Which vs.

That - Grammar Rules

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Which vs. That

By: Brian A. Klems | August 7, 2012

Q: Ive been writing for a long time and always assumed which and that
were interchangeable, but Ive recently been told that isnt the case. How
do I make sure Im using the right word? Anonymous
The battle over whether to use which or that is one many people struggle
to get right. Its a popular grammar question and most folks want a quick
rule of thumb so they can get it right.

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If the sentence doesnt need the clause that the word in question is
connecting, use which. If it does, use that. (Pretty easy to remember, isnt it?) Let me explain with a
couple of examples.

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Our office, which has two lunchrooms, is located in Cincinnati.

Our office that has two lunchrooms is located in Cincinnati.

These sentences are not the same. The first sentence tells us that you have just one office, and its
located in Cincinnati. The clause which has two lunchrooms gives us additional information, but it
doesnt change the meaning of the sentence. Remove the clause and the location of our one office
would still be clear: Our office is located in Cincinnati.
The second sentence suggests that we have multiple offices, but the office with two lunchrooms is
located in Cincinnati. The phrase that has two lunchrooms is known as a restrictive clause because
another part of the sentence (our office) depends on it. You cant remove that clause without changing
the meaning of the sentence.
Lets look at another example:

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The time machine, which looked like a telephone booth, concerned Bill and Ted.
The time machine that looked like a telephone booth concerned Bill and Ted.

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In the first sentence (thanks to the use of which), the time machine concerned Bill and Ted. It also
happened to look like a telephone booth. In the second sentence (which uses the restrictive clause),
Bill and Ted are concerned with the time machine that looks like a telephone booth. They arent

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Which vs. That - Grammar Rules

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concerned with the one that looks like a garden shed or the one that looks like a DeLorean (Marty
McFly may have reservations about that one).
Now that youve learned the rule, lets put it to a test:

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1. The iPad (which/that) connects to the iCloud was created by Apple.

2. The issue of Writers Digest (which/that) has Brian A. Klems picture on the cover is my favorite.

The correct answers are:

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1. The iPad, which connects to the iCloud, was created by Apple. (All iPads connect to the iCloud, so
its unnecessary information.)

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2. The issue of Writers Digest that has Brian A. Klems picture on the cover is my favorite. (Your
favorite issue of Writers Digest isnt just any issue, its the one with me on the cover.)

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OK, so Ive never been on the cover of Writers Digest, but that doesnt change the fact that its
necessary for you to understand the context of your clauses, a key covered in most grammar books. If
the information is essential, use that. If its just additional information thats useful but unnecessary,
use which.
And if youd like to see me on the cover, contact WD editor Jessica Strawser at
writersdigest@fwmedia.com. There are only so many times I can beg her to do it. (Insert smiley face
here.)
************
Follow me on Twitter: @BrianKlems
Read my parent humor blog: The Life Of Dad
Sign up for my free weekly eNewsletter: WD Newsletter

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15 thoughts on Which vs. That

brownj
April 17, 2015 at 7:18 pm
This goes to show that the UK and the US are two nations divided by a common language! We (in
the UK) dont have a rule about when to use that or which. The dog, which bit the man, was white
means there was one dog, it was a white dog and it happened to bite the man. The dog which bit
the man was white means that of the several dogs on the premises, the one that bit the man was
the white one. You can say, The dog, that bit the man, was white or The dog that bit the man was
white if you like. Brian, your article nicely explains how to increase my strike rate above 50% when
writing for a US audience, so thanks for that.
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Ardent Muse
September 19, 2012 at 12:45 pm
Can you do an article on when to use lie and lay ?
EX>. he lay there unconcious or he lie there unconcious . ???

