The Car That Ran the Light Hit Some People Who Were in the Crosswalk
The Grammar Guru’s teeth grind when she hears someone say “people that.” This rule is simple: A person is always a who, never a that. Despite its simplicity, this is one of the most often violated rules of grammar. I have seen this error in many well-respected publications.
Part of the problem is that authorities are divided, and have been since the time of Chaucer. The general rule (according to Fowler*), is that one should use who when referring to a human being, and that when referring to an inanimate object; either who or that may be used with an “animate but non-human” creature, or for a person representing a large class of like individuals (babies that cry all night).
Wrong: The man that stole the money and threatened to shoot everyone that was in the bank was apprehended by the security guard that chased him down the street.
Right: The man who stole the money and threatened to shoot everyone who was in the bank was apprehended by the security guard who chased him down the street.
Better: After chasing him down the street, the security guard apprehended the man who stole the money and threatened to shoot everyone who was in the bank. (Better because it takes the sentence out of passive construction into active voice, and it removes lengthy clauses)
Exception: There is one instance in which you may use that to refer to a person: when that is used as a “demonstrative adjective” — a word denoting a particular person, place, or thing.
Example: That man is the person who robbed the bank.
Happy Writing!
*”Fowler” is the book Fowler’s Modern English Usage. If you aspire to a writing career, this book should not only be on your reference shelf, but it should also be the most worn book on that shelf. Study this book, learn it thoroughly, and you will not need The Grammar Guru, you will be a grammar guru yourself.