Who or that?

Some grammar rules (and embarrassing mistakes!) transcend the uniqueness of different regions and style guides. This new International Grammar section by OnlineBookClub.org ultimately identifies those rules thus providing a simple, flexible rule-set, respecting the differences between regions and style guides. You can feel free to ask general questions about spelling and grammar. You can also provide example sentences for other members to proofread and inform you of any grammar mistakes.

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Raluca_Mihaila
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Who or that?

Post by Raluca_Mihaila »

Hello,
What is your take regarding the use of "who" vs. "that" in a sentence such as this one: "a reader who/that enjoys?"
At first, I used "who" in my reviews, but an editor said it should be "that."
Then, I used "that" and another editor said I was wrong.
It there a clear an indisputable rule?
Thank you!
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Brackwom
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Post by Brackwom »

As an Ordinary man, I always prefer both but the majority is of who is high then that so always use who.
& If you think in the way of grammar well, in such case, you can use both the words while referring to a plural
"who" is both an interrogative and Relative Pronoun. wheres, "that" is also both demonstrative and relative pronoun
So, both the words "who" and "that" can be used with the plural word.
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Raluca_Mihaila
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Post by Raluca_Mihaila »

Brackwom wrote: 31 Aug 2021, 08:08 As an Ordinary man, I always prefer both but the majority is of who is high then that so always use who.
& If you think in the way of grammar well, in such case, you can use both the words while referring to a plural
"who" is both an interrogative and Relative Pronoun. wheres, "that" is also both demonstrative and relative pronoun
So, both the words "who" and "that" can be used with the plural word.
Using both made me lose several points in the past, so I would like to settle to one :). Thank you for your opinion!
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Juliet+1
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Post by Juliet+1 »

"Who" is generally used for people, as in "the man who is walking down the street." "That" is used for everything else, as in "the car that I want to buy."
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Brackwom
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Post by Brackwom »

Raluca_Mihaila wrote: 31 Aug 2021, 12:35
Brackwom wrote: 31 Aug 2021, 08:08
Using both made me lose several points in the past, so I would like to settle to one :). Thank you for your opinion!
You are right! 8)
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Raluca_Mihaila
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Post by Raluca_Mihaila »

Juliet+1 wrote: 02 Sep 2021, 16:07 "Who" is generally used for people, as in "the man who is walking down the street." "That" is used for everything else, as in "the car that I want to buy."
That's what I thought, too. However, I used both who & that for people and, as I said, I lost points on several occasions.
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Post by Kaitlyn Canedy »

Juliet+1 wrote: 02 Sep 2021, 16:07 "Who" is generally used for people, as in "the man who is walking down the street." "That" is used for everything else, as in "the car that I want to buy."
I agree with this statement as well. Personally, if I am going to use who or that, I would use them in the following ways-

"Readers who enjoy helping others will like this book."

"The mall that I shop at is closed today."

Maybe this article I have attached to this post will help clarify when to use these pronouns.
https://www.dailywritingtips.com/when-t ... h-and-who/
"I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant, it is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.”- Mewtwo
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Post by Ruchi Raina »

Juliet+1 wrote: 02 Sep 2021, 16:07 "Who" is generally used for people, as in "the man who is walking down the street." "That" is used for everything else, as in "the car that I want to buy."
Yeah, I follow this rule too. It's "who" for people and "that" for non-living things mostly. Maybe you can request a recheck if you're sure?
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Recee Ann
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Post by Recee Ann »

wow! I never thought about this.. thanks anyways
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Raluca_Mihaila
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Post by Raluca_Mihaila »

Ruchi Raina wrote: 07 Sep 2021, 05:39
Juliet+1 wrote: 02 Sep 2021, 16:07 "Who" is generally used for people, as in "the man who is walking down the street." "That" is used for everything else, as in "the car that I want to buy."
Yeah, I follow this rule too. It's "who" for people and "that" for non-living things mostly. Maybe you can request a recheck if you're sure?
I just revisited some old reviews and discovered this issue. It doesn't matter now, but I just wanted to know if I really missed something.
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Raluca_Mihaila
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Post by Raluca_Mihaila »

Katie Canedy wrote: 07 Sep 2021, 02:07
Juliet+1 wrote: 02 Sep 2021, 16:07 "Who" is generally used for people, as in "the man who is walking down the street." "That" is used for everything else, as in "the car that I want to buy."
I agree with this statement as well. Personally, if I am going to use who or that, I would use them in the following ways-

"Readers who enjoy helping others will like this book."

"The mall that I shop at is closed today."

Maybe this article I have attached to this post will help clarify when to use these pronouns.
https://www.dailywritingtips.com/when-t ... h-and-who/
Thank you for your answer. So there are no other secret rules :).
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Post by Stephanie Runyon »

My thought is if you form the sentence as a question- which one makes more sense:

Who would I recommend this book to?
Would I recommend this book for that?

At least I use the questions above for my recommendatios in my reviews and have never been told I was wrong.
"Facts don't care about feelings." Ben Shapiro
"Don't try to keep up with me, I live on the edge too thin to see." Ryan Upchurch
"See, one man's inconvenience is another's joy." NF
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