“That” in Writing: When to Use It, When to Lose It, and How to Get It Right

Hello, fellow fiction writer.

If you’ve ever sat staring at a sentence and thought, “Do I need that ‘that’ or not?” — congratulations, you’re officially a writer.
“That” is one of those words we can’t live without—but also one we overuse like salt in bad soup. Sometimes it’s invisible, sometimes it’s clunky, and sometimes it’s just plain wrong. Let’s look at how to spot when that earns its keep and when it’s just loitering around your sentences.

🎯 Why “That” Trips Writers Up
Because “that” is everywhere. It’s one of English’s most flexible little words—it can be a pronoun, a conjunction, a determiner, or a relative pronoun.
In fiction, though, the problem isn’t understanding its grammatical category—it’s knowing when to cut it, keep it, or replace it for smoother flow.

✏️ The Three Big Problems: Underuse, Overuse, and MisuseLet’s break it down.

1. Overuse — When “That” Is Just Taking Up Space
We often drop “that” into sentences out of habit, even when it’s not needed. Too many of them make your writing feel heavy.
Example (overused):
She said that she thought that the storm would hit soon.
Cleaner version:
She said she thought the storm would hit soon.
See? Nothing lost, everything gained.
👉 Quick tip: If your sentence still makes sense without “that,” cut it.

2. Underuse — When “That” Actually Belongs There
Sometimes writers, in their zeal to cut words, chop out a “that” the reader needs for clarity.
Example (underused):
He told me the car he bought was stolen.
Wait… whose car? His or mine?
Fix:
He told me that the car he bought was stolen.
Now it’s clear—he’s the one with the hot wheels.
👉 Quick tip: If removing “that” causes confusion or makes readers backtrack, keep it.

3. Misuse — When “That” Stands Where “Who” Should Be
This one’s common in fiction. We use “that” when referring to people instead of “who.”
Example (misused):
She’s the woman that lives next door.
Better:
She’s the woman who lives next door.
👉 Quick tip: Use “who” for people, “that” for things, and “which” for non-restrictive clauses. (We’ll unpack that in another post!)

👣 A Personal Oops Moment
In one of my earlier drafts, my editor circled a paragraph and wrote: “Count how many ‘thats’ are in this section.”
I counted.
There were fourteen.
In three paragraphs.
I’d been writing like “that” was going out of fashion. Once I trimmed them, the scene felt leaner, sharper, and way more readable.

🧠 When “That” Adds Flow (and You Should Keep It)
Sometimes cutting “that” makes your sentence sound choppy or weirdly abrupt. Here are a few cases where it actually helps the rhythm:
✅ Keep “that” when:

• It smooths the sentence:
  He assured her that everything was fine.
  (Without “that,” it sounds clipped: He assured her everything was fine.)
• It prevents ambiguity:
  She realised that lying had consequences.
• It adds natural cadence to dialogue or narration.
  Fiction is about voice, after all—sometimes we think in “thats.”

🛠 Tips for Fiction Writers

1. Do a “that” search in your manuscript. You’ll be surprised how many are hanging around.
2. Read aloud. If a sentence feels smoother without it, delete it.
3. Don’t overcorrect. Some “thats” are essential for clarity and natural rhythm.
4. Let voice guide you. If your character would say it in conversation, keep it.

🎬 Wrapping It Up
“That” is neither your enemy nor your saviour—it’s just a word that needs supervision.
Use it when it clarifies. Cut it when it clutters. And remember: the goal isn’t perfection; it’s flow.
In the end, your reader won’t notice your brilliant use of “that.” But they will notice if your writing feels heavy or confusing because of it.

​Your turn: Are you a chronic “that”-user or a ruthless cutter? Try running a “that” search in your latest chapter—you might be shocked at how often it sneaks in! Share your results in the comments.