That Vs. Which: Inject Clarity Into Your Sentences

Let’s wear our grammar pants and dissect these two often confusing words: That and Which. By the way, English pants are tight-fitting knickers that make the wearer want to hit the roof when an irritating grammatical error passes before them. 



 



 

Consider these two sentences:
 

  • Earth is the only planet in our solar system which is known to sustain life, although scientists are still investigating others.
  • Earth is the only planet in our solar system that is known to sustain life, although scientists are still investigating others.

 

All the sentences are grammatically sound. Right?
 

Well, a keen English reader or grammatical guru would go with the second one. But to many readers, the first sentence would still be permissible.

 

So, when do you use which/that and shun the other?

 

It all boils down to restrictive vs. nonrestrictive clauses. We see you saying, “Another comparison to deal with!”

 

But don’t fret- This article clears all these challenging grammar concepts, differences and similarities once and for all.
 

P.S. The grammatically incorrect example sentences are for learning purposes. Did a grammar or spelling checker like grammarly.com scream at them? Ignore that “Karen” for now.



 


 

Restrictive Clauses Vs. Nonrestrictive Clauses
 

A long time ago, when English was just a kid, people freely interchanged the words that and which. The 16th to 17th centuries didn’t have many English grammar rules that guide today’s communication. And no one asked questions because English was just a kid by then.
 

But things gradually changed. English grew up and bore twins- restrictive and non-restrictive clauses.
 

And today’s copywriter or English lover would quickly frown at how most people still break the grammar and spelling rules surrounding restrictive and unrest rive clauses.

 

So let’s make things clear:

 

1. Restrictive Clause
 

A restrictive clause is a portion of your sentence that, if removed, your sentence becomes hard to grasp, incomplete, or acquires another meaning.

 

It also has two more names: The essential clause and the descriptive clause.

 

Example:

 

  • Any place that you’ve visited must be lovely.

 

The phrase “that you’ve visited” is a descriptive clause that helps narrow the places down to specific locations. If you removed the clause, you have:


 

  • Any place must be lovely.


 

The above sentence is meaningless, incomplete, or different from the original one. We know some places aren’t lovely. Right?  


 

It’s worth noting that sometimes, English won’t ban you for omitting “that” in a sentence. Just like in the above example:


 

  • Any place you’ve visited must be lovely.

 

2. Non-restrictive Clause

 

On the contrary, non-restrictive clauses provide extra but non-essential details. Your sentence’s main point remains intact even if you remove the clause. You can call them non-essential or non-defining clauses.
 

Example:

 

  • The paper, which you retrieved from the red dustbin, was my book’s missing page.

 

The dependent clause “which you retrieved from the dustbin” provides additional information that isn’t essential. You could get rid of the details concerning the dustbin, and still remain with a correct sentence.
 

In many cases, we begin a non-defining clause with commas, parenthesis, dash, or other punctuation marks.

 

Are “That vs. Which” Rules That Important?

 

Which= Your head scarf, and That= Your pants :) 
 

“Which” is like that silk scarf that completes your sartorial elegance as you walk through your neighborhood. But leaving the scarf at home won’t make your day nasty.
 

On the other hand, “that” is as crucial as your pants. Forget to wear them, and the community will rush to throw you into the nearest psychiatric hospital.
 

Can You Use Your Pants and Scarf Interchangeably? (Chuckles).



 



 

Sometimes, your entire sentence can acquire a new meaning if you use which instead of that or vice versa.

 

An example will shade more light:
 

  • Sentence 1: Bellah’s bike that is green costs an arm and a leg.

 

The English usage of “that” in sentence 1 implies that Bellah owns several bikes. It specifies the bike that costs a lot of money. What if we do away with the clause? Here we go:
 

  • Bellah’s bike costs an arm and a leg.

 

In the above sentence fragment, you’re left wondering, which specific bike is expensive?
 

  • Sentence 2: Bellah’s bike, which is green, costs an arm and a leg.

 

Replacing “that” with “which” simply tells us that Bellah’s bike is expensive. Eliminating the clause doesn’t lose essential details:

 

  • Bellah’s bike costs an arm and a leg.

 

Typical Application of “That” and “Which.”
 

Nowadays, it’s common in informal contexts to use which to introduce both restrictive and non-restrictive clauses. 
 

  • Sentence 1: Who took the pen that I brought yesterday?
  • Sentence 2: Who took the pen which I brought yesterday?

 

“That I brought yesterday” brings essential meaning to the sentence- I’m not inquiring about the pen I brought today. So the entire sentence 1 is the grammatically correct one, even though many people wouldn’t frown at sentence 2 (both native language speakers and ignorant grammarians).
 

However, “that” is strictly reserved for restrictive clauses in informal or formal setups. The English grammar gods and strict grammarians will ban you from their world if you use it in a parenthetical, non-restrictive (or non-defining) clause. So the following examples are incorrect (even a grammar and spelling checker will tell you):


 

  • The pen, that Sophia never likes, doesn’t write correctly.
  • The green man, that I watched yesterday, looks funny.


 

How Do You Remember Where To Use “Which” or “That”?
 

We hope the fuzziness surrounding these two guys has ebbed away. To ensure your memory doesn’t fail you, here’s the rule of thumb:

 

  • Use “that” to introduce restrictive clauses only: Is “that” following a comma, dash, or parenthesis in your sentence? Rush and replace it with “which.”
  • Use “which” in non-restrictive clauses: Sure, “which” can still replace “that” sometimes. But the aim is to remain as clear in your writing as possible.

 

Try Out This Homework
 

Practice makes perfect.

 

This well-worn adage is still true, so let’s flex our mind muscles a bit with these relative pronouns: Fill in the gaps with either that or which in the following practice sentences:

 

  1. Your first session ______ begins at 7:00 am is your English language grammar.
  2. The new school _____ hired my brother is just six minutes from the market.
  3. Have you watched the new movie series ______ features Jacky in the first season?

 

Answers (Keep them a secret :)) 
 

  1. The correct choice is “, which” since we have a non-restrictive (or non-defining) clause. We can only have one session beginning at 7 am.
  2. Watch out; it’s a trap! Either pronoun can fit in there depending on your intended meaning. Use “that” if there is more than one school six minutes from the market. That way, you specify the one that hired your brother. Just one school six minutes from the market? Then throw in “which.”
  3. Many movie series are being rolled out as we speak (uh, read). So grammar and spelling rules will love “that” as the correct option to help specify the new movie.

 

With our answers and tips, you won’t be like our little friend here:



 


 

Let Zoey Writers Unravel The Distinctions
 

We believe you can now confidently use that or which without raising eyebrows. Keep checking our blogs for more posts on grammar and other guides. And if you need content writing wordsmiths, you can always count on Zoey Writers to deliver gold.

 

Our writers have been dealing with the most confusing grammar rules for decades now, including subject vs. object pronouns, indefinite pronouns,  common noun, non-restrictive modifier, and more. You can call us grammar experts because we know how to stitch golden words to form sentences that deliver a punch.  Get in touch today!

 

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