This week, I thought we'd do a written lesson because we haven't done one in a while. This particular issue is something we editors see on a regular basis -- and even commit from time to time.
It's about choosing when to use THAT and when to use WHO. This lesson is taken from Working With Words -- a God sent of a grammar book. Here goes:
"When the word refers back to a collective noun (such as the name of an association, a business or a governing body), a thing (an inanimate object, abstraction and so on) or an animal without a proper name, the relative pronoun should be from the THAT family (that or which).
"When the word refers back to a person or an animal with a proper name, the correct relative pronoun should be from the WHO family (who, whom, whoever, whomever, whose or who's):
Next week, we'll talk about the differences between that and which (and possibly what).
It's about choosing when to use THAT and when to use WHO. This lesson is taken from Working With Words -- a God sent of a grammar book. Here goes:
"When the word refers back to a collective noun (such as the name of an association, a business or a governing body), a thing (an inanimate object, abstraction and so on) or an animal without a proper name, the relative pronoun should be from the THAT family (that or which).
"When the word refers back to a person or an animal with a proper name, the correct relative pronoun should be from the WHO family (who, whom, whoever, whomever, whose or who's):
- Mobil is an oil company THAT (not who despite the ads) wants to invite you to support public television.
- The dog THAT bit the child has not been found. (animal without a name)
- WHO is the playwright Horner whom everyone is discussing? (person)
- Their cat Fluffy, WHO just had kittens, wasn't straying far from the closet. (animal with a name)
Next week, we'll talk about the differences between that and which (and possibly what).