WHO OR THAT?

Question

If there is an attorney WHO you wish to retain...OR If there is an attorney THAT you wish to retain...

RandomGuy · Accepted Answer

It's good English to reserve who for people and that for things.

Yoong Liat · Answer

Anonymous If there is an attorney WHO you wish to retain...OR If there is an attorney THAT you wish to retain...

In formal English, I believe 'whom' should be used.

BillJ · Answer

AnonymousIf there is an attorney WHO you wish to retain...OR If there is an attorney THAT you wish to retain...

[1] If there is an attorney who wishes to be retained ...

[2] If there is an attorney that you wish to retain ...

[3] If there is an attorney you wish to retain ...

[4] If there is an attorney whom / who you wish to retain ...

With personal antecedents, there is a preference for "who" when the relativised element is subject, as in [1]; and for the non-wh type elsewhere, like the that relative in [2] and the 'bare' relative in [3], where the relativised elements are objects.

The advantage of the non-wh relative is that it avoids the choice between formal whom and informal who (as in [4]). But it is only a preference. Both wh and non-wh relatives are perfectly grammatical and acceptable.

BillJ

WHO OR THAT?

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