This newspaper/that newspaper

Question

Hi!In the following sentence, could you please confirm if the choice of this/that is arbitrary?Mr. Lim founded a Mandarin-speaking newspaper, his first. In this/that newspaper, he took a hardline anti-Communist approach.My teacher has said that either is okay, but 'that' is preferable, because it refers to something that has been mentioned earlier in the beginning of the sentence. He also says that 'this' is better when what is being spoken about follows, e.g.:This was the newspaper he founded: The Singapore Herald.Is that right?Thanks guys!Doris

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

DorisPaoMy teacher has said that either is okay, but 'that' is preferable, because it refers to something that has been mentioned earlier in the beginning of the sentence.

I agree. But there are a couple of problems with the sentence.

Mr. Lim founded a newspaper for Mandarin speakers, his first. In that newspaper, he took a hard-line anti-Communist approach.

DorisPao He also says that 'this' is better when what is being spoken about follows, e.g.:This was the newspaper he founded: The Singapore Herald.

Not necessarily. It depends on the context. "This" is used for things that are near you:

I picked up a newspaper in the hotel lobby. This was the newspaper he founded: The Singapore Herald.
I saw a man reading a newspaper. That was the newspaper he founded: The Singapore Herald.

DorisPao · Answer

Thank you for all the corrections and the additional info, AlpheccaStars.

This newspaper/that newspaper

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions