Which and that are commonly used words for introducing a detail within a sentence. The decision to use which or that is dependent on whether the phrase containing said detail intends to add distinction or embellishment to the subject of the sentence.
Restrictive Clause, That
When a detail clause is pivotal to defining the subject of a sentence it should be introduced flatly, abruptly and without a comma, following the subject with the word that:
- The dog that barked too often was given away by its owner. (restrictive clause.)
This underlined clause isn’t deemed restrictive due to a strongly inferred reasoning for the owner’s decision to put down the dog, but because the writer is intending (in one fashion or another) to distinguish this ‘dog’ from another dog (or dogs.) Therefore it is said to be restricting the possible meaning of the subject noun, ‘dog.’
Non-Restrictive Clause, Which
On the other hand, when a detail clause serves to embellish the subject of the sentence, it should be formed as a non-restrictive clause; prefaced by which, and bracketed by commas:
- The barking dog, which lived to be a ripe old age, was given away by its owner. (non-restrictive clause)
The difference between restrictive and non-restrictive clauses is that the former, that, is making an essential distinction while the latter, which, is adding flourish.
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