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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread which vs what #146416 08/17/2005 2:43 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 1,055 Berlin belligerentyouth old hand belligerentyouth old hand Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 1,055 Berlin Can someone tell me if there's is any usage rule concerning the following two questions. I would say the second sounds better. Please advise:-) What format should the file be in? Which format should the file be in? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: which vs what #146417 08/17/2005 3:53 PM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,891 belMarduk Carpal Tunnel belMarduk Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,891 I'm sure the more gramatical members will give you the exact rule, but the way I see it is this. If you use the word "which" you are asking a person to choose from a set number of things, to choose from a specific group. So the question must be followed by the list to choose from. i.e. Which format should I put this file in? jpg, gif or tif? If you use "what" you are not providing a list of choices. You don't know what the choices are. i.e. "I scanned a picture of my puppy, and I want to save it in my computer." "What format should the file be in." Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: which vs what #146418 08/17/2005 6:54 PM Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada Zed Pooh-Bah Zed Pooh-Bah Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada I agree with la Belle; "what" implies an open set. The finite set may be understood rather that stated, eg if you only use 2 formats at work you might not list them since your colleague already knows the list. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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