that/which THAT/WHICH I must confess that I do not myself observe the distinction between “that” and “which.” Furthermore, there is little evidence that this distinction is or has ever been regularly made in past centuries by careful writers of English. However, a small but impassioned group of authorities has urged the distinction; so here is the information you will need to pacify them. If you are defining something by distinguishing it from a larger class of which it is a member, use “that”: “I chose the lettuce that had the fewest wilted leaves.” When the general class is not being limited or defined in some way, then “which” is appropriate: “He made an iceberg Caesar salad, which didn’t taste quite right.” Note that “which” is normally preceded by a comma, but “that” is not. Comments on this issue by Jack Lynch. List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/which.html03/09/2005 15:40:07 that kind/that kind of THAT KIND THAT KIND OF Although expressions like “that kind thing” are common in some dialects, standard English requires “of” in this kind of phrase. List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/thatkind.html03/09/2005 15:40:07 theirselves THEIRSELVES THEMSELVES There is no such word as “theirselves” (and you certainly can’t spell it “theirselfs” or “thierselves"); it’s “themselves.” And there is no correct singular form of this non-word; instead of “theirself” use “himself” or “herself." List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/theirselves.html03/09/2005 15:40:08 them THEM THOSE One use of “them” for “those” has become a standard catch phrase: “how do you like them apples?” This is deliberate dialectical humor. But “I like them little canapes with the shrimp on top” is gauche; say instead "I like those little canapes." List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/them.html03/09/2005 15:40:08 they’re/their/there THEY’RE/THEIR/THERE Many people are so spooked by apostrophes that a word like “they’re” seems to them as if it might mean almost anything. In fact, it’s always a contraction of “they are.” If you’ve written “they’re,” ask yourself whether you can substitute “they are.” If not, you’ve made a mistake. “Their” is a possessive pronoun like “her” or “our” “They eat their hotdogs with sauerkraut.” Everything else is “there.” “There goes the ball, out of the park! See it? Right there! There aren’t very many home runs like that.” “Thier” is a common misspelling, but you can avoid it by remembering that “they” and “their” begin with the same three letters. Another hint: “there” has “here” buried inside it to remind you it refers to place, while “their” has “heir” buried in it to remind you that it has to do with possession. List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/their.html03/09/2005 15:40:08 therefor/therefore THEREFOR/THEREFORE THEREFOR/THEREFORE The form without a final “E” is an archaic bit of legal terminology meaning “for.” The word most people want is “therefore.” List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/therefor.html03/09/2005 15:40:08 there” s THERE’S People often forget that “there’s” is a contraction of “there is” and mistakenly say “there’s three burrs caught in your hair” when they mean “there’re” ("there are"). Use “there’s” only when referring to one item. “There’s” can also be a contraction of “there has,” as in “There’s been some mistake in this bill, clerk!"” List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/there's.html03/09/2005 15:40:09 these are them THESE ARE THEM/THESE ARE THEY Although only the pickiest listeners will cringe when you say “these are them,” the traditionally correct phrase is “these are they,” because “they” is the predicate nominative of “these.” However, if people around you seem more comfortable with “it’s me” than “it’s I,” you might as well stick with “these are them." List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/thesearethem.html03/09/2005 15:40:09 these kind THESE KIND THIS KIND In a sentence like “I love this kind of chocolates,” “this” modifies “kind” (singular) and not “chocolates” (plural), so it would be incorrect to change it to “I love these kind of chocolates.” Only if “kind” itself is pluralized into “kinds” should “this” shift to “these“: “You keep making these kinds of mistakes!" List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/these.html03/09/2005 15:40:09 these ones THESE ONES THESE By itself, there’s nothing wrong with the word “ones” as a plural: “surrounded by her loved ones.” However, “this one” should not be pluralized to “these ones.” Just say “these." List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/these_ones.html03/09/2005 15:40:10 [...]... and corporations as plural (“Parliament have approved their agenda”) whereas Americans insist on treating them as singular List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/they.html03/09/20 05 15: 40:10 ... avoid sexism (though it often serves the latter purpose) People who insist that “Everyone has brought his own lunch” is the only correct form do not reflect the usage of centuries of fine writers A good general rule is that only when the singular noun does not specify an individual can it be replaced plausibly with a plural pronoun: “Everybody” is a good example We know that “everybody” is singular because . by Jack Lynch. List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/which.html03/09/20 05 15: 40:07 that kind/that kind of THAT KIND THAT KIND OF Although expressions like “that kind thing”. kind of phrase. List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/thatkind.html03/09/20 05 15: 40:07 theirselves THEIRSELVES THEMSELVES There is no such word as “theirselves” (and you certainly. “herself." List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/theirselves.html03/09/20 05 15: 40:08 them THEM THOSE One use of “them” for “those” has become a standard catch phrase: “how