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Subject:Re: Usage of "that" From:"Dennis Hays/The Burden Lake Group, Ltd." <dlhays -at- IX -dot- NETCOM -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 31 Jan 1996 16:26:53 -0500
At 09:08 AM 01/30/1996 PST, Laura Myott <lmyott -at- svcdoc -dot- mc -dot- xerox -dot- com> wrote:
>I have a question regarding usage of the word "that." When is it appropriate
>and when is it just added fluff? To give you an idea of what I mean, here are
>some sample sentences:
>"This section lists related documentation *that* you may find helpful."
>"This guide assumes *that* you have a basic understanding of..."
>"Ensure *that* the hood is securely fastened."
>In these sentences, is the word "that" necessary? I prefer to leave it in
>because I think *that* it sounds better, but that is my own opinion.
My old mentor taught me to remove the "that" and re-read the sentence. If it
makes sense, leave it out. That said, how about the following:
that that is is that that is not is not
Punctuation please ...
Dennis Hays, The Burden Lake Group, Ltd.
Voice: 518/477-6388 Fax: 518/477-5006
E-Mail: dlhays -at- ix -dot- netcom -dot- com
"Write with fire; cut with ice."
