The phrase “and that of” is a common yet subtle connector in English. It often serves to avoid repetition by referring back to a previously mentioned noun while introducing a new comparison or attribute.
Examples in Use
- The style of Hemingway and that of Fitzgerald differ greatly.
- She admired the courage of her father and that of her grandmother.
Why It Matters
In writing, “and that of” helps maintain elegance and concision. It allows authors to draw parallels without restating full noun phrases, contributing to smoother prose and clearer comparisons.
In Linguistics
Grammatically, “that” functions as a demonstrative pronoun standing in for a singular noun previously mentioned. The construction is especially useful in academic, literary, and formal contexts where precision and rhythm matter.