Picture this: You’re hosting a friend for dinner, and you ask, “What do you want to eat?” They shrug and say, “Whatever you’re cooking!” They’re open to anything, from spaghetti to mystery meatloaf. The options are unlimited, so “whatever” fits the bill.
But later, your friend is eyeing your bookshelf for something to read. They’ve narrowed it down to a few novels, and they look at you expectantly. You say, “Borrow whichever book you’d like.” Bingo — this is the correct response for this context. But why choose “whichever” instead of “whatever” here? “Whichever” and “whatever” aren’t twins — think of them more as distant cousins. It’s a simple rule, but it’s also easy to see how the two can be mixed up: “Whichever” indicates a specific set of choices, while “whatever” implies something undefined.
You might wonder if, in the library context, “Borrow whatever book you’d like” is an acceptable response. In casual conversation, yes, but if you’re trying to appease your English teacher, no. Sure, both words are about making choices, but the type of choice matters. According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, “whichever” emphasizes a lack of restriction “in selecting one of a definite set of alternatives.” In contrast, “whatever” emphasizes a lack of restriction “in referring to anything or amount, no matter what.” In simpler terms, “whichever” should be used for known or limited options, and “whatever” is more appropriate for unknown options.
Here’s another example of this linguistic fumble: “Whatever team wins tonight will go to the playoffs.” This is technically incorrect — it should be “whichever team” because there are limited options of two teams. However, you might add, “Whatever happens, we’ll still have fun watching,” which is grammatically correct because there are infinite options for what might transpire. This is why the sentence, “Whichever happens, we’ll still have fun watching,” is wrong. So, whether you’re choosing between books, teams, or dinner options, remember this rule: Use “whatever” when your options are unlimited and “whichever” when your options are limited.
More from our network
Word Smarts is part of Optimism, which publishes content that uplifts, informs, and inspires.
