When a relative clause refers to a person, who is the usual choice in careful edited English: “The editor who called left a message.” That commonly refers to things: “The draft that arrived this morning is on my desk.” People sometimes use that for a person in everyday speech, and choices vary by style and context; the practical distinction is a useful guide, not a rule about every speaker.
Who points to a person
A relative pronoun links a noun to a clause that describes or identifies it. In “The neighbor who grows herbs shared a recipe,” who refers back to the person, neighbor, and begins the clause about growing herbs. The clause can identify which neighbor or add a detail depending on the sentence and punctuation.
In many edited contexts, use who when the antecedent is a person. This choice can make a sentence feel more natural or respectful in a formal description, profile, notice, or poem. It also keeps the reference clear when the clause contains a verb: “The volunteer who unlocks the hall will arrive early.” Purdue’s materials explain dependent clauses as groups with a subject and verb that do not express a complete thought on their own, which helps show how the relative clause attaches to its noun. [1]
That commonly refers to things
That is often used for a thing or an idea: “The microphone that caught the room’s echo needs adjustment.” Here that points to the microphone and introduces information identifying it. The same pattern works with a plan, room, recording, or question: “The question that changed the discussion came near the end.”
For animals, usage depends on how the writer presents them and on the sentence’s style. A pet or named animal treated as an individual may take who; an animal discussed more generally may take that. A publication’s preferences can also matter. Rather than forcing a single choice onto every context, decide whether the subject is presented as a person-like individual, a category, or an object of discussion.
A practical contrast in a notice
Consider this invented announcement: “The speaker who arrives first will test the sound system. The microphone that is nearest the lectern is reserved for questions.” Who refers to a person; that refers to equipment. The clauses also identify which speaker and which microphone, so they are integral to the notice. Readers can act on the distinction without needing a grammar label.
Now add a detail about a known person: “Rafi, who will introduce the reading, asked for a glass of water.” The name already identifies the person, so the relative clause adds information. Commas mark the aside. The choice between who and that concerns the kind of noun being referred to; commas concern whether the clause is integrated or supplementary. Those are separate decisions.
When that appears with a person
You may hear or read “the person that called” in ordinary English. Many speakers use it naturally, and some contexts accept it. If you are writing for a style guide that prefers who for human antecedents, follow that guidance. If you are shaping informal dialogue, preserving a speaker’s natural phrasing may be more important than making every line resemble formal prose.
A rewrite can also sidestep a clumsy structure: “The person who called” could become “The caller.” Or “the staff member that handles bookings” could become “the staff member responsible for bookings.” Rewriting is useful when the relative clause is long, when who or that repeats awkwardly, or when the reader might mistake which noun the clause describes. Clear attachment matters more than a mechanical substitution.
A quick review method
Circle the noun that the relative clause describes. If it refers to a person, try who in edited prose. If it refers to a thing, that is a common choice, especially in an identifying clause. Then examine commas separately: is the clause needed to identify the noun, or does it add a detail about something already identified? Finally, check any required house style.
Practice on this original pair: “The reader who asks the final question will receive the printed program”; “The program that lists the performers is on the chair.” Who refers to reader, while that refers to program. In each sentence, the clause narrows down which person or object the writer means. Try changing the nouns and repeat the check; the reference, rather than the sound of the words, should guide the choice.
