This Is True vs. That Is True – Which is Correct?
Both phrases, “this is true” and “that is true,” are grammatically correct. Use “this” for a statement, fact, or idea that is close, current, or newly mentioned; use “that” for one farther away or already discussed. Context, not truthfulness, determines the choice in English, while emphasis and contrast may matter.
This Is True or That Is True: Which Is Correct?
Neither phrase is incorrect. The difference is the demonstrative pronoun: this usually points to something nearby, present, immediate, or just introduced, while that commonly points to something farther away, previously mentioned, or viewed with greater distance.
Similar agreement questions, including “Which are” vs. “That are”, also depend on the noun each pronoun refers to.
“This is true” often introduces or confirms a current point: This is true: regular practice improves writing. “That is true” commonly acknowledges someone else’s earlier statement: That is true, but there is another factor to consider.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the distance test. If you could naturally point to the idea as though it were right in front of you or newly placed in the conversation, choose this. If the idea belongs to an earlier part of the conversation or feels more removed, choose that.
A second useful test is the response test. When agreeing with something someone has just said, “That is true” is usually the natural response. When presenting a fact you are about to explain or emphasize, “This is true” is often more suitable.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Demonstrative pronoun or determiner | Refers to something near, current, or newly introduced | This is true: the results improved. |
| That | Demonstrative pronoun or determiner | Refers to something farther away or previously discussed | That is true, but the cost is high. |
How to Use “This Is True”
Use “this is true” when referring to a fact, claim, situation, or idea that feels immediate. It can introduce a point, draw attention to a present circumstance, or emphasize information that has just been presented. The phrase works in casual conversation and formal writing, although formal writing may replace it with more specific wording when precision is important.
When this refers to an entire idea rather than a physical object, it often points forward to an explanation that follows.
Example 1: This is true: careful editing makes a document easier to understand.
Example 2: The deadline is close, and this is true even if the final schedule has not been published.
Example 3: This is true of both studies, although their methods are different.
What Are the Different Forms of “This”?
This is the singular form used for one nearby person, object, fact, or idea. Its plural counterpart is these, as in These are true statements. The phrase “this is true” uses the singular verb is. With the plural form, use “these are true.”
Etymology of the Word “This”
This comes from Old English þes and related Germanic forms. It has long served as a demonstrative term for identifying something near the speaker, either physically or within an immediate conversation.
How to Use “That Is True”
Use “that is true” when acknowledging a statement that has already been made or when referring to an idea that feels more distant. It is especially common as a courteous conversational response, often followed by but, however, or another qualification.
The phrase can also refer to a physical object, event, or proposition that is separated from the speaker in time, place, or attention. In formal writing, it may connect a conclusion to an earlier claim.
Example 1: “The proposal would save money.” “That is true, but it could reduce service quality.”
Example 2: The first plan was ambitious, and that is true of the revised plan as well.
Example 3: That is true when the equipment is maintained regularly.
What Are the Different Forms of “That”?
That is the singular form for one more distant person, object, fact, or idea. Its plural counterpart is those, as in Those are true statements. The phrase “that is true” uses the singular verb is; the plural version is “those are true.”
Etymology of the Word “That”
That developed from Old English þæt and related Germanic demonstratives. Its historical role was to identify something away from the speaker or distinguish it from something nearer, a contrast that remains in modern English.
Related Concepts
Understanding demonstratives and discourse distance makes it easier to choose between “this is true” and “that is true.” The distinction is not about whether a statement is factually correct; it is about how the speaker positions the idea in context.
- Demonstrative pronouns: Words such as this, that, these, and those identify particular people, objects, or ideas.
- Discourse reference: English speakers use demonstratives to point to ideas within a conversation or text, not only to physical objects.
- Proximity: Proximity can be physical, temporal, emotional, or conversational. A newly introduced idea is often treated as “near,” while an earlier idea may be treated as “far.”
- Agreement and qualification: “That is true” frequently agrees with a previous statement before adding a limitation or contrasting point.
Examples from Media and Literature
Authors, screenwriters, journalists, and speakers use these phrases to control conversational distance and emphasis. The following examples describe common uses in recognizable types of media and literature:
- Debate coverage: A commentator may say, “That is true, but the evidence points in another direction,” acknowledging an opponent’s earlier argument before qualifying it.
- Historical nonfiction: A writer may introduce a newly emphasized fact with “This is true even in regions where the policy was unpopular.”
- Novelistic dialogue: One character may respond, “That is true,” to show agreement with another character while preparing to reveal a complication.
- Documentary narration: A narrator may use “This is true of every community examined in the film” to connect a current observation with broader evidence.
- Newspaper analysis: An article may state, “That is true of previous downturns, but this recession has different causes,” using that to refer back to an earlier claim.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence: this or that.
- _____ is true: the new process takes less time.
- “The task is more difficult than expected.” “_____ is true, but we can still finish today.”
- The report examines a problem that has affected several cities, and _____ is true of this region as well.
- _____ is true of the two proposals: both require additional funding.
- “The instructions were unclear.” “_____ is true, although the diagram was helpful.”
Answer Key
- This — It introduces and emphasizes a current point.
- That — It refers to the other speaker’s statement.
- That — It points back to a previously mentioned problem.
- This — It introduces a current observation about the proposals.
- That — It acknowledges a statement that was just made.
“This Is True” Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| This is correct | Confirms that a current statement is accurate. |
| This is accurate | Emphasizes factual correctness. |
| The point is valid | Indicates that a current argument has merit. |
| That fact holds | States that a fact remains applicable. |
“That Is True” Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| You are right | Directly acknowledges that another person’s claim is correct. |
| That is correct | Confirms a previously stated fact or answer. |
| Indeed | Provides concise, often formal agreement. |
| That point is valid | Acknowledges merit in an earlier argument without necessarily agreeing with everything else. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “this is true” grammatically correct?
Yes. “This is true” is grammatically correct when this refers to a nearby, current, or newly introduced fact or idea.
Question 2: Is “that is true” grammatically correct?
Yes. “That is true” is grammatically correct and is especially common when responding to or referring back to a statement already mentioned.
Question 3: Can “this” and “that” be used interchangeably?
Sometimes, but the emphasis can change. “This” creates a sense of immediacy, while “that” creates more distance or points backward in the conversation. In many contexts, replacing one with the other remains grammatical but sounds less natural.
Conclusion
“This is true” and “that is true” are both correct expressions. Choose this for an immediate or newly presented idea, and choose that for a previously mentioned or more distant idea. Pro Tip: Using demonstratives precisely makes professional writing sound clearer, more polished, and more credible.
