Cool MateIT vs That
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
IT
FormalTop 1,000 (very common)A1pronoun
That
High-frequency chunkA1determiner
Most formal: IT
| IT | That | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ðæt/","/ðəʊz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ðæt/","/ðəʊz/"]/ |
| Meaning | Information Technology, the use of computers and technology to manage information. | used to refer to a specific thing or person |
| Example | I found a book. It was really interesting! | Look at that man over there. |
| Register | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | High-frequency chunk |
| CEFR level | A1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | pronoun | determiner |
| Collocations | IT department, IT support, IT services, IT infrastructure | that is, that way, that means, not that, that much |
| Antonyms | you, we | this |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'its' or 'it's', Used in informal contexts where a specific technology term is more appropriate, Assuming 'IT' refers only to hardware, not software or services | Confusing 'that' with 'which' in restrictive vs non-restrictive clauses., Using 'that' when the antecedent is a person (use 'who')., Overusing 'that' in sentences, which can make them awkward. |
| Usage notes | Used primarily in business and academic contexts; not typically used in casual conversations. Avoid using 'IT' when referring to something else without context. | Used to refer to something already mentioned or known. In spoken English, it's often used informally. Be careful not to use it in overly formal writing where specificity is needed. |
Frequently asked questions: IT vs That
What's the difference between IT and That?
IT: Information Technology, the use of computers and technology to manage information. That: used to refer to a specific thing or person
Which is more formal: IT and That?
IT is the most formal of these.
Are IT and That the same CEFR level?
IT: A1, That: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are IT and That?
IT: pronoun, That: determiner.
Can you show an example of each?
IT: I found a book. It was really interesting! That: Look at that man over there.
Can I use IT and That interchangeably?
Not always. IT and That are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.