"Who" and "that"

[realFedUp]

It drives me crazy to hear TV journalists use the words "that" and "who" in the wrong way in a sentence.. Shouldn't they be more educated in English grammar, using the appropriate word? A thing gets a "that", someone who lives or lived gets a "who".

[unblock]

1. those are exactly the journalists that drive me mental!

[951-Riverside]

2. Who that, who that? That do that, do that?

I'm so fancy, you already know. I'm in the fast lane, from L.A. to Tokyo.

[realFedUp]

3. Stoned?

Or just Coachella?

[HereSince1628]

4. I'm more bothered by those who use stigmatizing language

as sizzle.

Misuse of who and that seems unlikely to promote popular prejudices that support discrimination.

[realFedUp]

5. Yes, worse

Than bad grammar.

[FiveGoodMen]

6. It's probably the reason the TPP will pass and destroy our national sovereignty

[realFedUp]

7. You're probably right

Such equal subjects......

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. THANK YOU!!!! It drives me nuts. You read it in print as well.

[femmocrat]

9. That is one of my pet peeves too!

[frogmarch]

10. I agree, but I often break the rule,

if there is one saying non-human animals are "that," especially when it comes to pets. To me, they are "who."

[realFedUp]

11. I do that too...

Pets seem like humans.

[Brother Buzz]

12. Of whom are you speaking?

[realFedUp]

13. I should have kept a list.....

[Brother Buzz]

14. I was eluding to the misuse of who and whom

My little pet peeve.

Your list would be long, no doubt.

[realFedUp]

15. No doubt

Whom seems a very old British formal word. I wish it well.

[graegoyle]

17. "Eluding"?

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. It's not incorrect grammar; it's just a different style

That or who
Most writers use that and whichas the relative pronouns for inanimate objects, and who as the relative pronoun for humans. This widespread habit has led to the mistaken belief that using that in reference to humans is an error. In fact, while most editors prefer who for people, there is no rule saying we can’t use that, and that has been widely used in reference to people for many centuries. It remains so today, especially in British writing, exemplified here:

Labour insiders argue that Balls is probably the man that can most effectively deliver a reshaping of the party’s economic policy. (The Guardian)

This demonstrates how completely out of touch they have become with the people that they purport to speak on behalf of. (Telegraph)

http://grammarist.com/usage/that-who/