Possibly needless 'that'

Writers often insert 'that' because it feels safe, but many uses are unnecessary and make sentences wordy. Learn the quick tests to decide when to keep, drop, or rewrite it. Plenty of real-world before/after examples follow so you can copy edits directly.

Quick answer: When to drop 'that'

Drop 'that' when it only introduces an object (complement) clause after verbs like think, say, believe, feel, etc., unless the clause is the grammatical subject, removing it causes ambiguity, or you want a slightly more formal rhythm.

Keep 'that' if the clause is the subject: "That she left surprised us."
Drop 'that' after reporting verbs when meaning stays clear: "I think we should go."
If removing 'that' creates a verb stack or confusion, keep it or rewrite the sentence for clarity.

Core explanation: what 'that' does (short)

'That' appears mainly as a complementizer (introducing subordinate object clauses) or as a relative pronoun in restrictive clauses. As a complementizer it is often optional; as a subject introducer or to avoid confusion it is required.

Complementizer (often optional): I believe (that) she will come.
Subject clause (usually required): That she came surprised us.
Restrictive relative clause (often required): The rule that applies here is strict.

Quick editing rules (fast checklist)

Run these three tests. If none applies, delete 'that'. If one applies, either keep it or rewrite.

Subject test: Is the whole clause the actor or thing? If yes, keep 'that'.
Two-verb test: Does removing 'that' put verbs or verb phrases next to each other or make the subject unclear? Keep or rewrite.
Tone test: Preserve 'that' for formal, legal, or deliberately measured phrasing when it improves cadence.

Examples: copy/paste wrong → right pairs (work, school, casual)

Each pair shows an unnecessary 'that' (W) and a tightened rewrite (R). Work, school, and casual examples are grouped so you can pick the ones you need.

W (Work): W: I think that we should begin the deployment at 10:00. - R: I think we should begin the deployment at 10:00.
W (Work): W: She said that the client approved the design. - R: She said the client approved the design.
W (Work): W: The idea that we could ship next week is risky. - R: Shipping next week is risky.
W (School): W: The professor noted that the sample size was too small. - R: The professor noted the sample size was too small.
W (School): W: The fact that the survey used self-reports weakens the claim. - R: Using self-reports weakens the claim.
W (School): W: I believe that the hypothesis needs refining. - R: I believe the hypothesis needs refining.
W (Casual): W: He told me that he'd be late. - R: He told me he'd be late.
W (Casual): W: I think that it's fine. - R: I think it's fine.
W (Casual): W: I told her that I would call. - R: I told her I would call.
Ambiguity example (keep or rewrite): W: I heard that John left. - Possible reads: R1: I heard John left. (drop) R2: I heard that John has left. (keep if timeline matters) R3: I was told John left. (rewrite to eliminate ambiguity)

Make deletions confidently with an editor

A grammar or style tool can flag optional 'that' usages and suggest concise rewrites. Use tools to surface candidates, but accept only suggestions that preserve meaning and improve clarity.

Do a focused pass for unnecessary fillers-'that', 'the fact that', and similar phrases. Repeating this editing habit trains you to spot patterns without assistance.

Real usage: targeted edits for work, school, and casual writing

Tune your edits to context: remove 'that' aggressively in casual writing, use restraint in academic or legal prose, and favor concision in workplace messages.

Work: Remove 'that' in action items and updates. Before: Please confirm that you received the file I sent. → After: Please confirm you received the file.
School: Omit many 'that' instances, but rewrite when nested clauses get complex. Before: The claim that reducing variability will improve results was unsupported. → After: The claim - that reducing variability will improve results - was unsupported. (reframe to keep the clause clear)
Casual: Drop 'that' almost always. Before: I told you that I'd be there. → After: I told you I'd be there.

Rewrite help: three practical patterns

If deletion creates awkwardness or ambiguity, try one of these quick rewrites.

Replace "the fact that" with a gerund or noun: "The fact that sales dropped" → "Falling sales" or "Lower sales".
Use "because" for clear causation: "Because prices rose, we revised the forecast." instead of "Due to the fact that prices rose...".
Turn reported clauses into noun phrases or active verbs: "She said she was late" → "She apologized for being late" (when appropriate).

