Learn English – What does “that of” mean

meaning-in-context

Please help me to understand the meaning of following paragraph; I'm having particular trouble with the part that reads "that of":

It is also extraordinarily difficult to meet the third criterion for causal studies, that of controlling for all other potential causal influences.

Please paraphrase it, many thanks

Best Answer

The that here is not subordinating, but adjectival.

the third criterion for causal studies, that of controlling

is the same as

the third criterion for causal studies, that [criterion] of controlling

or

the third criterion for causal studies, [the criterion] of controlling

or

the third criterion for causal studies, [i.e. the criterion] of controlling

So, what the sentence says, is

  1. It is very difficult to meet the third criterion.
  2. The third criterion is "controlling for all other potential influences".
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