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An Unpredictable Bull

Whether to Use "That" or "Which"

Many years ago, a law firm in Chicago asked me to be an expert witness on the difference between that and which. The issue concerned a selling manufacturer’s non-compete clause. That at the beginning of the clause meant zero dollars for the buyer; a comma followed by which meant millions of dollars for the buyer. But the clause read "which" with no comma.

 

The difference between that and which might be the most confounding piece of grammar in the English language, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s what you need to know: Grammarians call the words following that or which a “relative clause.” That relative clause either "restricts" what it modifies, or it "does not restrict" what it modifies. The writer tells us which it is by the word chosen to introduce the clause.

 

That at the beginning restricts; it means that the writer wants the relative clause to distinguish one thing from a universe of like things. Which at the beginning does not restrict; it means that the writer addresses only one thing to begin with, so there is nothing to restrict; the relative clause simply adds information.

 

The cabin that sleeps eight people is farther up the mountain.

Lots of cabins on that mountain, but only one sleeps eight people, and it’s farther up.

The cabin, which sleeps eight people, is farther up the mountain.

Only one cabin on this mountain, farther up, and, by the way, it sleeps eight people.

The confusion arises when the writer uses which with no comma:

The Pioneer Bank which sits at Fifth and Pine has a free ATM.

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We don’t know if the writer is trying to use which restrictively to tell us that out of the universe of Pioneer Banks, this one has a free ATM; or if the writer just forgot the comma and means there’s only one Pioneer Bank, it has a free ATM, and, oh, by the way, it sits at Fifth and Pine. Either could be correct, but the writer needs to let us know.

 

Here’s the takeaway: Although Hemingway often used which restrictively, we shouldn't; whenever we want to "restrict" or "distinguish," we should always use that; if we put which at the beginning of a relative clause, we must precede it with a comma. Otherwise, we confuse our reader.

 

Sorry to keep you hanging. The case in Chicago settled. Smart lawyers. The thought of trying to explain the difference between that and which to a jury (or a judge) was so daunting, they decided to give-a-little-take-a-little, and go on to other cases with easier issues: like trying to explain the Rule Against Perpetuities.

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About Gary Kinder

Gary Kinder

WordRake founder Gary Kinder has taught over 1,000 writing programs for AMLAW 100 firms, Fortune 500 companies, and government agencies. He’s also a New York Times bestselling author. As a writing expert and coach, Gary was inspired to create WordRake when he noticed a pattern in writing errors that he thought he could address with technology.

In 2012, Gary and his team of engineers created WordRake editing software to help writers produce clear, concise, and effective prose. It saves time and gives confidence. Writing and editing has never been easier.

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