No, it truly doesn't. It's awesome. Have you had it?
Okay, maybe I've only had raw buffalo milk, which tastes gross.
If you can't put a comma in front of which, it should probably be that.
Just leave out the "probably." This has become one of my pet peeves ever since I was taught the difference.
"That" is used for identifying information. "Which" is for giving additional information. So, "The dog that I got from Mike is playing in the yard," makes it clear that you're talking about the dog from Mike, rather than any other dog. "The dog, which I got from Mike, is playing in the yard," says that there's a dog playing in they yard, and adds the additional bit of information that this dog happened to be given to you by Mike.
And notice the comma.
Dr. Grammar on "That or Which" (I'm certain this will cause argument)
Dr. Grammar should lose his license.
Which refers to animals and things, never to people.
Right. Because in the case where you'd use "which" to refer to an animal or thing, you'd use "who" to refer to a person. That's not a which/that distiction.
(I'm certain this will cause argument)
We had this exact argument on WX. It was long and unpleasant. Blood may have been spilled. Let us never speak of it again.
Heh. In support of Jessica's point, I cite:
Bugbears.
Arguments over grammar and style are often as fierce as those over Windows versus Mac, and as fruitless as Coke versus Pepsi or boxers versus briefs. Pedantic and vicious debates over knotty matters such as Prepositions at the End, That versus Which, and Split Infinitives may be entertaining to those who enjoy cockfights, but do little to improve writing. Know as much as you can about the rules, but strive above all for clarity and grace. Think always of the effect you'll have on your audience. Over time you'll come to trust your ear, which will be disciplined by reading the best authors and by constant practice at writing. See also Prescriptive versus Descriptive Grammars and Taste.
Just leave out the "probably."
That's a habit from teaching French, where there is almost (see, I can't help myself!) always an exception.
For Flea's Sake:
There are two rules of thumb you can keep in mind. First, if the phrase needs a comma, you probably mean which. Since "Penn's ID center" calls for a comma, we would not say "Penn's ID Center, that is called CUPID."
Another way to keep them straight is to imagine by the way following every which: "Penn's ID center, which (by the way) is called CUPID. . . ." The which adds a useful, but not grammatically necessary, piece of information. On the other hand, we wouldn't say "The word processor which (by the way) is used most often is WordPerfect," because the word processor on its own isn't enough information — which word processor?
A paradoxical mnemonic: use that to tell which, and which to tell that.
I don't think I get that last one but I don't care!
I knew I would start a kerfuffle! I am so sorry! But Hec's phrasing did seem weird to me.
The woman that witnessed the shooting will testify tomorrow.
Screw Dr. Grammar, because that sentence would be better written with
who
in place of
that.
