Team That, Team Who, or Team Which? The Definitive Usage Guide

Team That, Team Who, or Team Which: editors and writers debate grammar as English shifts across cultures, shaping clarity, choice, and usage every day

As an editor working professionally, I’ve seen editors, experienced and skilled writers, plus everyday writers and speakers, argue about how people describe individuals and individuality inside a team or across teams—whether they write Team, Team Who, Team Which, team that, team who, or team which.

You’ll spot team who won, team which won, team that practiced all year, and team who won championship after a championship someone won and practiced for a full year.

Why the “Team That, Team Who, or Team Which?” Confusion Exists

You run into this issue because English treats pronouns differently depending on whether you’re talking about people, things, or groups acting as individuals.

Sports teams add another layer because they’re often associated with human talent and personality. Companies do the same because they represent the collective work of people.

So you get sentences like:

• The team who won the championship celebrated downtown.
• The team that won the championship celebrated downtown.
• The team which won the championship celebrated downtown.

All three appear around the web. Only two are commonly accepted. One is rarely right in US English. This article helps you understand the difference.

Quick Reference Table: Who, Which, and That

Before diving deeper, here’s a simple comparison table you can skim when you need fast guidance.

Pronoun	Refers To	Clause Type	Commas Used?	Ideal For	Example
Who	People; sometimes personified groups	Restrictive & non-restrictive	Used in non-restrictive clauses	Humans, teams treated as people	The players who trained hardest improved fastest.
Which	Things, ideas, objects	Non-restrictive	Yes	Extra, non-essential info	The stadium, which seats 50,000, was sold out.
That	Things; groups; sometimes organizations	Restrictive only	Never	Essential details; neutral writing	The team that won the title broke several records.

If you only remember one thing from this article, let it be this table. Everything else builds from it.

“Who” — The Pronoun for People (and Sometimes Personified Groups)

When to Use “Who” in the Team That / Team Who / Team Which Debate

You choose who when your sentence emphasizes the people inside the group rather than the entity as a whole. Writers lean toward who when they want to humanize or highlight the individuals behind the result.

Use who when:

• You’re explicitly referring to people
• You’re describing actions performed by individuals
• You want a warm, personal tone
• You’re writing creatively or conversationally

For example:

• The volunteers who organized the fundraiser deserve recognition.
• The employees who built the product worked through the night.

When teams are involved:

• The Lakers players, who delivered an incredible season, celebrated in the locker room.
• The committee members who reviewed the applications voted unanimously.

Here, the team is treated as its members.

Examples That Make the Usage Clear

• The nurses who responded first prevented a crisis.
• The engineers who designed the device solved a decade-old problem.
• The fans who supported the team filled the stadium.

Each of these sentences places attention on humans.

Common Mistake With “Who”

One mistake involves applying who to objects in an attempt to sound more formal:

•  The company who released the product…
•  The phone who launched last year…

Companies and objects aren’t people. Even though humans run companies, the organization itself isn’t a person in grammar.

Deep Insight: Personification and Tone

Using who increases warmth and emotional connection. Sports writers often do this intentionally:

“The team who never quit finally claimed their spot in history.”

Nobody mistakes this for literal grammar. It’s voice. It’s storytelling. It’s human-centered writing.

So who isn’t wrong when the goal is emotional tone — but it isn’t the default.

“Which” — The Clarifier for Things and Non-Essential Information

When to Use “Which” in the Team That / Team Who / Team Which Debate

Use which when introducing extra details that can be removed without changing the core meaning of the sentence.

These are non-essential clauses.

You’ll usually see a comma before which.

Examples:

• The stadium, which opened in 1997, recently upgraded its sound system.
• The contract, which was finalized last month, includes new incentives.

The key rule: “which” introduces non-essential, additional information.

Examples That Show the Difference

• The team’s bus, which broke down yesterday, was repaired.
  • You could remove the clause and the sentence still makes sense.
• The arena, which has hosted major finals, is undergoing renovation.
  • Again, optional detail.

Grammar Note: American vs British Usage

US English avoids using which for restrictive clauses. Instead US writers strongly favor that for essential info.

British English is more flexible and might allow both.

In an American publication:

•  The car which won the award…
•  The car that won the award…

Stick with which only when it’s truly non-essential.

“That” — The Pronoun for Essential, Restrictive Information

When to Use “That” in the Team That / Team Who / Team Which Debate

Use that when the clause is essential — meaning the sentence loses important meaning if you remove it.

The clause isn’t optional. It defines the noun before it.

Examples:

• The team that wins the tournament receives a trophy.
• The software that handles payroll was updated.

Here, that restricts meaning. Without the clause, the reader loses clarity.

Why You Never Use Commas With “That”

This rule is simple:

• Do NOT use commas before “that”.
• Do NOT use commas around clauses beginning with “that”.

Example of incorrect usage:

•  The rules, that apply to minors, differ across states.

Corrected:

•  The rules that apply to minors differ across states.

That is lean and functional. It passes information without adding emotion. This makes it ideal for journalism, academic writing, and formal documents.

Restrictive vs Non-Restrictive Clauses: The Core Rule That Affects Everything

Understanding this rule solves 80% of pronoun confusion. It’s one of the most important grammar distinctions in English.

Restrictive Clauses (Essential Information)

These clauses narrow or define the noun. Without them the meaning changes or becomes unclear.

They use:

• that
• sometimes who (when referring to people)

Examples:

• Students who study consistently score higher.
• The version that includes security updates is recommended.

These clauses do not use commas.

Non-Restrictive Clauses (Extra Information)

These add optional detail. You can remove them without losing meaning.

They use:

• which
• who (when referring to people)

Examples:

• The stadium, which opened in 1997, hosts major tournaments.
• The fans, who waited all night, finally met the players.

