whether and if

Use if to introduce a condition. In all other circumstances, use whether. (This ruling will see you right, but there are other options - see below.)

The words if and whether are sometimes interchangeable. However, this is not always the case.

Whether and If (Interchangeable)

Whether and if can be used interchangeably in the following circumstances:
When reporting yes/no questions. In whether/if...or...constructions.

Whether

In the following circumstances, whether should be used:

To present two alternatives (neither of which is a condition). After prepositions. Before infinitive verbs starting to (e.g., whether to ask..). When whether starts a clause that is the sentence subject or complement. In formal writing. (When if and whether are interchangeable, choose whether in formal writing.)

If

Use if to introduce a condition (i.e., in a conditional sentence).  In a conditional sentence, a condition has to be satisfied before something occurs.

Examples:

Whether or Not

Very often, the or not is superfluous (i.e., not required). However, when whether or not means regardless of whether, the or not part is required.

Examples:

A Quick Test

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Use if to introduce a condition. In all other circumstances, use whether.

A condition is something that must be satisfied before something else occurs.


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See Also

Whether, weather and wether What are nouns? What are prepositions? What are verbs? List of easily confused words