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That or who?

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lizzypopbottle Tue 11-Jul-17 11:56:30

I really dislike the current trend for using 'that' instead of 'who'.
E.g. My friend that has a spaniel. The person that lives next door.
'That' is for things. 'Who' is for people.

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JackyB Tue 11-Jul-17 14:52:32

I remember when I was about 9, whilst we were supposed to be writing a "composition", which is what we called an essay at primary school, I was quite unsure as to whether to write "that" or "which" and I stood waiting in the queue at Sister's desk for about 20 minutes before I thought "perhaps it doesn't matter - I could have spent those 20 minutes writing more of my composition".

To this day I am never sure either.

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grannysue05 Tue 11-Jul-17 17:56:38

Its like 'them' and 'those' ........them is for people and those is for things.

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Baggs Tue 11-Jul-17 18:40:32

As in "them people over there are a right noisy bunch" wink.

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grandtanteJE65 Fri 21-Jul-17 14:14:18

I agree that who is preferable when we are talking about people and which or that should be used of things or animals.
BUT which and that can be used about people too.

Knowing when to use which in preference to that is more difficult, but this site explains the rule

en.oxforddictionaries.com/usage/that-or-which

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