These clauses always use commas.

Read More: Extensible vs Extendible: Understanding the True Difference and Choosing the Right Word

The Team and Company Dilemma: Which Pronoun Is Correct?

Now the heart of your keyword: Whether we say “team that”, “team who”, or “team which.”

Why Teams and Companies Create Confusion

A team can be interpreted as:

• A group of people
• A single organization or unit
• A brand with emotional personality
• A sports entity representing a city

These perspectives shift pronoun choice.

The Grammar Breakdown

Here’s the clean, professional guidance used by most editors, journalists, and grammar authorities.

Context	Best Pronoun	Example	Notes
Team as an organization	that	The team that drafted him improved instantly.	Most common and safest choice
Team as people	who	The team who fought hardest won the title.	Acceptable when personifying
Team as an entity with additional info	which	The team, which relocated in 2015, now leads the league.	Only for non-essential info

Preferred Usage in U.S. Writing

Major US style authorities lean this way:

• AP Stylebook → Teams and companies take that
• Chicago Manual of Style → Neutral about that for organizations
• Merriam-Webster Usage Notes → Accepts that for groups, who for humans

So, in formal or professional US English, team that is the safest and strongest choice.

Grammar in Context: Style Guides vs Real-World Usage

What Style Guides Say (Quick Comparison Table)

Style Guide	Preferred Pronoun for Teams/Companies	Notes
AP Stylebook	that	Used in journalism and news writing
Chicago Manual of Style	that or which depending on clause	Flexible but still leans toward “that” for restrictive clauses
APA	that	Common in academic writing
Merriam-Webster Dictionary	that for entities; who for actual people	Adds nuance

Real-World Usage Across Industries

Writers shift their choices based on what feels natural for their audience.

Sports Journalism

• Often uses who to highlight players
• Example: “The team who never gave up…”

Corporate Writing

• Almost always uses that
• Example: “The company that introduced the policy…”

Marketing Copy

• Might lean into personification
• Example: “A team who understands your needs…”

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Below are the mistakes writers make frequently along with their clean, corrected versions.

Mistake: Using “Which” for Essential Information

•  The team which won the championship broke records.

Corrected:

•  The team that won the championship broke records.

Mistake: Using “Who” for Non-Human Entities Without Intent

•  The software who manages payroll was updated.
•  The software that manages payroll was updated.

Mistake: Adding Commas Before “That”

•  The rules, that control the tournament, were updated.
•  The rules that control the tournament were updated.

Mistake: Switching Pronouns Inconsistently

•  The team who drafted him is the same team that traded him later.
•  The team that drafted him is the same team that traded him later.

Consistency increases clarity and professionalism.

When Grammar Rules Can Be Bent — and When They Cannot

English isn’t mathematics. Sometimes style and effect matter more than strict correctness. Still you need to know where the line is.

Safe Places to Bend the Rules

You may bend pronoun rules when:

• Writing emotionally or creatively
• Highlighting human effort or personality
• Writing speeches
• Writing social media posts
• Writing sports commentary
• Writing brand storytelling

Example:

“The team who refused to quit carved their legacy into history.”

Where You Should Never Bend the Rules

Avoid bending rules in

• Academic writing
• Journalism
• Technical documentation
• Legal writing
• Research papers
• Medical content
• Government policy

These fields require clarity and precision. Emotional tone isn’t the goal.

Mini Quiz: Team That, Team Who, or Team Which?

Try answering before checking the solutions.

Questions

1. The team ___ won the regionals will advance to nationals.
2. The players, ___ trained for months, peaked at the right time.
3. The stadium, ___ opened in 1983, added new seating.
4. The committee ___ reviews grant applications meets on Tuesdays.
5. The volunteers ___ organized the event exceeded expectations.
6. The team ___ relocated last year is rebuilding.
7. The staff members, ___ worked overtime, finished the project.

Answers

1. that
2. who
3. which
4. that
5. who
6. that
7. who

Final Grammar Tips for Choosing “Which,” “Who,” and “That”

Here’s a short cheat sheet you can use anytime.

• Use who for people.
• Use which for extra details with commas.
• Use that for essential information.
• Use team that by default.
• Use team who when personifying the players.
• Avoid team which unless it introduces a non-essential clause.
• Never place a comma before “that.”
• Check whether the clause is essential to meaning.
• Write consistently within the same document.
  

Summary Table: Choosing Between Which, Who, and That

Scenario	Correct Pronoun	Example
Team described as entity	that	The team that drafted him improved instantly.
Team described as people	who	The team who trained hardest earned respect.
Extra info about team	which	The team, which relocated in 2018, rebranded last year.
Clause is essential	that or who	The employees who submitted reports met the deadline.
Clause is non-essential	which or who	The coach, who started in 2019, changed team Culture.

Conclusion

When you choose between team that, team who, or team which, you’re really deciding how you want readers to see the group. If you want to stress the people, use who. If you want to treat the team as one unit, use that or which. Your tone matters too: British use often favors who for teams, while American use leans toward that for a single unit feel. Once you get this idea, your writing becomes clearer, smoother, and more natural to read.

FAQs

1. Is it wrong to say “team who”?

No. Team who is correct when you focus on the people in the team, not just the group as one object.

2. Which is better in American English: “team that” or “team who”?

In American English, team that is more common because it treats the team as a single unit.

3. Can I use “team which”?

Yes, but it’s less common today. Team which sounds more formal and is often used in British or technical writing.

4. How do I choose the right word quickly?

Ask yourself one question:
Are you talking about people (who) or one unit (that/which)?

5. Does this rule apply to other groups like “company” or “committee”?

Yes. The same rule works for company, committee, and any collective noun. Use who for people and that/which for the group as one thing.