Re: Comma before and after "which"?

Purl Gurl <purlgurl@xxxxxxxxxxxx> spake thusly:

> Martin Ambuhl wrote:
>
> > Look up 'that' vs. 'which' in a traditional style manual. You will see
> > that your usage, although fairly common, is not traditional. I'll leave
> > questions of right and wrong to your own judg[e]ment.
>
> Use of "that" is most certainly not traditional and is, most often, vulgar.
>
> There are many forbidden words, or should be forbidden words,
> within English language usage.
>
> Examples are "the," "that," "there," and classic "it."
>
> Usage of "that" will frequently lead to incorrect grammar.
>
> "That is my sister." (incorrect)

What? Why is is incorrect?

> "She is my sister." (correct)
>
> "The one wearing cowgirl boots is my sister." (acceptable but vulgar)

Why vulgar? Are you using "vulgar" as "of the common people" or "not
polite", and in either case, why?

> "She, who is wearing a yellow string bikini, is my sister." (better)

As in "better", pronounced "horrible".

> "See the gal with a big *** wearing bozo shoes? She is my sister." (best)

There, we can agree.

> Returning to the original author's sentence, using "upon" rather than "on,"
>
> "We can see two curves which, upon close inspection, are almost identical."
>
> "We can see two curves that, upon close inspection, are almost indentical."
>
> My second construct is both awkward and incorrect.

I think this must be a US perspective. To my UK ears, neither of
these sentences has any better claim to correctness than the other.

> Use of "which" signals a choice; identical or not identical upon testing.
>
> Use of "that" signals an end result of an action, and signals a singularity.
> "...two curves...." are tested and are plural, not acted upon and singular.
>
>
> "Which cat is fat?"
>
> "That cat is fat."
>
> "Which" signals plural testing. "That" signals a singular test result.

Where does this stuff come from? Is it from an ESL course?

> However, use of "that cat" is very awkward and a display of lazy tongue;
> you cannot determine which cat unless a speaker physically motions
> to a specific cat; a finger point, an eye point or similar.

Perhaps, but that doesn't make the sentence bad grammar.

> "Which cat is fat?"
>
> "That gray tabby with a crooked tail is fat."
>
> *
>
> "Which cat is fat?"
>
> "It is over there."
>
> Ok, which is "it" and "there" is where?
>
> Avoid lazy words like "the," "that," "there," and classic "it."

Avoid? English might be rather difficult if we avoid the simple
words.

--
David
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