Questions tagged [this-that]
The this-that tag has no usage guidance.
39
questions
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0answers
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Can “this” and “that” be used interchangeably in some contexts? [duplicate]
As I understand, in English, when we are talking about something so close that we can (literally or figuratively) point our finger to, we can use "this".
This cake is great. (implies the ...
-2
votes
1answer
58 views
What is best to use in written language: 'that is' or 'this is' [duplicate]
I am interested to know if in written formal language this is reads better than that is
She goes to the library every Friday, and that is/this is her weekly respite.
Also, I often come across ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Determiners: This and that. Has “that” replaced “this”?
I'm confused. As far as I know, this is reserved for something that is right ahead of speakers and/or speakers talk about that item the whole conversation. That is reserved for something that is not ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
Confusion on using this/that and that/those
I have confusion regarding the use of that/those and this/that properly.
My first question:
Jobs those are generally involved in a lot of repetitive work are boring.
Jobs that are generally ...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
Using ‘this’ in preference to ‘that’ or ‘it’ for a memory or future occurrence
Apologies if this has been asked, as maybe I’m inept with the search function.
I’ve been given a paragraph that I feel is incorrect:
I’m listening to the radio as I drive to work, and The Beach ...
-1
votes
1answer
44 views
Not enough ado about this and that
OK, so demonstrative pronouns and their inconsistent use across dialects.
I'm South African and have noticed a quirk in some Brit and Yank usages of this and that which really cause me to break out ...
3
votes
2answers
4k views
Difference between “this” and “that” when referring to a previous sentence
I have checked this site.
We use this or that to refer to something with special emphasis – indicating an interesting new fact has been mentioned.
We use this or that to refer to a new topic, ...
0
votes
0answers
35 views
Thoughts on this/that [duplicate]
I'm talking with someone and I want to know what they think about a specific topic (which was discussed priviously), which of the following should I use:
What are your thoughts on that
or
What are ...
2
votes
1answer
7k views
This vs That in usage with concepts [duplicate]
So, the question that's always been bugging me is:
What is the proper usage of "This" and "That", not when it comes to objects or things, but when it comes to concepts.
For example, there's a ...
2
votes
1answer
87 views
Can “this”, “that” and their plurals be used as substantive adjectives in formal writing?
For example:
Stein’s avant-garde collection challenges the reader to think of
ordinary, everyday objects and concepts in ways that they hadn’t
before. This is in direct contrast to...
I was ...
0
votes
1answer
79 views
Usage of this and that almost interchangeably
Here and there the usage of the words this and that look artbitrary and often completely interchangeably.
Example
Today the politician Pete Brown stated that the CIA bribed the
president's ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
What's up with “this,” in Old English(Ænȝlıſ͡ċ/Anglo Saxon‽)
I am asking two things here, about Ænȝlıſċ (Old English)
First and foremost, see this picture here:
– which was taken from this page:
QUESTION 1:
What is the difference between these two words: "...
0
votes
2answers
130 views
Use of 'this' – relates to the directly preceding noun
I am a german native speaker. I am currently in the finishing stages of writing a thesis. One of my advisors (English is his mother tongue) provided feedback on the language of my writing.
One point ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
That is what …. . This is what …. Can these be used interchangeably here?
I’ve been wondering if "That is what….," and "This is what ….," in the following passage (taken from Fieldfish.com) can be used interchangeably.
Imagine you are an unmarried ...
0
votes
2answers
4k views
“This one is” OR “This is”
I have seen people using "This one is Daddy's" with the word "one" before a form of the verb be. I am confused about which is more accurate, to use:
This is Daddy's.
or
This one is Daddy's.
...
0
votes
1answer
62 views
“Then this” vs “Then that” [duplicate]
I have the following paragraph:
We often write hundreds of lines of code to express simple concepts. This code takes time to develop and maintain - and if you’re writing tests, then that time ...
1
vote
1answer
7k views
This is right. Or that is right? [duplicate]
Opinions sought. I vaguely remember that the expression "This is right" (meaning "I agree with what you just said") appeared in the 1970s. And I remember it because, if I remember correctly, it ...
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votes
1answer
73 views
That vs This in uncommon contexts
I can see the difference between "this" / "that" in most common contexts.
There are a couple of unusual ones, though, that are still pretty unclear to me.
Here are some of them:
1.A friend of mine ...
5
votes
5answers
64k views
When to use “this” or “that”?
It is 10 cm on the map. That is 100 km in real terms.
I am proofreading and it seems odd that the writer always uses that in these cases.
I would have said this.
Who is right and who is wrong?
