Who vs. that: Understand the correct use

Key takeaways:

  • Use “who” when referring to people (e.g., “The student who won the award”).

  • Use “that” when referring to objects, animals, or groups (e.g., “The car that I drive”).

  • Mixing them up can confuse your reader and reduce the clarity of your writing.

Part of the series Grammar Debugged—English for Devs

The words “who” and “that” are often used to refer to people or things, but they serve different grammatical purposes. “Who” is used specifically for referring to people, while “that” can be used for both people and things, but with specific rules.

Who vs. that
Who vs. that

When to use who

“Who” is a relative pronoun A relative pronoun introduces a dependent clause and connects it to a noun or pronoun. used to refer to people or personified entitiesPersonified entities are objects, animals, or abstract concepts that are given human qualities, characteristics, or behaviors in literature, art, or everyday language. This literary device is known as personification. By attributing human traits such as emotions, intentions, or actions to non-human things, personification helps to make these entities more relatable or vivid in the reader's mind. (like named animals or fictional characters).

While “who” can also function as an interrogative pronoun (e.g., “Who is calling?”) and a subject pronoun (e.g., “It was who made the decision”), this Answer focuses only on its use as a relative pronoun, since that’s where confusion with “that” arises.

Examples of who

  • The teacher who inspired me the most is retiring.

  • She is the one who always helps others.

  • The dog, who is very friendly, wagged its tail excitedly. (if personified)

When to use that

“That” is a relative pronoun used to refer to objects, animals (non-personified), or groups.

Examples of that

  • The book that I borrowed is on the table.

  • The company that hired me is a tech giant.

  • The cat that lives next door is very playful.

Note: When referring to animals, “that” is preferred unless the animal is personified (e.g., given a name or treated as a person).

Quick test

Choose the correct word (who or that) for each sentence:

  1. The woman ___ called you is waiting outside

  1. The movie ___ I watched last night was thrilling.

  1. The company ___ offers the best benefits won the award.

  1. The dog ___ loves chasing balls is very energetic.

Common mistakes

Here are some frequent errors and how to avoid them:

Using who for objects:

  • Incorrect: The car who is parked outside is mine.

  • Correct: The car that is parked outside is mine.

Using that for people:

  • Incorrect: The student that scored the highest is absent today.

  • Correct: The student who scored the highest is absent today.

Interchangeability in informal settings:

  • Some people use that for people informally, but it’s not recommended for formal writing.

That vs. Who


Who

That

Refers to

People or personified animals

Objects, groups, or animals

Examples

"The singer who won the contest is amazing."

"The house that I bought is on the hill."

Conclusion

Understanding when to use who vs. that can improve the clarity and professionalism of your writing. Remember, “who” refers to people or personified animals, while “that” refers to objects, groups, and non-personified animals. Keep practicing, and soon these distinctions will become second nature!

Test your understanding: who vs. that

Match the examples that demonstrate the difference between who vs. that:

Match The Answer
Select an option from the left-hand side

The student ___ scored the highest is receiving a scholarship.

who

The chair ___ is broken needs to be replaced.

that

The cat ___ sleeps on the windowsill belongs to my neighbor.

The novel ___ was written by a famous author is a bestseller.

The child ___ lost their toy is crying.

Master the nuances of grammar and elevate your writing skills with this comprehensive course: Grokking the Technical Writing Process—your gateway to mastering tricky topics like “who” vs. “that” and beyond!

Frequently asked questions

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Can I replace who with that?

You can replace “who” with “that” when referring to people in a restrictive clause (defining clause). However, in non-restrictive clauses (providing extra information), “who” cannot be replaced with “that.”

Is it the girl that or the girl who?

“The girl who” is preferred because ”who” refers to people.

Example: The girl who won the race is my friend.

“The girl that” is sometimes used in casual speech but is less common in formal writing.

What is the difference between “that” and “which”?

  • That: It is used for essential information (no commas).
  • Which: It is used for non-essential information (commas).

Is "Who is that" grammatically correct?

Yes, “Who is that?” is grammatically correct. It’s a simple question asking about the identity of someone or something.

Is “That that” correct grammar?

Yes, “that that” can be grammatically correct in specific contexts. It often occurs when “that” is used as both a demonstrative pronoun and a relative pronoun.
Example: I don’t like that that book is so expensive.
Here, the first “that” refers to a specific thing, and the second “that” introduces a clause.

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