[Jill Malcolm]

These two little words can us all problems at times.

Here are the rules that help you get it right:

• If you can drop the clause and not lose the point to the sentence use which. If you can’t use that.

• A which clause goes inside commas. A that clause doesn’t.

• Remember: “Commas that cut out the fat go with which but never with that.”

Example: Our house, which has two bedrooms, is located in Auckland.

                    Our house that has two bedrooms is located in Auckland.

In the first example, the which clause (which has two bedrooms) is disposable – without it, we still have the gist of the sentence: Our house is located in Auckland.

In the second sentence the that clause (that has two bedrooms) is essential. The sentence misses the point without it: our house has two bedrooms.

Confused? It can be!