The Correct Usage of 'Whichever' vs 'Whatever' in Sentences: Wear Whatever/Whichever Dress You Buy for Me

When it comes to crafting sentences in English, selecting the appropriate word between 'whichever' and 'whatever' can be a challenge. The question of whether to use 'whatever' or 'whichever' often arises in sentences like:

Choosing Between 'Whatever' and 'Whichever'

Let's explore the correct ways to construct these sentences and why certain choices are preferable over others.

Correct Phrasing

In this case, neither phrasing strictly fits: "Whatever dress you buy for me I will wear it/that" nor "Whichever dress you buy for me I will wear it/that" perfectly conveys the intended meaning.

The correct phrasing is:

In this case

Clarifying with Example Sentences

The sentence "Whatever dress you buy for me I will wear." is grammatically correct as the object "whatever dress" is clearly a general choice from an unspecified number of dresses.

Another example could be:

Additionally

Neither. “Whatever dress you buy for me I will wear.” The object of “wear” is “whatever dress.” You could also say “I will wear whatever dress you will buy for me.”

Selecting the Right Choice

The better options for the sentence are: "Whichever dress you buy for me I will wear it." I chose whichever because I assumed there were several specific dresses from which to choose. However, if the dresses from which to choose are all the dresses everywhere – meaning no one has gone shopping yet – whatever would be a better choice.

It would be perfectly fine to say "I will wear whichever/whatever dress you buy for me."

Specificity and Indeterminacy

"Whatever" is used when the choice can be from an indeterminate number, possibly from all the dresses in the world past, present, and future.

For a more specific example, consider:

Whichever of the blue dresses he buys I will wear that one.

Or

Whatever blue dress in existence he buys I will wear it.

This illustrates that "whichever" refers to a specific selection from a defined set, whereas "whatever" refers to a choice from an unspecified number of options.

Conclusion

Selecting between 'whichever' and 'whatever' requires careful consideration of the specificity of the options available and the intent of the sentence. By being mindful of the choices and the context, one can correctly use these words to convey their message accurately.