The distinction between “that” and “which” is becoming far less noticeable in restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses. In restrictive relative clauses (those that are not set off by commas, such as this one in parentheses), “that” is the preferred term. However, in more recent usage, “which” is starting to appear more and more frequently before restrictive relative clauses. This article on Language Log explores the phenomenon of “which” occurrence in restrictive relative clauses in what the author calls “which-hunting.” It is a fascinating debate in which linguists and editors alike can participate.
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