thatless

Thatless is a neologism used in linguistic discussion to describe the omission of the complementizer that in English clauses. The term covers situations in which the word that would introduce a subordinate clause or a relative clause is left out, producing sentences that feel more “bare” or informal. It applies to both embedded clauses after verbs of thinking, saying, believing, or perceiving (I think that you’re right → I think you’re right) and to restrictive relative clauses (the book that I bought → the book I bought).

Etymology and usage of the term reflect its descriptive aim: thatless signals the lack of the word that rather than a change in basic syntax. The coinage appears in contemporary linguistic writing and online discussions, where analysts probe when and why speakers omit that, how omission affects interpretation, and how it interacts with clause type, discourse context, and register. It is not a universally standardized label in all grammars, but it is widely understood among researchers who study complementizer omission and related phenomena.

Linguistic analysis commonly distinguishes between the functional consequences of thatless in different constructions. In embedded clauses, omission often coexists with a tendency to reduce formal tone and to simplify speech. In relative clauses, thatless refers to the optionality of the relative pronoun or marker, with variation across dialects and styles. While many speakers omit that in casual speech, editors and prescriptive guides sometimes recommend retaining it to maintain clarity or formality.

See also: zero complementizer; complementizer omission; that-trace effect; relative clauses; English syntax.