Grammarly Which Vs That
There are a few rules when it comes to using which and that. For example, which is used to introduce restrictive clauses that limit a noun while that is used for nonrestrictive clauses that add information.
A good way to remember which vs that is to think of restrictive clauses as disposable (like a sandwich wrapper) and nonrestrictive clauses as permanent.
Restrictive Clauses
Which Vs That
Dependent clauses — that is, subordinate clauses — require one of the relative pronouns that or which. Both are used to introduce essential (restrictive or defining) and nonessential (nonrestrictive or nondefining) clauses. An essential clause contains information that is necessary to the meaning of a sentence; it cannot be removed without changing the meaning or making the sentence incomplete. A nonessential clause provides additional information but can be added or removed without changing the meaning or making the sentence incorrect.
The rule is that a restrictive clause must be preceded by which, while a nonessential clause can be preceded by either that or a comma. This is because that is used to imply that the clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence, while which indicates that the clause is nonessential. However, this grammatical rule was created by prescriptivists, not by the actual usage of Shakespeare or Jane Austen. And it is now widely regarded as outdated.
As a result, many writers have strayed from the traditional rules and started using that for restrictive clauses as well as nonessential ones. This has led to a lot of confusion and muddled communication. In a post for the Guardian, Arnold Zwicky laments what he calls “the hopeless battle over the use of which and that”, while Geoffrey Pullum points out that there is no basis for the rule, and that the adherence to it undermines clear writing.
Ultimately, the best way to decide whether to use which or that is to consider the effect the relative clause will have on the rest of the sentence. If the information in the dependent clause is necessary and can’t be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence, it should be introduced with that. If the information is nonessential and can be added or removed without affecting the meaning of the sentence, it should be accompanied by a comma instead.
Grammarly’s Which Vs That feature can help you avoid these common mistakes and make your writing more polished. Sign up for a free Grammarly account to get started today.
Learn how to use Grammarly to check your spelling, grammar and style for grammatical errors.
The grammatical rules of which vs that can be confusing, but they’re important for clear and accurate communication. With Grammarly’s writing app, you can be sure your sentences are readable and that your spelling is correct. It will even check your punctuation, so you can write like a professional. Get the most out of your Grammarly subscription by learning how to use it for its intended purposes. You can also find helpful tips and guides on our blog. For quick and easy fixes, you can even run your writing through Grammarly’s Editor for a quick review. Grammarly is available on iOS and Android, so you can use it wherever you are. Happy writing!