Seb from Inverness
sent in a question over when to use that and when to use which. I know this is
something that vexes many writers, so hope the answer helps.
Seb says: I’m not a
novice writer by any means, but I can never decide what the rule is over that
and which. Is there a simple way to remember?
Okay, the basic rule is this: if the sentence doesn’t need the clause (it makes sense
without) you use which. If the sentence does
need the clause you use that.
The car, which is green, has a manual gearbox.
The car that is green has a manual gearbox.
The two sentences look identical at first, but the meanings
are not the same.
The car, which is green, has a manual gearbox. This tells us
there is only one car and it has a manual gearbox. The clause (the words inside
the two commas) isn’t necessary to illustrate the meaning. It is additional
information and doesn’t affect the fact there is only one car and it has a
manual gearbox.
The car that is green has a manual gearbox. This sentence
suggests there is more than one car, but it is the car that is green that has the manual gearbox. The phrase ‘that is
green’ is necessary to show clearly, of all the cars on the forecourt, it is the
green one that has the manual gearbox.
The proper phrase for it is a restrictive clause because
another part of the sentence depends on it. You can’t remove that clause (that
is green) without changing the meaning of the sentence.
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