Rewrite 1: Before: The fact that membership fell is worrying. → After: Falling membership is worrying. / Lower membership is worrying.
Rewrite 2: Before: There is a chance that we will miss the deadline. → After: We may miss the deadline.
Rewrite 3: Before: He argued that the model was flawed. → After: He argued the model was flawed. - Alternative: He pointed out flaws in the model.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually shows whether 'that' helps or hinders.

Memory tricks: two quick tests you can use every time

These shortcuts work well when you need a fast decision.

Subject test: If the clause is the sentence's subject or fronted element, keep 'that'.
Two-verb test: If dropping 'that' leaves an awkward verb cluster or confuses the subject, keep or rewrite.

Example: "I think (that) he will come." - safe to drop 'that'.
Example: "That he left surprised us." - don't drop 'that'.

Similar mistakes to fix while you're at it

When you remove 'that', look for related tightenings: 'the fact that', confused which/that, and weak 'it is' constructions.

Replace "the fact that" with a gerund or noun: "the fact that X happened" → "X happening" or just "X".
Use 'that' for essential (restrictive) clauses and 'which' with commas for nonessential clauses.
Shorten "it is important that" to a stronger verb: "We must act" instead of "It is important that we act."

Which vs That: Wrong: The book, that I borrowed, was overdue. →
Right: The book, which I borrowed, was overdue.
The fact that: Wrong: Due to the fact that prices rose, we revised the forecast. →
Right: Because prices rose, we revised the forecast.
Weak "it is": Wrong: It is important that we address this issue. →
Right: We must address this issue.

Grammar notes: clear exceptions and technical cases

Don't confuse style advice with grammatical necessity. These are common exceptions where 'that' is required or preferred.

Keep 'that' when the subordinate clause is the grammatical subject: "That she won surprised everyone."
Keep 'that' when omission creates a garden-path or temporary ambiguity.
For restrictive relative clauses without commas, 'that' is often the correct pronoun: "The rules that apply here are strict."

Required: "That he lied made the decision easy." (can't drop 'that')
Relative: "The students that scored above 90 will get credit." (restrictive use)

Hyphenation and spacing: tidy up after deleting 'that'

Removing words can change spacing and punctuation. Do a quick pass to fix double spaces, adjust commas, and add hyphens when a compound adjective appears before a noun.

Search for leftover double spaces after deletions.
Check commas and em dashes when you reframe clauses.
Add hyphens in compound adjectives: "high-quality product".

Spacing: Before: I think that we should act. → After: I think we should act.
Hyphenation: After rewrite: a high-quality product (add hyphen if adjective precedes noun).

FAQ

Can I always drop 'that' after 'think' or 'believe'?

Usually yes. After verbs like think, believe, say, feel, 'that' is optional. Keep it if dropping makes the sentence ambiguous, awkward, or if a formal tone is required.

Is keeping 'that' wrong in formal writing?

No. Keeping 'that' is acceptable and sometimes preferable in formal or legal writing when it improves clarity or cadence.

How do I tell whether 'that' is required?

Ask: Is the clause the subject? Does omission create ambiguity or verb stacking? If yes, keep 'that'. If no, drop it or rewrite for brevity.

When should I use 'that' vs 'which'?

'That' introduces restrictive (essential) clauses without commas; 'which' introduces nonrestrictive clauses and usually takes commas. The choice changes meaning.

How can a grammar tool help me here?

A grammar tool flags optional 'that' uses, highlights "the fact that" patterns, and suggests rewrites. Use it to find candidates, then read suggested changes aloud to check meaning and tone before accepting them.

Unsure about a sentence? Try a focused edit

When in doubt, run the three quick tests above. If you still hesitate, try a short rewrite using the patterns shown. Small, targeted edits sharpen your writing without changing meaning.

Paste one sentence into a checker or ask a colleague-then read the suggested change aloud before accepting it.