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Can you always replace “that that” with “which that”?
How do you handle “that that”? The double “that” problem“that of which you” vs “that which you”“… that … with …” and “… which … with …”Can I replace “that is/are (supposed) to” with just “to”?Get in vs. get on“Replace with” versus “replace by”“IT projects gone awry…” Qualifying a reduced relative clause ruleIs a server “in the Internet” or “on the Internet”Replacing 'which' with 'that'When can you replace “of” with “from”?Two close prepositions; how do you not end with one?
At least I haven't yet been able to imagine a context in which there is a clear semantic difference between "that that" and "which that". No hardware warnings, either. I've always been a bit troubled by the double-that, and I know that some spelling checkers object, but as far as I can recall none of them has ever recommended "which that" as a replacement.
prepositions relative-clauses
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At least I haven't yet been able to imagine a context in which there is a clear semantic difference between "that that" and "which that". No hardware warnings, either. I've always been a bit troubled by the double-that, and I know that some spelling checkers object, but as far as I can recall none of them has ever recommended "which that" as a replacement.
prepositions relative-clauses
New contributor
There is no actual construction “that that” any more than there is a construction “hardware warnings” they are simply two words that are placed next to each other in order to achieve the intent of the speaker. That that is not clear to everyone is somewhat concerning.
– Jim
6 hours ago
add a comment |
At least I haven't yet been able to imagine a context in which there is a clear semantic difference between "that that" and "which that". No hardware warnings, either. I've always been a bit troubled by the double-that, and I know that some spelling checkers object, but as far as I can recall none of them has ever recommended "which that" as a replacement.
prepositions relative-clauses
New contributor
At least I haven't yet been able to imagine a context in which there is a clear semantic difference between "that that" and "which that". No hardware warnings, either. I've always been a bit troubled by the double-that, and I know that some spelling checkers object, but as far as I can recall none of them has ever recommended "which that" as a replacement.
prepositions relative-clauses
prepositions relative-clauses
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New contributor
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asked 6 hours ago
shanenshanen
111
111
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New contributor
There is no actual construction “that that” any more than there is a construction “hardware warnings” they are simply two words that are placed next to each other in order to achieve the intent of the speaker. That that is not clear to everyone is somewhat concerning.
– Jim
6 hours ago
add a comment |
There is no actual construction “that that” any more than there is a construction “hardware warnings” they are simply two words that are placed next to each other in order to achieve the intent of the speaker. That that is not clear to everyone is somewhat concerning.
– Jim
6 hours ago
There is no actual construction “that that” any more than there is a construction “hardware warnings” they are simply two words that are placed next to each other in order to achieve the intent of the speaker. That that is not clear to everyone is somewhat concerning.
– Jim
6 hours ago
There is no actual construction “that that” any more than there is a construction “hardware warnings” they are simply two words that are placed next to each other in order to achieve the intent of the speaker. That that is not clear to everyone is somewhat concerning.
– Jim
6 hours ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
which that may occur as a accidental collocation ("the toy which that child holds is made of wood"), but for what you probably mean you want it the other way 'round: that which.
Your first that is a demonstrative pronoun and remains the same. Only the second is a relative pronoun which can be replaced (and in my opinion should be replaced) with which.
That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
I don’t think that’s what Shanen is asking about – since your case doesn’t work with that that at all, it’s not a case of that that having been replaced with which that. (Though if I’m reading you correctly, you’re implying that that that doesn’t kill us… would be grammatical to you? To me, it’s not just a matter of style: it is completely ungrammatical in my head.)
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
6 hours ago
@JanusBahsJacquet I would never use that (dem) that (rel); but my dislike for it is not universal. I think it is by descriptive canons grammatical.
– StoneyB
5 hours ago
add a comment |
The first valid hit I found on Ngram:
I only know that that slice of attention caused me to actually shape a
personality around the tale.
And right below it:
He assured me that that was his destination, so I hopped in.
And:
And as I grow up I would know that that is the person I am suppose to
be with for the rest of my life!
In none of those cases is replacing with "which that" valid.
2
I think that that that that came second in your first example was a demonstrative pronoun.
– Tuffy
3 hours ago
@Tuffy - Your point being?
– Hot Licks
3 hours ago
add a comment |
No.
"I know that that isn't the answer" wouldn't work with "which that": "I know which that isn't the answer".
From the answer to this question: How do you handle "that that"? The double "that" problem
We have the subordinating that (“I know that this is the answer.”) is doubled up with a demonstrative pronoun that (“That is not the answer.”) or an adjectival that (“That answer is not it.”).
