On Facebook somebody commented that surely that refers to objects, but who refers to people. So why do so many writers speak of a person that ... ?
Here is what I wrote in reply:
That refers to one quality which defines the person. A famous newspaper headline about a murderer's girlfriend called her' The One That Got Away'. ' The woman who wore a red dress and black shoes was the one that got away.' totally different because who is followed by a clause of less significance. However, many people don't know the distinction. (See Fowler's or any grammar guide, including the biggest dictionary in a public library.)
You can see that wearing a red dress only applied as a description of the person on this one occasion. However, getting away applied to her for all time and was a unique quality attributed to her forever.
Angela Lansbury, English teacher and tutor, A A Hons, UCL
Here is what I wrote in reply:
That refers to one quality which defines the person. A famous newspaper headline about a murderer's girlfriend called her' The One That Got Away'. ' The woman who wore a red dress and black shoes was the one that got away.' totally different because who is followed by a clause of less significance. However, many people don't know the distinction. (See Fowler's or any grammar guide, including the biggest dictionary in a public library.)
You can see that wearing a red dress only applied as a description of the person on this one occasion. However, getting away applied to her for all time and was a unique quality attributed to her forever.
Angela Lansbury, English teacher and tutor, A A Hons, UCL
