"That" or "which"?

Question

"A lot of writers, at least THAT I read, were entertaining."Which one is better to use in this case - "whom"-less probable, "that" or "which"?Thank you!

Karansardana · Accepted Answer

A lot of writers, at least whom I've read, are entertaining. That/Which - I wouldn't use those with people.

One could argue one may choose to use 'who' in the sentence above, in spoken English, one may well do it.

Thanks

Karan

Davyddiniz · Answer

In addition to the great above answer:

TinaMr
"A lot of writers, at least THAT I read, were entertaining."
Which one is better to use in this case - "whom"-less probable, "that" or "which"?
Thank you!

"That I read" is a relative clause or adjectival clause. i.e.: One clause that describes one noun or pronoun in the sentence; it acts just like an adjective and is this case, it is describing "writers" but starts with a relative pronoun (That, Who, Whom, Which and Whose) and contains a verb and sometimes complements/modifiers.

That and Which are used for things and animals;

Who and Whom are used for people;

Whose is used as a possessive.

Therefore, since "writers" is considered to be people. So:

A lot of writers, at least whom I read (about), were entertaining. Or:

A lot of writers, at least who I read (about), were entertaining.

Whom is becoming very rare in English language; it has been often replaced by: Who. Who has been used in both cases where Whom and Who can act.. - If you want to know the difference between both, ask another question.

BillJ · Answer

TinaMr
"A lot of writers, at least THAT I read, were entertaining."
Which one is better to use in this case - "whom"-less probable, "that" or "which"?
Thank you!

In your example "that I read" is understood as "writers that I read".

Generally, in relative clauses like this one, it is a free choice between "that","who" and "whom", though there is a preference for "that" when it is object of the relative clause, as it is here.

In the case of the -wh pronouns, a lot of people nowadays prefer to use "who" instead of the more formal "whom" even when it is the object of the relative clause, as in your example.

Of course, using the stylistically neutral "that" overcomes the need to choose between "who" and the formal "whom", and would probably be my choice.

"That" or "which"?

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