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Many people send in examples of what’s bugging them. It helps if you’re as specific as possible in your question.

Return-path: <nobody@gopher.adp.wisc.edu>
Date: Tue, 08 Oct 2002 17:07:47 -0500
From: John Doe <johndoe00@aol.com>
Subject: >WritCons< that and which
To: wcemail@facstaff.wisc.edu

Dear Writing Consultant:

Can you cite a rule and perhaps a reference concerning use of “which” or “that”? Examples:

“Take the book that/which is on the table.”
“I would prefer a tool that/which works.”
“Ask a question that/which makes sense.”

Either choice seems OK to my ear, but I have heard allusions to a rule which I seem to have missed in high school.

Thanks for your help!
John

You’ll get an answer from us within two business days.

We’ll try to give examples.

We’ll also try to refer you to commonly used books that give another spin on the subject. After all, we’re not grammar gurus; we often have to look stuff up too!

Return-path: <wcemail@facstaff.wisc.edu>
Date: Thu, 10 Oct 2002 10:28:47 -0500
From: Writing Consultant <wcemail@facstaff.wisc.edu>
Subject: >WritCons< that and which
To: johndoe00@aol.com
Cc: wcemail@facstaff.wisc.edu

Dear John,

Thanks for your question; it was forwarded to us at the Online Writing Center. Here’s the main rule on “which” and “that”:

One uses “which” (preceded by a comma) in non-restrictive clauses:

“You should not ride motorcycles, which are dangerous.”

Here, all motorcycles are dangerous—the clause doesn’t restrict the group of motorcycles considered dangerous.

Use “that” in restrictive clauses:

“You should not ride motorcycles that are dangerous.”

Here, only those motorcycles that are dangerous should be avoided—the clause restricts the group.

The AP Style Book, commonly used in journalism, has a great explanation of this rule in the punctuation section.

Good luck with your project!
The Online Writing Center