The classic treatment of the topic of that and which, from Strunk & White:
>>>>>That is the defining, or restrictive pronoun, which is the nondefining or nonrestrictive . . . .
The lawn mower that is broken is in the garage. (Tells which one)
The lawn mower, which is broken, is in the garage. (Adds a fact about the only lawn mower in question.
The use of which for that is common in written and spoken language ("Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass"). [edit: how's that for a nifty example of punctuation!] Occasionally which seems preferable to that, as in the sentence from the Bible. [edit: don't you love it? "The" Bible. King James, of course.] But it would be a convenience to all if these two pronouns were used with precision. The careful writer goes which-hunting, removes the defining whiches, and by doing so improves his work.<<<<<
A quickie from James J. Kilpatrick:
>>>>>Rule of thumb: If the qualifying phrase is set off by commas, use which, if not, use that.<<<<< |
