That or which?
Should I use "that" or "which" in the sentence below? To my ears, "which" is preferable but I can't explain why. Would you please help me solve this dilemma?
Smith's words sound more conversational which/that is probably why he used them, and if he had a ghost writer he's probably being directly quoted so as to make it sound like it was written by Smith.
Thank you.
Top answer
Smith's words sound more conversational , which / that is probably why he used them , and if he had a ghost writer he's probably being directly quoted so as to make it sound like it was written by Smith. You don't have a choice. Supplementary (non-defining) relatives with "that" are not permitted in Standard English, and in your example the relative clause is a supplementary one.
- Smith's words sound more conversational , which / that is probably why he used them , and if he had a ghost writer he's probably being directly quoted so as to make it sound like it was written by Smith.
- You don't have a choice.
- Supplementary (non-defining) relatives with "that" are not permitted in Standard English, and in your example the relative clause is a supplementary one.
- Note that supplementary relatives are set off with commas, as shown.
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Smith's words sound more conversational, which / that is probably why he used them, and if he had a ghost writer he's probably being directly quoted so as to make it sound like it was written by Smith.
You don't have a choice. Supplementary (non-defining) relatives with "that" are not permitted in Standard English, and in y
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