Is 'that that' or double that in, other words, allowed in a sentence?

Question

I can't remember where I saw it, but it struck me immediately. Obviously that had two different functions in the sentence, but I am wondering is it allowed in the grammar?Thank you.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Didn't you know that that always happens when a that-clause has that as its subject?
He said the answer was 12, and I told him that that was right.
I wanted her to leave the key on the kitchen table for me, so this morning I reminded her that that was what I wanted.

And in a few other situations.

The man that that woman introduced me to yesterday was here again today.

CJ

Daithy · Answer

Thank you for the clarification.

Odessa Dawn · Answer

CalifJimDidn't you know that that always happens when a that-clause has that as its subject?He said the answer was 12, and I told him that that was right.I wanted her to leave the key on the kitchen table for me, so this morning I reminded her that that was what I wanted.And in a few other situations.The man that that woman introduced me to yesterday was here again today.CJ

Coincidentally! I have been looking for such a comment on this usage. Now my dream has come true, fortunately. Already, I countered a post that the writer said, " When a sentence has two words back to back, like “that that” or “this this,” we hear an echo." Also, it was repeated here, "As we said, such repetitions are perfectly good English. But if the echo bothers you, the repetition can easily be avoided." - The Grammarphobia Blog

Question: Does echo here mean a slight pause after the first this/that and then raising your voice on the second one, please? I checked On Look Dictionary and found this definition:

Repetition of a sound by reflection of sound waves from a surface

However, I have hard time with the underlined part. I couldn’t understand it. Would you please clear it up?

CalifJim · Answer

Odessa DawnRepetition of a sound by reflection of sound waves from a surface However, I have hard time with the underlined part. I couldn’t understand it.

Surely you've heard an echo.

If you shout something in a very large and empty room, you will hear your voice a second time because the sound waves come out of your mouth, strike the walls of the room, and then come back to your ear. This can sometimes be heard when a choir sings in a large church. The sound doesn't stop when the choir stops singing. It continues for a while because the sound is still reflecting off the walls (and other surfaces) of the church.

Word repetition is not echo. The author of that article was just comparing hearing the same word twice to hearing an echo.

CJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Odessa DawnRepetition of a sound by reflection of sound waves from a surface

An echo happens when you yell something and that yell bounces off a hard surface, so you hear the same sound coming back to your ears. (but softer) Play this sound clip:
http://soundbible.com/263-Hello-Echoes-Down-Well.html

Fivejedjon · Answer

I had a student once who wrote "I like that picture".

I told her that that 'that', that she had written in red, should be in black.

Is 'that that' or double that in, other words, allowed in a sentence?

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