The difference between 'this' and 'that'

[Uberloitenment]

Usually I know when to use 'this' or 'that' but which is better (or correct) in this example:

A) I told him we did not have a vase, although THAT was not strictly true.

B) I told him we did not have a vase, although THIS was not strictly true.

[jno]

either is fine.

[Canary42]

neither is incorrect

[factor-fiction]

'That' is better in my opinion as you are referring to something (a statement) from the past

[tenrec]

what factor says ^

[Uberloitenment]

Many thanks to all that responded :)

[jno]

my reason for politely disagreeing with factor is that, although the original statement was in the past, it has been brought back into the present by being included in the first half of the sentence.

[whiskeryron]

Or ''many thanks to all this responded'' (ha ha)

[rojash]

"did not have" "was not"
That's 100% in the past

[jno]

put it this way, rojash: "I told him we did not have a vase, although this statement [the one I mentioned 0.07 milliseconds ago] was not strictly true."

If the statement hadn't been mentioned in the first half of the same sentence, I don't think "this" would sound right.

[factor-fiction]

I still agree with factor30.
I would say 'this' would only work as an alternative if the sentence was rewritten as
" I told him we don't have a vase, all though THIS isn't strictly true"

[factor-fiction]

Oops- ALTHOUGH not 'all though'!

[jno]

you've just changed the tense there, factor30? I'm not sure this and that are time-sensitive: this thread doesn't become that thread because a day or two have passed. It remains "this thread" because it's the one we're talking about right now.

Hence my suggestion that "I told him we did not have a vase, although this statement [the one I mentioned 0.07 milliseconds ago] was not strictly true" is okay - it's the statement I'm talking about right now, in the very same sentence.

Sorry, uberloitenment, this is all getting more complicated than you probably need.

[Uberloitenment]

hi jno, no need to apologise, I am finding this discussion very interesting and useful. For now I am going with 'that' as 'that' was my initial guess before I started proof-reading and thinking about it (but I may change my mind) Thanks again:)

[sandyRoe]

In B, should it not read: 'This is not strictly...'

[factor-fiction]

I agree with SandyRoe.

Let's just agree to disagree, jno. I'm sure THAT is better than THIS unless you tweak the sentence but at the end of the day both can be understood. Life's too short

[coccinelle]

Neither this or that are correct. It should read ; although it was not strictly true.

[factor-fiction]

I'm not sure , coccinelle. What would your IT be referring to?
I suppose the same applies to THAT although I think the fact that the word means THAT FACT or THAT STATEMENT is understood

[starone]

When I was younger I wrote articles for the local paper. I had one refused for overuse of the word 'that'. They were right, the article was full of thats. I now notice when I use it and try to erase it, but I am still guilty of its overuse, so I tend to veer towards 'this', (in this case).

[HowardKennitby]

I agree with StarB

It seems to be a Central Scotland thing. People construct sentences a yard long by repeated use of the word 'that'. Very hard to follow sometimes.

[factor-fiction]

I think that that 'that' sounds better than that 'this'-that's my view.
Does that help? I mean does this help?