This Versus That Grammar | Clean Rules For Both

You already know the words. You use them all day. The snag is choosing the one that sounds natural in a sentence, not just correct on paper. This page gives you clear rules, then shows the spots where real writing bends those rules.

By the end, you’ll be able to pick “this” or “that” fast, keep your tone steady, and avoid the little slips that make a line feel off.

Fast Rules You Can Apply In Any Sentence

Start with a simple question: does the thing feel near or far?

• Use “this” for one thing you treat as near in space, time, or your mind.
• Use “that” for one thing you treat as farther in space, time, or your mind.
• Use “these” for more than one near thing.
• Use “those” for more than one far thing.

That’s the core. The rest is about what “near” and “far” mean in real writing.

Use Case	Pick This	Pick That
Physical distance	this mug in my hand	that mug on the shelf
Time	this morning, this week	that day, that year
Text reference	this point I’m making	that point you raised
Emotional closeness	this plan we love	that plan you hate
Choice in front of you	this option here	that option over there
Setting up a definition	this means “X”	that means “Y”
Storytelling punch	this guy walks in…	that guy from last year…
Phone or video calls	this screen, this tab	that link you sent

This Versus That Grammar Rules For Real Writing

In real writing, “distance” is often mental, not physical. You can point to an idea you just mentioned and treat it as “near,” even if it happened years ago. You can also push an idea away with “that” to sound cooler, firmer, or less attached.

Distance in space

If you can tap it, grab it, or point to it right now, “this” fits. If it sits across the room or outside your current scene, “that” fits.

When two things are in play, speakers often use “this” for the one they mean to choose and “that” for the other one. You’ll hear it in shops: “I’ll take this one, not that one.”

Distance in time

“This” often tags the current time window: this morning, this month, this year. “That” often tags a window that feels finished or farther back: that summer, that night, that week when things went wrong.

Time distance can be flexible. “This weekend” can mean the one coming up or the one you’re in, based on context. “That weekend” usually points back to a specific one already known in the story.

Distance in the mind

Here’s where writers win or lose the reader. “This” pulls the reader closer. “That” steps back.

• “I love this idea.” (You’re leaning in.)
• “I love that idea.” (You like it, yet you sound a touch removed.)

Neither choice is wrong. The tone shifts.

Choosing This And That With Nouns And Without Nouns

“This” and “that” can stand alone as pronouns, or they can sit before a noun as determiners.

When they stand alone

Pronoun use is common in speech: “This is mine.” “That was wild.” It’s clean when the referent is obvious.

In formal writing, a bare “this” or “that” can confuse readers if it points to a whole chunk of text. If you notice a sentence like “This shows…” ask yourself, “This what?” Add a noun and the sentence tightens.

When they modify a noun

Adding a noun keeps the meaning sharp: “this result,” “that claim,” “this chapter,” “that chart.” You don’t need to repeat the whole phrase from the prior line. One clear noun does the job.

Common Mistakes That Make Sentences Sound Off

Using “this” for something already far away in the story

If your paragraph has moved on, “this” can feel like you’re pointing at thin air. Swap to “that,” or restate the noun.

Overusing bare “this” and “that” in essays

Students often write lines like “This proves the author is right.” The reader may ask, “Which part?” A quick fix: “This evidence proves…” or “This passage shows…”

The U.S. Naval Postgraduate School’s Graduate Writing Center has a neat note on why demonstratives can get vague when they stand alone. You can read it at Demonstrative Pronouns.

Mixing singular and plural

“This” and “that” are singular. “These” and “those” are plural. If your noun is plural, match it: “these reasons,” not “this reasons.”

Forgetting that “that” can be a conjunction

“That” also introduces a clause: “She said that she’d call.” This “that” is not a pointer; it’s a connector. You can often drop it in informal writing, but keep it when it prevents misreading.

That in relative clauses

“That” often introduces a clause that describes a noun: “The book that won the award is on my desk.” Here, “that” links the noun to extra detail. It is not the same job as demonstrative “that” in “That is on my desk.”

If you swap in “this” in a relative clause, it won’t work: “The book this won the award…” sounds broken because “this” does not link clauses that way.

In many style guides, “that” and “which” both appear in restrictive clauses, while “which” commonly marks nonrestrictive clauses set off by commas. If you’re writing for a class or a workplace style guide, match the style your reader expects. When punctuation is right, readers rarely stumble.

