my spell check keeps correcting me - am i wrong?

[ValiumShimmer]

I was typing about health, safety and welfare at work (just so you don't think 'what nonsense is this?') and i typed 'the table which is pushed up against the wall', the spell check wants me to change it to 'the table that is pushed up against the wall'. who is right?
i would normally trust the spell check for spelling, but it has done some other odd things which I knew were wrong.

'that I knew were wrong'???

[RustyBear]

This puts it much better than I could, but basically it depends on whether the fact that the table is pushed up against the wall is essential information or not...

[lukewarmcupofmulledwine]

I would put a comma before which, or change it to that.

[hugglymugly]

I've always known that there is a difference in the use of "which" -v- "that", but I've never remembered it, probably because I tend to go along with whatever sounds right to me.

I use Word and decades ago I switched off grammar-checking, as it became the bane of my life for making suggestions that?/which? I didn't agree with. (with which I didn't agree?). I'd recommend you switch off grammar-checking and just go with your instincts.

Although it's good to investigate elements of grammar to increase understanding, if the suggestions are getting in the way of your writing then they're not really helping. Precision in language usage is a wonderful thing, but the first rule really has to be: will it make sense to the reader?

[ValiumShimmer]

thanks for that link rusty bear.