ESEN
Which one to use?Beginnernounpronoun
WitchvsWhich
'Witch' is a person who practises magic; 'which' is the pronoun used in questions and relative clauses.
Side-by-side comparison
Witch
noun"Witch" is a person who practises magic or witchcraft, especially in folklore and fairy tales. "Witch hunt" = a pursuit of people for alleged wrongdoing, often unfairly.
The fairy tale featured a wicked witch who lived in a forest tower.
The Halloween costume turned her into a classic pointed-hat witch.
The witch in the story was actually the hero, not the villain.
Which
pronoun"Which" is used to ask about a choice or to introduce a relative clause about things or animals. "Which one do you prefer?" = which option is your choice? "The book which I read" = the one I read.
Which version of the document should I send, the draft or the final?
The report which you submitted yesterday has been approved.
I am not sure which option is better for the long term.
Common mistake
- •Writing error: "Witch one do you prefer?" (correct: Which one).
- •Confusion comes from the near-identical sound and shared initial W.
Trick to remember it
- •"Witch" has IT in the middle, it belongs to Halloween.
- •"Which" starts with WH like all other question words: who, what, when, where, why, if it asks a question, it starts with WH.
Quick rule
Is it the folkloric person with magical powers? "Witch." Is it the question or relative pronoun? "Which", it belongs to the WH-question family.
Did you know?
The Salem trials of 1692 in Massachusetts are the most famous historical episode of witchcraft accusations in North America: they led to the execution of twenty people and the imprisonment of more than two hundred. Arthur Miller wrote the play "The Crucible" (1953) based on these events, but as a direct allegory for the McCarthyism of 1950s America, political persecution disguised as moral investigation. The expression "witch hunt" in modern English means exactly that: a campaign of persecution based on exaggerated or false accusations, with little room for defense.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
_____ option would you prefer — the window seat or the aisle?
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The children dressed up as ghosts and _____ es for Halloween.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
AcceptvsExcept
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
AdvicevsAdvise
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
AffectvsEffect
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
AislevsIsle
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy