Thread: The word "that"

This may sounds weird, but the question I was wondering and has always bothered me, can you use "that" twice in a row? Here is an example:

In Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, it says "There were the marks of the horse's hoofs, too, the outline of one of which was far more clearly cut than that of the other three, showing that that was a new shoe."

There are a lot more examples in the book, and I do it a lot, but I never see it much anywhere else. Is it an old thing that nobody does anymore?

I do it, both in my fiction writings and in explaining things.

I try to use that as little as possible in my writing. It can nearly always be avoided, and many will say it is a weak and unnecessary word. Sometimes I find it a necessary evil. To use it consecutively would have me breaking out in a cold sweat. Not for me.

I'd prefer '...showing that it was a new shoe.'

I've seen '...had had...' in a nick Hornby book. I think it looks clumsey, like '...that that...'.

I prefer old. The "...that that..." makes sense, as well as "...had had...". But I know if I were to use it now, I'd be asked to replace it.

I use "that that" and "had had" often. I also use was was

Originally Posted by spider8

I'd prefer '...showing that it was a new shoe.''.

Yeah, a better example of a double that would have been interesting.

It can be avoided. Writing is work, so just use your noggin to find the 'write' combo of words...but please never that that....or had had...

Originally Posted by Liedes

I also use was was

How does that work?

I have just had work returned by an editor suggesting I replace a phrase with one that contained 'had had'. I asked why and he replied 'convention'.

I used to be a serial that user...I'm better now.

If I see a 'that that' I think twat twat!

showing that that was a new shoe.

If one were replacing a that would one replace that that that refered to the showing or that that that refered to the new shoe?

Originally Posted by Olly Buckle

If one were replacing a that would one replace that that that refered to the showing or that that that refered to the new shoe?

Olly... English please.

Originally Posted by Olly Buckle

If one were replacing a that would one replace that that that refered to the showing or that that that refered to the new shoe?

Okay, Mr Smartypants, here's one just for you. Use the word 'and' five times consecutively in a sentence.

That's the one about the repainted pub sign not having enough space between Fox and and and and and hounds.

I'm having fun here.