WHETHER AND IF - THE DIFFERENCE

Janice wondered whether she had unplugged the iron.

Janice wondered if she had unplugged the iron.

(In this example, the yes/no question is "Did Janice unplug the iron?")
In whether/if...or...constructions.

I would like to know whether it is a true story or fabricated.

I would like to know if it is a true story or fabricated.

Note: Using whether is far more common. It is certainly more formal.

Whether
In the following circumstances, whether should be used:
To present two alternatives (neither of which is a condition).

Inform the clerk whether Mark needs a seat.

(In this example, the two alternatives are Mark needs a seat and Mark does
not need a seat. The clerk is to be informed in either case.)

The words if and whether are sometimes interchangeable. However,

Inform the clerk if Mark needs a seat.

(This sentence is not grammatically wrong, but it does not mean the same as

this is not always the case.

the first example. In this example, the clerk is only to be informed if Mark
needs a seat. Therefore, Mark needing a seat is a condition. This is a

Whether and If (Interchangeable)

conditional sentence. See the section on If below.)

Whether and if can be used interchangeably in the following circumstances:

(In this example, the two alternatives are going and not going. Anna needs to

When reporting yes/no questions.

I am unsure whether I will be attending the party.

I am unsure if I will be attending the party.

(In this example, the yes/no question is "Am I attending the party?")

Let Anna know whether the boss is able to go to Crowborough.

know the answer regardless of which is chosen.)

Let Anna know if the boss is able to go to Crowborough.

(This sentence is not grammatically wrong, but it does not mean the same as
the one above. In this example, Anna needs only to be told if the boss is
going to Crowborough.)

Examples:

If you sing, I'll pay you ten pounds.

Peter will catch you if you fall.

After prepositions.

I would like to talk about whether you are going to California.

(The word about is a preposition.)

At this point, the flight attendant makes the decision on whether the

Whether or Not

passenger stays on the aircraft.

(The word on is a preposition.)
Before infinitive verbs starting to (e.g., whether to ask..).

Very often, the or not is superfluous (i.e., not required). However,

I have been thinking whether to grow my own tomatoes this year.

whenwhether or not means regardless of whether, the or not part is required.

(To grow is an infinitive verb)

Examples:

When whether starts a clause that is the

sentence subject orcomplement.

Whether you sink or swim is not my concern.

(Whether you sink or swim is the subject of this sentence.)

I don't care whether you sink or swim.

Reprimand Chris whether or not he is on time today.

(...regardless of whether he is on time today.)

The parade will go ahead whether it rains or not.

(...regardless of whether it rains.)

(Whether you sink or swim is the complement of the verb to care.)

(Note: There is leniency on where the or not is placed. It does not have to

In formal writing. (When if and whether are interchangeable, choose

follow immediately after whether.)

whether in formal writing.)

I doubt whether the team will succeed.

Please establish a committee to determine whether the proposed

1.IF and WHETHER can be used interchangeably when

funding lines are appropriate.

a) reporting yes/no questions

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.

Will you help me do the shopping? (yes/no question)

I am not sure if I have time for this.
I am not sure whether I have time for this.

b) expressing alternatives using OR

We dont know if he called Jenny or Lucy.

We dont know whether he called Jenny or Lucy.

a) in conditional sentences

NOTE: WHETHER is preferred in indirect questions with OR when there is

more than one alternative.

b) with fixed expressions : if possible, if necessary

They were not sure whether they should go to Italy, France or

Germany for the holidays.

2. We use WHETHER (and not IF):

If you jump high, Ill give you five dollars.

He will help you if you promise to take care of his dog.

Please, call grandma and ask her to help you with your homework if
possible. (or if its possible, if thats possible)
If necessary, take the money out of my wallet.

a) with infinitive

c) with even if (when talking about surprising or extreme situations)

She doesnt know whether to go to work or not.
We dont know whether to help them or not.

b) after preposition

It depends on whether I get there on time or not.

He was interested in whether there were any other people at the
party.

For example,

d) with if not, if so

You should all have received your grades in your e-mails. If not,

please call the school office.

Are you interested in working for us? If so, email your CV and your

c) when WHETHER begins a clause which is a subject of a sentence

Hes still going to lose even if he practices every day.

Youre still going to be warm even if you drink cold water.

Whether she calls me back or not makes no difference.

Whether I go back home or not doesnt matter.

motivation letter.
e) with only if to express a strong condition

d) when WHETHER is followed by OR NOT

I dont care whether or not I go to the party.

Hell be sad whether or not he stays at home.

e) in formal writing (even though whether and if might be interchangeable,

always choose whether in formal writing)

Please, ask the general manager whether your idea is appropriate.

We ask you to establish whether the president is present.

3. We use IF (and not WHETHER)

She will come to the party with me only if I promise to pick her up.
I will help you do the shopping only if you walk the dog today.

f) to express a polite request ( if is usually followed by modal verbs will/would

and can /could)

If you would follow me, please?

If you will tell her that hes here?

If or whether?

To express an alternative, we can use or not with if and whether.

With whether we can use or not immediately after whether or in end
position. With if we use or not in end position only:

If and whether: indirect questions

I called Bill to find out whether or not he really did go to Afghanistan.

We can use if or whether to report indirect yes-no questions and

I called Bill to find out whether he really did go to Afghanistan or not.

questions with or. If is more common than whether:

I called Bill to find out if he really did go to Afghanistan or not.
Call the bakeries around town and find out if any of them sell raspberry
pies.

We use whether and not if before a to-infinitive, often when were referring
to future plans or decisions:

I rang Peter from the station and asked if I could drop in to see him before
going back or if hed meet me.
We often prefer whether in more formal contexts:

I was wondering whether to go for a swim.

Some financial decisions, such as planning a pension, need to be taken as
early as possible. Others, such as whether to move house, can probably

The teachers will be asked whether they would recommend the book to

only be made much later.

their classes.
[from a business meeting]

Whether not if

John read a letter that hed written and the board discussed whether it

We use whether and not if after prepositions:

should be mailed.
Later I argued with the doctor about whether I had hit my head, since I
We prefer whether with or when there is more than one alternative in the

couldnt remember feeling it.

indirect question:
Not: Later I argued with the doctor about if I had hit my head
After the election, we asked whether the parties should change their
leaders, their policies, or both.

The police seemed mainly interested in whether there were any locks on
the windows.

Not: The police seemed mainly interested in if there were any locks

I dont know whether to buy the blue one or the red one.

I doubt if, I dont know whether

Not: I dont know if to buy the blue one

We use if or whether to introduce clauses after verbs of doubting:

We use whether, not if, directly before or not:

I dont know if I can drive. My foot really hurts.

Can you tell me whether or not youre interested in the job.

I didnt prune the rose bush this year so I doubt if were going to have many

Not: Can you tell me if or not youre interested

flowers.(prune means cut back)

We use whether, not if, after prepositions:

Well have plenty of photographs to show you but Im not

sure whether well be able to learn very much from them.
See also:

[talking about a trip to Australia for a year]

Were not interested in whether we get great jobs and that kind of thing, we
just want to have a good time.

If
Not: Were not interested in if we get great jobs and that kind of thing

If: reporting questions

If, whether: typical errors

We use whether, not if, before to-infinitives: