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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

That or not that?

My writing is clustered with "that," like "the children are playing upstairs, so loud that it seems like the whole house is rumbling," but this sentence is perfectly fine without the word "that." Simply "so loud it seems like the whole house is rumbling."

Do you have any rules, tips, or tricks for me to figure out when "that" is optional and when it is required?
Thank you.

Johnny
  

Top answer

In fact, in the structure so + adjective + that , that is required and cannot be omitted. When you may omit that is mainly in: 1. In defining relative clauses in which that is the object.

— Tarirotari

  • In fact, in the structure so + adjective + that , that is required and cannot be omitted.
  • When you may omit that is mainly in: 1.
  • In defining relative clauses in which that is the object.
  • (defining=those not between comas, which give essential information about the noun they refer to) Do you still have the pen (which/ that ) I gave you.
  • (I gave you the pen [object]) This is the car (Which/ that ) he mentioned the other day.
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2 Answers
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In fact, in the structure so + adjective + that, that is required and cannot be omitted.

When you may omit that is mainly in:

1. In defining relative clauses in which that is the object. (defining=those not between comas, which give essential information about the noun they refer to)

Do you still have the pen (which/that) I gave you. (I gave
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AnonymousMy writing is clustered with
I feel your pain.
I personally overuse "that," just as I overpunctuate. I guess it makes me feel more secure.
When I've finished, I go through again and ask myself, "Do I really need this?" If the answer is "No," I toss it.
As tarirortari points out, you can't toss the ones which are grammatically essential.
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