Depending on the exact sentence you can often replace the subordinating that but not always with "which".
New contributor
add a comment |
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3 Answers
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3 Answers
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which that may occur as a accidental collocation ("the toy which that child holds is made of wood"), but for what you probably mean you want it the other way 'round: that which.
Your first that is a demonstrative pronoun and remains the same. Only the second is a relative pronoun which can be replaced (and in my opinion should be replaced) with which.
That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
I don’t think that’s what Shanen is asking about – since your case doesn’t work with that that at all, it’s not a case of that that having been replaced with which that. (Though if I’m reading you correctly, you’re implying that that that doesn’t kill us… would be grammatical to you? To me, it’s not just a matter of style: it is completely ungrammatical in my head.)
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
6 hours ago
@JanusBahsJacquet I would never use that (dem) that (rel); but my dislike for it is not universal. I think it is by descriptive canons grammatical.
– StoneyB
5 hours ago
add a comment |
which that may occur as a accidental collocation ("the toy which that child holds is made of wood"), but for what you probably mean you want it the other way 'round: that which.
Your first that is a demonstrative pronoun and remains the same. Only the second is a relative pronoun which can be replaced (and in my opinion should be replaced) with which.
That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
I don’t think that’s what Shanen is asking about – since your case doesn’t work with that that at all, it’s not a case of that that having been replaced with which that. (Though if I’m reading you correctly, you’re implying that that that doesn’t kill us… would be grammatical to you? To me, it’s not just a matter of style: it is completely ungrammatical in my head.)
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
6 hours ago
@JanusBahsJacquet I would never use that (dem) that (rel); but my dislike for it is not universal. I think it is by descriptive canons grammatical.
– StoneyB
5 hours ago
add a comment |
which that may occur as a accidental collocation ("the toy which that child holds is made of wood"), but for what you probably mean you want it the other way 'round: that which.
Your first that is a demonstrative pronoun and remains the same. Only the second is a relative pronoun which can be replaced (and in my opinion should be replaced) with which.
That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
which that may occur as a accidental collocation ("the toy which that child holds is made of wood"), but for what you probably mean you want it the other way 'round: that which.
Your first that is a demonstrative pronoun and remains the same. Only the second is a relative pronoun which can be replaced (and in my opinion should be replaced) with which.
That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
answered 6 hours ago
StoneyBStoneyB
65k3113214
65k3113214
I don’t think that’s what Shanen is asking about – since your case doesn’t work with that that at all, it’s not a case of that that having been replaced with which that. (Though if I’m reading you correctly, you’re implying that that that doesn’t kill us… would be grammatical to you? To me, it’s not just a matter of style: it is completely ungrammatical in my head.)
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
6 hours ago
@JanusBahsJacquet I would never use that (dem) that (rel); but my dislike for it is not universal. I think it is by descriptive canons grammatical.
– StoneyB
5 hours ago
add a comment |
I don’t think that’s what Shanen is asking about – since your case doesn’t work with that that at all, it’s not a case of that that having been replaced with which that. (Though if I’m reading you correctly, you’re implying that that that doesn’t kill us… would be grammatical to you? To me, it’s not just a matter of style: it is completely ungrammatical in my head.)
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
6 hours ago
@JanusBahsJacquet I would never use that (dem) that (rel); but my dislike for it is not universal. I think it is by descriptive canons grammatical.
– StoneyB
5 hours ago
I don’t think that’s what Shanen is asking about – since your case doesn’t work with that that at all, it’s not a case of that that having been replaced with which that. (Though if I’m reading you correctly, you’re implying that that that doesn’t kill us… would be grammatical to you? To me, it’s not just a matter of style: it is completely ungrammatical in my head.)
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
6 hours ago
I don’t think that’s what Shanen is asking about – since your case doesn’t work with that that at all, it’s not a case of that that having been replaced with which that. (Though if I’m reading you correctly, you’re implying that that that doesn’t kill us… would be grammatical to you? To me, it’s not just a matter of style: it is completely ungrammatical in my head.)
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
6 hours ago
@JanusBahsJacquet I would never use that (dem) that (rel); but my dislike for it is not universal. I think it is by descriptive canons grammatical.
– StoneyB
5 hours ago
@JanusBahsJacquet I would never use that (dem) that (rel); but my dislike for it is not universal. I think it is by descriptive canons grammatical.