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Docloren
September 8, 2012 at 6:07 pm
I have a simple sentence for this problem. If you have to ask which one, use that.
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Laura
August 12, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Brian,
SJ_Mitchell wrote, The examples which you provide
I would have written that sentence as The examples you provide, leaving out both that and

which.
Am I wrong?
Laura
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JohnA
August 9, 2012 at 9:20 am
The commas make all the difference, as the dictionary definition of the correct use of which, as
opposed to that, is that it is used to introduce a clause giving ADDITIONAL information. That is, the
clause between the commas.
With regard to whether queerbecs example should read the man that, or whom, they were talking
about'; if one were being overly pedantic, and formal, it should, in fact, read: the man about whom
they were talking.
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http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/which-vs-that[17/07/2015 5:10:50 PM]

Which vs. That - Grammar Rules

Aikta Srivastava
August 8, 2012 at 11:38 am
Really nice and brief explanation. Thanks!
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rogerlordzeck
August 8, 2012 at 10:00 am
Sorry to be pedantic, but the difference in meaning in your examples is being created only by the
presence of the commas. Remove those commas, and which and that are interchangeable.

owever, if commas are indeed used (in both sentence pairs), you do need which. Using that
H
would be incorrect. E.g. Our office, that has two lunchrooms, is in Cincinnati.

queerbec, youd need to write the man whom they were talking about to adhere to grammar
@
rules. Is that truly incorrect here?
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creativemetaphor
August 8, 2012 at 11:06 am
Re: the man that they were talking about that may not be incorrect but its entirely
unnecessary. The man they were talking about. Theres really no need in this sentence to
add that or whom or which or need to distinguish between any of them grammatically.
Just leave it out. I would side with who/whom when discussing a person such as the
people who spoke up but in this case its just a baggage word.
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grammaranarchist
August 7, 2012 at 8:37 pm
Cmon, Brian, the examples used in this article back up my guideline for using commas and have
little or nothing to do with that and which. When you have useful but unnecessary information,
use commas before and after the clause; when the information is necessary to understand the
context of the clauses, do not use commas.
As for that and which, the grammar gurus offer so many shortcuts that the actual meanings
have been obliterated. Both these words are pronouns (of one kind or another, depending on whos
leading). Ive even see the simple explanation that says which refers to animals and inanimate
things and that refers to animals and things, and sometimes to persons. Where is the sense in
that?
I am always in awe of people who claim to know the right answers. I am even more in awe of
those who pretend to know the right answers to grammar questions. My response to grammar
questions usually begins: Here is the answer I prefer. What follows is my choice among the many
gurus who pretend.
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queerbec
August 7, 2012 at 6:31 pm
Next Brian please do an explanation for that and who. I cringe when I see references to the man
that they were talking about or the people that spoke up But Bill Gates seems to have made it
legal to use that in such contexts, although I recall having it drilled into me that you use who
when referring to people and that when referring to inanimate objects. But I guess that now has
changed, but it still sounds awkward.
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creativemetaphor
August 7, 2012 at 4:59 pm
This article, which contained many examples, was very informative. In fact, Id say the examples that
were provided were essential for understanding.
But what about that which? That which does not kill us makes us stronger. Its a necessary part of
the sentence, in which case should it read That that does not kill us?

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Which vs. That - Grammar Rules

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karin
August 7, 2012 at 4:52 pm
I concur with Bob. My training in English and Journalism, my decades as a writer/editor and my
experienced ear make me cringe at the use of that in all of the examples. Additionally, the
sentence, The issue of Writers Digest that has Brian A. Klems picture on the cover is my favorite
would read much better as The issue of Writers Digest with the cover picture of Brian A. Klems is
my favorite. This would tighten the sentence and avoid the use of a possessive, as well as
eliminating that altogether.

othing personal . . . .just a observation from an old-timer who went to school when grammar and
N
spelling were still in the curriculum.

ms
k
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Brian A. Klems

Post
author

August 7, 2012 at 4:59 pm

Thanks for your comment! Its certainly possible to rewrite and shorten these example
sentences, but the point of this exercise is to explain the differences in which and that
for those who want to know the usage rule (and choose to use it).
Hope that clears things up.
Thanks again for the note and for reading,
Brian

Online Editor

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brillpro
August 7, 2012 at 4:17 pm
Actually at United Press International (UPI) where I worked for years, we were taught there was
always a better word to use than that. We were specifically never allowed to use it although many
did. The rule was never use that and find a better word for it.
Thanx

Bob

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SJ_Mitchell
August 7, 2012 at 11:34 am
Great way to explain it. The examples which you provide in this article are*ahem*all that!
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Which vs. That - Grammar Rules

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