People are not mere "things".

[IntravenousDemilo]

It's not, "the policeman that responded to the alarm," but "the policeman who responded to the alarm."

It's not "a liberal is someone that believes in liberty," but "a liberal is someone who believes in liberty."

It's not "the suicide bomber that blew himself up the other day," but "the suicide bomber who blew himself up the other day."

It's not "it's Limbaugh that is the drug addict and O'Reilly that is the sexual predator," but "it's Limbaugh who is the drug addict and O'Reilly who is the sexual predator."

When referring to people, "who" must be used to the exclusion of all other relative pronouns, i.e., "that" and "which". The corollary of this is that when "who" is used, it must refer to people, and not to other life forms or to inanimate objects. Thus, it's also not "my dog who turned 17 last month," but "my dog that turned 17 last month."

So we have a relative pronoun ("who") that is absolutely proprietary to the human race and no other, and that's because people are just so damned special, even when their grammar sets my teeth on edge. Some of these people (*cough*DavidGergenBrianWilliamsKatieCouricPracticallyEveryoneElseInTheMedia*cough*) are actually paid exorbitant amounts of money to (mis)use language. It's one of the most shameful aspects of our times.

[terrya]

1. Thank you.

I try to better myself. I try to improve the ways I express my thoughts and ideas. Just to communicate better.

I know I'm far from perfect when it comes to communication, be it online or in the real world. But this is giving me the reminder to carefully read what I've written before I post something online. And this is a reminder to be careful as to how I verbally communicate.

Thanks, honey, for giving me those correct uses of grammar. If no one else appreciates them, I do.

SHMILY

[IntravenousDemilo]

10. Hi, sweetie.

Steven and I are meeting this evening at six, to plan how we're going to tackle the "Paris Is Burning" musical.

shmily

[terrya]

11. Hi, honey.

Excellent! I'm so excited for you. It's an inspired project...and a musical I'd love to see. I'm a huge fan of "Paris is Burning".

SHMILY

[Midlodemocrat]

2. Grammar Nazi.

:P

:hi:

[IntravenousDemilo]

9. Guilty as charged.

:hi:

[Deja Q]

3. Just wait for the flamers to call you the "grammar police".

And if they don't, the petty little trolls should reconsider their ersatz claims of being equal.

As for suicide bombers, I'll give "that" a pardon. People don't kill. Things do. I don't equate killers as being people.

[CBGLuthier]

4. Wrong!!

I don't give a damn what anyone says Limbaugh and O'Reilly are THINGS. They are CREATURES. They are not even remotely human and yes, my dog is a better "person" than them.

Please enjoy parsing my shitty grammar.

[Orrex]

5. The construction is not without precedent, though

For instance,

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.

Sure it's archaic, but it's precedent.

[IntravenousDemilo]

8. No, the "that" there is OK, because it's referring to the noun "name", which is not a person,

but a thing. What makes me raise my eyebrow about the sentence you cited is that the horse is referred to as a "him" rather than an "it".

[Orrex]

13. I respectully differ

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.

If what you're saying is correct, then his name would be sitting on the horse.

[IntravenousDemilo]

14. Come to think of it, you're right.

But if the sentence had been properly cast, it would have read, "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and the name of him who sat on it was Death... etc."

[Orrex]

15. I agree with your recasting

That wacky book has a bunch of sentences constructed the same way as the one I cited. Crazy King James!


Oh, well--thanks for not harping on my subject line typo, by the way!

:hi:

[Deep13]

6. Thanks for the reminder. nt

[LeftyFingerPop]

7. Finally! Someone that posts a reasonable and thoughtful OP.

[Bucky]

12. Who?

That one