– StoneyB
5 hours ago
add a comment |
The first valid hit I found on Ngram:
I only know that that slice of attention caused me to actually shape a
personality around the tale.
And right below it:
He assured me that that was his destination, so I hopped in.
And:
And as I grow up I would know that that is the person I am suppose to
be with for the rest of my life!
In none of those cases is replacing with "which that" valid.
2
I think that that that that came second in your first example was a demonstrative pronoun.
– Tuffy
3 hours ago
@Tuffy - Your point being?
– Hot Licks
3 hours ago
add a comment |
The first valid hit I found on Ngram:
I only know that that slice of attention caused me to actually shape a
personality around the tale.
And right below it:
He assured me that that was his destination, so I hopped in.
And:
And as I grow up I would know that that is the person I am suppose to
be with for the rest of my life!
In none of those cases is replacing with "which that" valid.
2
I think that that that that came second in your first example was a demonstrative pronoun.
– Tuffy
3 hours ago
@Tuffy - Your point being?
– Hot Licks
3 hours ago
add a comment |
The first valid hit I found on Ngram:
I only know that that slice of attention caused me to actually shape a
personality around the tale.
And right below it:
He assured me that that was his destination, so I hopped in.
And:
And as I grow up I would know that that is the person I am suppose to
be with for the rest of my life!
In none of those cases is replacing with "which that" valid.
The first valid hit I found on Ngram:
I only know that that slice of attention caused me to actually shape a
personality around the tale.
And right below it:
He assured me that that was his destination, so I hopped in.
And:
And as I grow up I would know that that is the person I am suppose to
be with for the rest of my life!
In none of those cases is replacing with "which that" valid.
answered 6 hours ago
Hot LicksHot Licks
19.2k23677
19.2k23677
2
I think that that that that came second in your first example was a demonstrative pronoun.
– Tuffy
3 hours ago
@Tuffy - Your point being?
– Hot Licks
3 hours ago
add a comment |
2
I think that that that that came second in your first example was a demonstrative pronoun.
– Tuffy
3 hours ago
@Tuffy - Your point being?
– Hot Licks
3 hours ago
2
2
I think that that that that came second in your first example was a demonstrative pronoun.
– Tuffy
3 hours ago
I think that that that that came second in your first example was a demonstrative pronoun.
– Tuffy
3 hours ago
@Tuffy - Your point being?
– Hot Licks
3 hours ago
@Tuffy - Your point being?
– Hot Licks
3 hours ago
add a comment |
No.
"I know that that isn't the answer" wouldn't work with "which that": "I know which that isn't the answer".
From the answer to this question: How do you handle "that that"? The double "that" problem
We have the subordinating that (“I know that this is the answer.”) is doubled up with a demonstrative pronoun that (“That is not the answer.”) or an adjectival that (“That answer is not it.”).
Depending on the exact sentence you can often replace the subordinating that but not always with "which".
New contributor
add a comment |
No.
"I know that that isn't the answer" wouldn't work with "which that": "I know which that isn't the answer".
From the answer to this question: How do you handle "that that"? The double "that" problem
We have the subordinating that (“I know that this is the answer.”) is doubled up with a demonstrative pronoun that (“That is not the answer.”) or an adjectival that (“That answer is not it.”).
Depending on the exact sentence you can often replace the subordinating that but not always with "which".
New contributor
add a comment |
No.
"I know that that isn't the answer" wouldn't work with "which that": "I know which that isn't the answer".
From the answer to this question: How do you handle "that that"? The double "that" problem
We have the subordinating that (“I know that this is the answer.”) is doubled up with a demonstrative pronoun that (“That is not the answer.”) or an adjectival that (“That answer is not it.”).
Depending on the exact sentence you can often replace the subordinating that but not always with "which".
New contributor
No.
"I know that that isn't the answer" wouldn't work with "which that": "I know which that isn't the answer".
From the answer to this question: How do you handle "that that"? The double "that" problem
We have the subordinating that (“I know that this is the answer.”) is doubled up with a demonstrative pronoun that (“That is not the answer.”) or an adjectival that (“That answer is not it.”).
Depending on the exact sentence you can often replace the subordinating that but not always with "which".
New contributor
New contributor
answered 6 hours ago
MikeMike
1943
1943
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
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There is no actual construction “that that” any more than there is a construction “hardware warnings” they are simply two words that are placed next to each other in order to achieve the intent of the speaker. That that is not clear to everyone is somewhat concerning.
– Jim
6 hours ago