Demonstratives as cheap substitutes for nouns

Writers sometimes stack “this” and “that” because it feels quick: “This shows that this works and that that matters.” Oof. The fix is not fancy grammar. It’s naming the parts: “This chart shows the pattern, and that pattern shapes the outcome.”

When you swap one vague demonstrative for one concrete noun, your paragraph gets easier to grade, easier to skim, and harder to misread.

Distance Is Not Just Space: Tone Choices That Matter

Writers use “this” and “that” as tiny tone knobs.

When “this” adds warmth

“This” can sound personal, present, and engaged: “this team,” “this place,” “this moment.” It fits when you want the reader to feel close to the subject.

When “that” adds space

“That” can sound cool, skeptical, or politely firm: “that excuse,” “that rumor,” “that tone.” It fits when you want a bit of distance from the idea.

When both are fine

In many sentences, both work and the reader still gets the meaning. Pick the one that matches your voice. If you’re writing a report, “that” can keep the tone neutral. If you’re writing a personal note, “this” can feel more direct.

If you want a quick refresher on demonstratives, the Cambridge Dictionary’s grammar page lays out “this/that/these/those” with clear sentence patterns: This, That, These, Those.

Special Cases People Trip Over

Phone calls, chats, and screenshots

On a call, “here” and “there” get fuzzy. People still treat their own screen as “near.” So you’ll hear “this button” even when the other person can’t see it. In writing, add a label: “Click this ‘Settings’ button.”

Referring to a whole idea

“This” often points to the idea you’re about to explain: “This is why the rule matters.” “That” often points back: “That’s why the rule mattered.” If your sentence points backward and forward at once, rewrite. Two clear sentences beat one muddy one.

Storytelling voice

In stories, “this” can add immediacy: “So this person walks in…” It pulls the reader into the scene. “That” can create distance: “Back in college, that roommate of mine…” It signals a memory.

Fixed phrases

English has set phrases that may not follow the near/far logic. “That’s it” is more common than “this is it” in many contexts. “This and that” can mean a mix of small tasks. Learn them as chunks.

Quick Practice: Swap One Word And Watch The Meaning Shift

Try these mini swaps. Read each pair out loud. Notice how your tone changes.

• “I can’t believe this happened.” / “I can’t believe that happened.”
• “This answer feels fair.” / “That answer feels fair.”
• “I remember this day.” / “I remember that day.”
• “This plan works.” / “That plan works.”

When you hear a difference, you’re hearing grammar and voice working together.

Editing Checklist For Clean “This” And “That” Choices

When you edit your own work, run a quick scan for demonstratives.

1. Circle each “this,” “that,” “these,” “those.”
2. Ask what each one points to. If you can’t name it in two words, add a noun.
3. Check number: singular vs plural.
4. Check time: are you pointing to the present window or a past one?
5. Read the paragraph aloud. If the tone feels too cozy or too sharp, swap “this” and “that” and listen again.

At A Glance: When Writers Prefer This Or That

The table below is a quick reference for writing situations where the choice affects clarity and tone.

Writing Situation	“This” Tends To Fit	“That” Tends To Fit
Referring to the next sentence	This reason is simple…	—
Referring to a prior paragraph	—	That claim falls apart when…
Keeping an essay specific	This study result…	That earlier quote…
Polite disagreement	—	That doesn’t match the data.
Friendly, personal tone	This place feels like home.	—
Formal, detached tone	—	That outcome suggests…
Two options side by side	I’ll take this one.	Not that one.
Pointing to something visible	This chart on the page…	That chart on the screen…

What To Do When You Still Feel Stuck

One last check: replace “this” or “that” with the noun it points to. If the sentence still reads clean, you chose well. If it turns awkward, the demonstrative was doing too much work. Add the noun, or split the line into two. Your reader will feel the difference right away.

If you’re unsure, point with your finger in real life and listen.

If you hesitate, pick the noun first. Write “the idea,” “the scene,” “the reason,” or “the plan,” then add “this” or “that” only if you still need it. Many sentences read better with fewer demonstratives.

When you do need a demonstrative, let distance guide you: “this” for what you pull close, “that” for what you hold a bit away. Once you start hearing that small shift, this versus that grammar stops feeling like a trick and starts feeling like a tool.