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The use of the pronouns that and which can be tricky to get right. In this article, we’ll look at the grammar rules for using these two words.
Which is Restrictive
Using that and which correctly depends on whether the clause they introduce is restrictive or nonrestrictive. Restrictive clauses modify the noun that precedes them in an essential way. They cannot be removed from the sentence without changing its meaning. For this reason, they should take the relative pronoun that.
On the other hand, nonrestrictive clauses add information that can be removed without affecting the overall meaning of the sentence. To determine whether a clause is nonrestrictive, consider if it could be easily replaced by another piece of information that would serve the same purpose. If it can, then use which.
This may seem like a simple distinction, but it’s easy to forget when composing a written sentence. Try to keep these rules in mind when writing, and you’ll be a stronger writer in no time. Grammarly is a great tool to help you stay on track with your writing goals. It will check your spelling, save you from grammar and punctuation mistakes, and even proofread your text to ensure it’s extra polished. Learn more about how it works here.
Which is Nonrestrictive
Which and that are common words, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy to use correctly. Whether you need to use which or that depends on whether the clause it introduces is restrictive or nonrestrictive. A restrictive clause modifies the noun that comes before it in an essential way. A nonrestrictive clause, on the other hand, adds extra information that is nonessential to the meaning of a sentence.
Nonrestrictive clauses are usually set off from the rest of a sentence by commas. They can also be described as parenthetical or optional. For example, you could say the children need sturdy shoes for camp. However, you wouldn’t want to write the children need expensive shoes for camp, since the phrase is unnecessary.
Luckily, there’s an easy trick to remembering when to use which and that. Just think of which as a disposable sandwich wrapper. Which is meant for adding removable information, while that is a permanent part of the noun it describes.
Which is Questionable
A common mistake of even strong writers is swapping that and which when modifying clauses. Though they’re both relative pronouns and help avoid overly choppy writing, that and which carry different meanings in English grammar rules.
Both that and which are used to add information to a noun or phrase, but “that” usually appears in restrictive clauses while “which” is often found in nonrestrictive ones. It is important to remember that a non-restrictive clause can be removed from the sentence without changing its overall meaning, whereas a restrictive clause cannot.
The difference between that and which can seem confusing, but with some practice, it will become easy to spot. Use the grammar tips in this article, along with other resources like Merriam-Webster’s and Grammarly (owned by Merriam-Webster), to learn when to use that vs. which in your writing. Have you ever made a mistake using that or which? Let us know in the comments! Grammarly is a spelling and grammar checker that will catch your mistakes before they’re read by others. Try it free for a week!
Which is Optional
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It can be tricky to remember which and that, but knowing the difference can help you avoid common grammatical errors. If you’re looking for a more in-depth look at this topic, Merriam-Webster and Grammarly both have helpful articles.
However, it’s important to note that Grammarly does not catch all spelling and grammatical errors. It can be inaccurate with certain words, including brand names and slang terms. It’s also not a replacement for a human editor. Still, it can save you time by catching many errors that you might otherwise miss. It’s worth the investment if you write frequently. Get started with a free trial of Grammarly today.