That Which Confuses
As someone who teaches English, I can't miss this interesting entry by David: Which or That? If you have a little time to spare now (I'm sure you have some because you are reading my blog! ;)), go and take this quiz as David recommends. Well, I personally am glad that I've got the feel of the usage of those words. Ah, possibly. Perhaps. Maybe....
Now let me give you a question. Which, regardless of the explanation given in the quiz site, would you prefer to use in the blank below, which or that? And, if possible, tell me why.
This is the first comment ( ) I have posted here.
Comments
I would insert "that". It's probably not proper English though ;)
Posted by: Jennifer | January 29, 2004 10:57 PM
I love the title of the post - VERY clever.
btw, thanks for the trackback.
Posted by: David | January 29, 2004 11:17 PM
"That." Because "which" gets red flagged by Word every time I try to use in such a context.
Posted by: bcj. | January 30, 2004 4:29 AM
This is the first comment I have posted here.
I don't think you *need* a relative pronoun in this sentence. If I remember my english lessons correctly you can leave out relative pronouns when the pronoun isn't the subject of the relative clause.
Otherwise I would choose 'that'. I think 'which' would imply that this was the first comment *ever*.
Posted by: Maurice | January 30, 2004 4:32 AM
I'm with Maurice...I'd just skip the relative pronoun completely in that sentence. I'd only include it in formal writing (in which case, "that" would be the natural choice).
Posted by: Jeff | January 30, 2004 7:02 AM
I'm with the others. I too would use "that" in this case.
Posted by: Rae | January 30, 2004 9:18 AM
yup , definitely 'that' . It just Flows so much better. When I write I try not to get bogged down in grammar and rules, instead I just try to make everything 'flow' together, hard to describe I guess. And surprisingly legible :)
Posted by: pketh | January 30, 2004 12:14 PM
I would agree to "that".
Posted by: M Sinclair Stevens | January 31, 2004 1:30 PM
I would also choose "that".
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the general rule that you should only use "which" for subordinating clauses marked by a comma?
Posted by: Quinlan | January 31, 2004 11:27 PM
after reading your blog -- for me using "that" sounds natural, and I read these comments --- I improved my English, thank you!
Posted by: Mieko | February 1, 2004 6:49 PM
Your site is realy very interesting.
Posted by: Ivailo | April 29, 2005 11:01 PM