4
votes
2answers
44k views
“To this end” or “To that end”
Is there a usage note for choosing between these two phrases? Nothing in Garner. And I've seen it both ways.
Example:
To that end, we propose the following compromise.
or
To this end, we ...
4
votes
2answers
57k views
Is it correct to use the phrase “pay attention” with “that”?
Is it correct to say "Pay attention that..."? or must I use "Pay attention to..."
For example: "An attention should be paid that this is a one-way street".
7
votes
1answer
184k views
What is the difference between “happy to hear that” and “happy to hear this”?
Let's say I've sold a product to a customer.
A bit later the costumer tells me "wow, this is fantastic".
Now, do I better answer with "Thanks, I am glad to hear that" or "Thanks, I am glad to hear ...
0
votes
2answers
3k views
How can I explain a word used in a previous sentence?
I am defining a "thing" with an adjective.
Example:
X is a small y.
Then I want to give a clean and simple explanation for the adjective small --because it can mean several things and I want to ...
5
votes
3answers
12k views
In answering a telephone call, why do you say “Who is this?” instead of “Who is that?”
On the telephone, the person answering it may say "Who is calling?" or "Who is this?"
Why do you say "this" to the caller on the other end of the phone? Is is wrong to say "Who is that?"
1
vote
2answers
383 views
This, that and it for non-material objects [duplicate]
The question is not about how to use "this, that, it" with material objects, but how to use them with non-material ones? I don't understand (it, that, this) yet.
For example:
I go to a gym ...
0
votes
2answers
2k views
Could I use 'this' to introduce a person? [closed]
Which of the sentences below are correct?
This’s my best friend, William.
Those’re my classmates, James and Harry.
That’s my teacher, Mrs Wilson.
UPDATE: I just took an exam. The correct ...
0
votes
1answer
631 views
When to use “this" and when to use “that”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Using “that” and “this” interchangeably
What is the difference?
What do you think about that?
What do you think about this?
What is the grammar rule about using this and ...
2
votes
1answer
14k views
“this way” vs “that way” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Using “that” and “this” interchangeably
When should I use "this way" or "that way"? Is there any difference between these two when they used in a sentences? ...
3
votes
2answers
5k views
Difference between “this” and “that” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“… things like this.” vs. “… things like that.”
I have two sentences for both this and that.
This is what bothers me: we have no time to consider late ...
4
votes
2answers
71k views
What is the difference between “this” and “that” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Using “that” and “this” interchangeably
Is there a clear delineation between the usages of 'this' and 'that' in American English?
Is ...
8
votes
3answers
25k views
“… things like this.” vs. “… things like that.”
Yesterday on talk radio an interviewee speaking about Sudanese Northerner's being forced into the mountains and away from their farmlands by the Sudanese Army said the result was:
The men would ...
3
votes
2answers
459 views
“This paper” vs “That paper” in an abstract
I'm writing an absctract for a paper.
In Portuguese we write esse trabalho (that paper) to indicate that the paper is near the person that we are adressing.
We use este trabalho (this paper) to ...
9
votes
2answers
7k views
“that” or “this”
I know a trivial difference of "that" and "this" uses. Such as the difference between "this chair" and "that chair".
But I don't understand one case. When one person is coming into a room and another ...
6
votes
2answers
124k views
“In that case” vs “in this case” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Using “that” and “this” interchangeably
Imagine a dialog:
Me: Can I have a Guinness, please?
Bartender: We run out of Guinness, mate.
Me: In that case, I'll have a pint of Fursty ...
14
votes
1answer
157k views
“This” vs “that” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Using “that” and “this” interchangeably
I wanted to know the differences between this and that.
When do you use one or the other? For example:
Too ...
3
votes
3answers
78k views
“At this time” vs “At that time”
Is it acceptable to use "at this time" when referring to a specific point in time in the past? While in the process of telling a story, for example, that happens completely in the past?
To me it just ...
4
votes
1answer
4k views
In non-spatial contexts, when should I use “this” versus “that”?
I'm always quite confused to choose which word should I put in the sentence like this/that :)
That/This is not a problem at all.
To be or not to be, this/that is the question.
I know which one I ...
3
votes
4answers
448 views
Should I write “calling himself in this/that way” here?
In my text I am trying to say, that it is not clear what intentions the person had, by calling themselves in a certain way (let's say Foobar).
My question is should I use "calling himself this way" ...
44
votes
5answers
53k views
Using “that” and “this” interchangeably
Learning and using English I'm always confused about what word to use for referring to things that have been described by me a few sentences earlier: "that" or "this".
Confusion comes from the fact ...
