Broadcast Media Thwarted by ?That? and ?Which? (Media Review)

We can’t get over the inability of many broadcast news people to properly use the words “that” and “which.” Seemingly unable to figure out which one is correct, they almost always opt for “which,” which is correct about half of the time.

It’s not just the local folks. It’s a real problem for the national big shots at National Public Radio, which is aired locally by KUAF, 91.3 FM, the University of Arkansas’ radio station. Even with their pompous articulation, they sound like dimwits when they use improper grammar.

Here’s the most succinct explanation we’ve seen. It’s from The Elements of Style, a thin and essential book by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White:

“That is the defining, or restrictive, pronoun. Which is the nondefining, or nonrestrictive.

‘The lawn mower that is broken is in the garage.’ (Tells which one.)

‘The lawn mower, which is broken, is in the garage.’ (Adds a fact about the only lawn mower in question.)”

All we can figure is broadcast people must use “which” because they think it sounds better. It doesn’t. It sounds wrong when the proper word is “that.”