Quote:
Originally Posted by Tex2002ans
As BetterRed said, the Grammar Checks are mostly advisory.
The "that" <-> "which" is a slight difference between American/British English.
That/Which is one of those Grammar Checks in Word that(which?) I just completely ignore. 
The latest grammar difference I ran across is "in future" (British) and "in the future" (American). The British one just sounds completely wrong to me, but those darn British probably feel the same way! |
The 'That' v 'Which' controversy has little to do with US v UK English, nor are they interchangeable. This is the best explanation of the difference I know of, from an American writer ==>>
Which vs. That - Grammar Rules.
Journalists in particular get it wrong on both sides of 'the pond', the Brits are inclined to always use 'which', whilst the 'Yanks, more often than not, use 'that'. To remove the ambiguities they could at least wrap comma's around
additional clauses and none around
restrictive clauses, but they seem to ken no even that
I'd like to say they are better Down Under, but I'd be lying.
I find case sensitive sorted word lists (with counts) are a good way to pick up inconsistent spelling, especially of Proper Nouns. And Word's little known exclusion lists are a good way to filter out 'unlikely' words - e.g. 'helot' and 'villein' in a contemporary crime thriller should probably be 'harlot' and 'villain'.
Regarding 'in future' v 'in the future', again I don't think has much to do with UK v US English, its about the mood of the sentence. I might write either of the following sentences.
Honoria was livid. 'In future young man you can dally with your doxies in the tack room, or if needs must, in the potting shed. But you will not philander with them in my front parlour or your late aunt's sitting room. Bah, be both of you gone.'
Leon Must said, 'In the future no one will own a car, we will rent them, by the half hour or even minute-by-minute, as we do for parking spaces and... er, Tinder doxies.'
IMO the first demands the imperative mood, so it's 'In future...' But the second needs the indicative mood, so it's 'In the future...' What I wouldn't use in either case is 'going forward'
BR