thatand

Thatand is a neologism used in linguistic and discourse studies to describe a pattern in which clauses begin with the word that and are linked by the coordinating conjunction and. In this pattern, a speaker strings together propositions into a chain, often to emphasize continuity of thought or to accumulate information across sentences.

Etymology and scope: The term is formed by combining that and and, and it emerged in online writing communities and sociolinguistic blogs during the 2010s and 2020s. It is not a standard grammatical label in major reference grammars, but it is used descriptively by researchers to discuss a particular discourse rhythm.

Usage and function: Thatand appears most often in informal narrative, persuasive writing, and social media commentary. It can reinforce coherence by repeated anchoring on a common referent, create a rhythmic cadence, or signal a candid, cumulative reporting of details. Because the clauses begin with that, the sentence sequence can blur the boundary between distinct propositions.

Examples: That the schedule was tight, and that the team worked overtime, and that stakeholders were kept informed demonstrated a coordinated effort. That the policy was flawed, and that the test failed, and that accountability mattered remained the central concern.

See also: discourse marker, coordination, rhetorical device.