what would be succinct within the following statements?
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Jayla always orders the surf and turf that the master chef prepares for her.
Jayla always orders the surf and turf, which the master chef prepares for her.
Jayla always orders the surf and turf which the master chef prepares for her.
The coach who is an inspiration to the team is Mr. Frogg.
The coach, who is an inspiration to the team, is Mr. Frogg.
The coach that is an inspiration to the team is Mr. Frogg.
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It's been a little while since we last reviewed restrictive and non-restrictive elements, so we thought now would be a good time to revisit this relevant and oft-questioned subject.
Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Defined
Non-restrictive (non-essential) adjective clauses and phrases follow and do not limit the words they modify. They will not affect the main clause's meaning and clarity if omitted. They offer parenthetical information that is set off by commas and indicated by either which or who.
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Jayla always orders the surf and turf, which the master chef prepares for her. (There is only one selection of surf and turf, and the master chef prepares it for her.)
The coach, who is an inspiration to the team, is Mr. Frogg. (Mr. Frogg is the sole coach of the team.)
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Restrictive (essential) adjective clauses and phrases follow and limit the words they modify. They affect the main clause's meaning and clarity if omitted. They provide vital information that is typically indicated by that or who and are not set off by commas.
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Jayla orders the surf and turf that the master chef prepares for her. (There is a particular surf and turf, and Jayla orders it when the master chef can make it for her.)
The coach who is an inspiration to the team is Mr. Frogg. OR
The coach that is an inspiration to the team is Mr. Frogg.
(There is more than one coach, but Mr. Frogg is the one who gives the team inspiration. Both who and that can refer to people restrictively; that and which will refer to things.)
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Can Which Be Restrictive?
English-grammar prescriptivists have tended to adhere to a strict use of which for non-restrictive elements and that for restrictive ones. However, many style and grammar authorities have expressed that the guideline is broader than may be supposed.
Professional writers and journalists will often use which or that interchangeably for restrictive elements according to style and preference, particularly when doing so favors better form.
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Examples
That is the team which is sure to win the pennant. (The relative clause in this context is restrictive in meaning. We would typically use that to restrict, but which helps to avoid a potentially undesirable close repetition of the same word: That is the team that is sure…)
That which is good for the mind can also be good for the soul. (Here again we are flexible with signaling restrictive information to avoid a construct such as That that is…)
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Greater debate might form around our previous example Jayla always orders the surf and turf which the master chef prepares for her. In this case, both that and which can serve as the restrictive pronoun depending on the writer's preference.
However, the rationale for using which here can be less clear to the reader, who might pause to consider if the clause is missing a comma. In a statement such as this one, we will often best serve the reader by using that to remove all doubt about restriction.
Through mastery of restrictive and non-restrictive components, we become more adept at ensuring readers know what is crucial to clarity and what is extra information we offer.
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Pop Quiz
Using what you've learned in this article, choose the restrictive or non-restrictive pronoun for each sentence.
1. She is one of the directors [that/which] have a distinctive visual style.
2. Let's visit the park [which/that] has the opulent rose garden.
3. That [which/that] can be said about him can likewise be said about her.
4. Timothy's father is Mr. Bowles, [that/who] will speak at the graduation ceremony.
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Wordplay
Pop Quiz Answers
1. She is one of the directors [that] have a distinctive visual style.
2. Let's visit the park [that] has the opulent rose garden.
3. That [which] can be said about him can likewise be said about her.
4. Timothy's father is Mr. Bowles, [who] will speak at the graduation ceremony.
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Learn all about who and whom, affect and effect, subjects and verbs, adjectives and adverbs, commas, semicolons, quotation marks, and much more by just sitting back and enjoying these easy-to-follow lessons. Tell your colleagues (and boss), children, teachers, and friends. Click here to watch.
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