That Versus Which
The traditional approach to this questionis to use "that" with restrictive clauses and "which" with nonrestrictiveclauses. While some writers seem to have abandoned the distinction entirely,no better rule has come along to replace the traditional rule. Moreover,the rule is easy to master.1. Use "that" with restrictive clauses.A restrictive clause is one that limits -- or restricts --the identityof the subject in some way. When writing a restrictive clause, introduceit with the word "that" and no comma. (However, if the subject is or wasa human being, use "who" to introduce the clause.)
Correct Restrictive Use:
The paintingthat was hanging in the foyer was stolen.
Explanation: The use of "that" in thissentence is correct if the reader intends to single out the one paintingthat was in the foyer as the stolen painting. However, if there were severalpaintings hanging in the foyer, this use would be incorrect, since it wouldmislead the reader into believing that there had been only one paintingin the foyer. The restriction here tells us that the one painting thathad been hanging in the foyer was stolen -- not the painting in the livingroom, or the one in the drawing room, or any of those in the parlor.
2. Use "which" with nonrestrictiveclauses. A nonrestrictive clause may tell us something interesting or incidentalabout a subject, but it does not define that subject. When writing a nonrestrictiveclause, introduce it with "which" and insert commas around the clause.(However, if the subject is or was a human being, use "who" to introducethe clause and insert commas around the clause.)
Correct Nonrestrictive Use:
The painting,which was hanging in the foyer, was stolen.
Explanation: While this nonrestrictiveuse tells us that the painting was hanging in the foyer, it does not tellus which of the several paintings in the foyer was the stolen painting.It would be incorrect to use this nonrestrictive clause if there had beenonly one painting in the foyer, as the sentence leaves open the possibilitythat there were others.
3. Combining Restrictive and NonrestrictiveClauses. One can provide both limiting and nonlimiting information abouta subject in a single sentence. Consider the following.
Correct Use of Both Restrictive and NonrestrictiveClauses:
The VanGogh that was hanging in the foyer, which we purchased in 1929 for $10,000,was stolen.Explanation: The restrictive clause beginningwith "that" tells us that there was only one Van Gogh hanging in the foyerand that it was stolen. The nonrestrictive clause beginning with "which"tells us what the owner had paid for the painting, but it does not tellus that the owner did not pay another $10,000 for another painting in thesame year. It does not limit the possibilities to the Van Gogh that wasin the foyer.
4. Restrictive and NonrestrictiveClauses beginning with "Who." When writing about human beings, we use "who"rather than "that" or "which" to introduce a clause telling us somethingabout that human being. Since "who" is the only option, we distinguishbetween a restrictive use and a nonrestrictive use by the use of commas.
Correct Restrictive Use:
The suspectin the lineup who has red hair committed the crime.Note how the subject "suspect" in this sentenceis restricted in two ways: we know that this suspect is both in the lineupand has red hair. As a result, we know that the other suspects, who arenot in the lineup, could not have committed the crime. Moreover, of thosesuspects in the lineup, we know that the one suspect in the lineup withred hair committed the crime. If there were more than one suspect in thelineup with red hair, the above usage would be incorrect because it impliesa different meaning.
Correct Nonrestrictive Use:
The suspectin the lineup, who owns a red car, committed the crime.In this example, the restrictive clause "inthe lineup" tells us that of all possible suspects in the world, the onewho committed the crime is in the lineup. However, while the nonrestrictiveclause "who owns a red car" tells us something about the suspect, it doesnot foreclose the possibility that there are several different suspectsin the lineup with red cars. The car color may tell us something useful,but it does not restrict us to only one possibility.
Cross Reference: Clauses-- Restrictive and Nonrestrictive
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