http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/5385 Always refer to people with "who." Refer to things and animals with "that." For example: They are the people who are going overseas. Not they are the people that are going overseas. Those are the animals that are for sale. Not those are the animals who are for sale. Exception: An animal with a name (Bowwow or Fluffy, for example) gets the use of "who."   Always refer to people with "who." Refer to things and animals with "that." For example: They are the people who are going overseas. Not they are the people that are going overseas. Those are the animals that are for sale. Not those are the animals who are for sale. Exception: An animal with a name (Bowwow or Fluffy, for example) gets the use of "who."   en-us Tim - you are a veritable classroom among us........I hope my tongue in cheek blog titles ("All The Noose That's Fit To Print")are viewed by you with no more than a raised eyebrow. That's just part of my schtick, using an off the wall title........ http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/5385/#c_20412 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/5385/#c_20412 Tim - you are a veritable classroom among us........I hope my tongue in cheek blog titles ("All The Noose That's Fit To Print")are viewed by you with no more than a raised eyebrow. That's just part of my schtick, using an off the wall title........ THANK you, Tim, for addressing one of my biggest pet peeves ever! http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/5385/#c_20424 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/5385/#c_20424 THANK you, Tim, for addressing one of my biggest pet peeves ever! Hi Kelli and Pilot -- I'm glad I broached one of your pet peeves Kelli. The "who vs. that" pet peeve is one of mine, too. I guess, if you did it on purpose, that could mean you are belittling the person or people you're writing about. Still, you have to know the rules to be allowed to break the rules. Pilot, it's hard to tell about usage and grammar when you are looking at tongue and cheek stuff. I like to give the benefit of the doubt to the writer. Comedy is hard to write, and often times comedic writers take license (whether we like it or not). So don't worry about me. Now there are some grammarians out there who will bite your head off, so be careful. --Tim http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/5385/#c_20426 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/5385/#c_20426 Hi Kelli and Pilot -- I'm glad I broached one of your pet peeves Kelli. The "who vs. that" pet peeve is one of mine, too. I guess, if you did it on purpose, that could mean you are belittling the person or people you're writing about. Still, you have to know the rules to be allowed to break the rules. Pilot, it's hard to tell about usage and grammar when you are looking at tongue and cheek stuff. I like to give the benefit of the doubt to the writer. Comedy is hard to write, and often times comedic writers take license (whether we like it or not). So don't worry about me. Now there are some grammarians out there who will bite your head off, so be careful. --Tim Oh, great post!  I definitely applaud your efforts in trying to educate (or is it "re-educate?") everyone on proper grammar.  Speaking of "who vs. that," would you mind doing a blog about when to use "who" and "whom?"  Pretty please, just for me?  Now THAT is one of my own biggest pet peeves ever, LOL!  I'm constantly having to correct people on their "who-whom" usage.  I know, big Grammar Geek here.  :-) http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/5385/#c_20509 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/5385/#c_20509 Oh, great post!  I definitely applaud your efforts in trying to educate (or is it "re-educate?") everyone on proper grammar.  Speaking of "who vs. that," would you mind doing a blog about when to use "who" and "whom?"  Pretty please, just for me?  Now THAT is one of my own biggest pet peeves ever, LOL!  I'm constantly having to correct people on their "who-whom" usage.  I know, big Grammar Geek here.  :-) Hi CF -- You bet. I'll post a "who vs. whom" blog soon. Hmmm, I wonder whom (or is it who) I should talk to about this.- Tim http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/5385/#c_20516 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/TDelaney/5385/#c_20516 Hi CF -- You bet. I'll post a "who vs. whom" blog soon. Hmmm, I wonder whom (or is it who) I should talk to about this.- Tim