When should you use 'which' instead of 'that'? | | Elevate your writing with this guide to using often-confused words such as "which" and "that" correctly. | |  | Bennett Kleinman |
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| |  | | "W hich" and "that" are a lot like identical twins, in that they're pretty easy to mix up at first glance. But just like identical twins have unique traits that set them apart, so do these similar yet distinct terms. One reason we mix up "which" and "that" so often is the words were used interchangeably until the 1700s, and old habits die hard. But under today's grammatical guidelines, there's an appropriate context for "which," and separate occasions for "that."
Both "which" and "that" are relative pronouns, meaning they can refer to any related or previously mentioned nouns. But to understand how they differ, it's useful to define the concepts of restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses. A restrictive clause adds essential information to a sentence: "The album that came out after her child was born changed her musical style." In this example, the restrictive clause of "that came out after her child was born" is crucial to the meaning of this sentence. |
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Emoji Decoded | |  | | Face with Finger Covering Closed Lips | | | Meaning: While the official name is long, this emoji is commonly known as "Shushing Face," as it indicates exactly that.
Evolution: The original intent was to indicate shushing, à la a librarian, but it now also indicates secrecy. It's used in marketing efforts to demonstrate anticipation, such as a members-only sneak peek.
Usage: [Caption for a movie trailer:] Coming Spring 2026 🤫The superhero the world has been waiting for… |
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| | Face with Finger Covering Closed Lips | | | Meaning: While the official name is long, this emoji is commonly known as "Shushing Face," as it indicates exactly that.
Evolution: The original intent was to indicate shushing, à la a librarian, but it now also indicates secrecy. It's used in marketing efforts to demonstrate anticipation, such as a members-only sneak peek.
Usage: [Caption for a movie trailer:] Coming Spring 2026 🤫The superhero the world has been waiting for… |
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Have you read? | |  | | The Genius Bat: The Secret Life of the Only Flying Mammal | | By Yossi Yovel | | Bats are misunderstood, and this book wants us to know the nocturnal flying mammals are far smarter and more social than we previously thought. Written by a bat researcher, "The Genius Bat" is based on years of fieldwork and lab research. This well-researched nonfiction book is recommended if you enjoy nature documentaries. | | | | Samantha Abernethy, Word Smarts Writer | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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| | The Genius Bat: The Secret Life of the Only Flying Mammal | | By Yossi Yovel | | Bats are misunderstood, and this book wants us to know the nocturnal flying mammals are far smarter and more social than we previously thought. Written by a bat researcher, "The Genius Bat" is based on years of fieldwork and lab research. This well-researched nonfiction book is recommended if you enjoy nature documentaries. | | | | Samantha Abernethy, Word Smarts Writer | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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You might also like | |  | | | | Are You Using Adverbs Correctly? | | Adverbs get a bad rap in writing critiques, but do they deserve the criticism? Learn more about how to use this particular part of speech. |
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