Sometimes I wonder what to say; other times I puzzle over which word to use.

In the case of what versus which, though, it comes down to a matter of specificity.

The word what is used with more general ideas:

What should I make for dinner with this arugula, sea bass, marshmallow whip, gnocchi, and macadamia nuts?

It's a general musing about the vast culinary potential for those ingredients. Contrast that with the following:

Which of my half-dozen recipes featuring arugula, sea bass, marshmallow whip, gnocchi, and macadamia nuts should I use for my dinner with Andre?

In this case, there is a finite number of possibilities, so which would be used.

Let's try those examples again, swapping the words.

Which should I make for dinner with this arugula, sea bass, marshmallow whip, gnocchi, and macadamia nuts?

That construction would leave your reader (or listener) hanging, waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. "Well, what are my choices?" she might wonder. (And she wouldn't wonder, "Which are my choices?" because you've left it open-ended.)

What of my half-dozen recipes featuring arugula, sea bass, marshmallow whip, gnocchi, and macadamia nuts should I use for my dinner with Andre?

That would simply leave your audience wondering whether you forgot mid-sentence what you were trying to say. Gnocchi will do that.

Rob Reinalda is executive editor for Ragan Communications.

(Image via)