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Is it standard to use "what" as a form of "which," such as in the sentence:

The tour guide let us know what items were permitted to be taken along on the trip.

In this instance I prefer "what" because it refers to categories of items as opposed to specific items.

RegDwigнt
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kurkevan
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  • In this example, what is not a form of which*. The two words give different meanings to the sentence. You may need to set aside that presumption and then work on understanding the difference. – Kris Jun 28 '13 at 06:42
  • @FumbleFingers That reference is highly recommended reading for the OP. However, the presumption that what is being used here as a "form" of what is incorrect. – Kris Jun 28 '13 at 06:43
  • @Kris: I don't see *what* you mean. OP's context is identical to "Tell me what* books I need", which* so far as I'm concerned can only ever mean the same as "Tell me which* books I need". My own usages here can't be switched, obviously, but the ones in my quoted examples are simply stylistic choices (though overwhelmingly, people tend to choose what* in both mine and OP's examples). – FumbleFingers Jun 28 '13 at 13:55
  • @FumbleFingers Your inference is respected. However, see also my first comment, which incidentally is at variance with the opinion you hold. – Kris Jul 01 '13 at 06:12
  • @Kris: I really don't see what you mean. You say "the two words give different meanings", but I don't know what different meanings you're thinking of. It seems to me OP's sentence means the same regardless of whether it uses which or what. – FumbleFingers Jul 01 '13 at 15:53
  • @FumbleFingers The question in any case is better asked on ELL. – Kris Jul 02 '13 at 04:21
  • @Kris: I can't really see why it's better suited to ELL than to ELU either. I agree with the top answer on the linked question that which implies which of an implicit or explicit set of options, and I don't specifically disagree with the idea that which is "more formal". But it seems like a very fine distinction to me in OP's context here, where I can only suppose which implies which of the things we were already intending to take, but what might imply out of all feasible* things*. Is that the distinction you had in mind? – FumbleFingers Jul 02 '13 at 15:56

1 Answers1

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Nice question! I had always thought that one would use "which" if one were listing items from a list, including a phrase which would if expanded become a list, and use "what" for that not in a list, or expandable as such. My examples:

  • The tour guide let us know which items we were permitted to bring on the trip.
  • Wisdom dictates which actions to take and which to avoid.

vs

  • The tour guide let us know what to expect on the trip.
  • The police officer told me what to do.

I may be completely off, it wouldn't be the first time, but it seems right to me.

Cyberherbalist
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  • So in my example sentence, you would say that "what" is inappropriate? In that case, too, the items are not necessarily part of a clearly defined list; e.g., the instructions might be not to bring anything sharp or flammable. – kurkevan Jun 27 '13 at 20:54
  • No, I would not say "inappropriate"! If I were an English teacher and your sentence came across my desk as part of an essay, I wouldn't mark it incorrect at all. I am merely saying that "my way" is measurably more precise. I am not the Imperial Arbiter of English Style and Usage. LOL. That would be William Strunk and E. B. White, but they never weighed in on this subject, so I have expressed my opinion, humble as it is. Your preference is perfectly grammatical, never fear. – Cyberherbalist Jun 27 '13 at 21:03
  • You see, "what items are permitted" would, if expanded, turn into a list. Items are inherently listable. "Which" implies granularity; "what" implies a general messy splat. I hope I am not making myself unclear. – Cyberherbalist Jun 27 '13 at 21:05
  • No, I understand what you mean. Thanks for your answer. – kurkevan Jun 27 '13 at 21:07