Restrictive vs non-restrictive clauses

[kjv1611]

In thread1256-1501010, the mention of non-restrictive clauses came up. So, I Googled the term, and found several links mentioning such. The first one I looked at was this:

http://www.kentlaw.edu/academics/lrw/grinker/LwtaClauses__Restrictive_and_Nonrest.htm

If I understand it correctly, then here is the basic difference between the two types of clauses:
[UL]
[LI]A restrictive clause is pertinent to the main subject matter of the statement. Therefore commas should not be used.[/LI]
[LI]An unrestrictive clause is not pertinent to the main subject, and is therefore extra information. Therefore commas should be used.[/LI]
[/UL]

A few questions:
[OL][LI]Is my understanding correct so far?[/LI]
[LI]Does anyone have any good examples of the differences.[/LI]
[LI]Are there not gray areas in determining the type of clause on such a basis?[/LI][/OL]

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[sleipnir214]

Google Books has an excerpt from a grammar book (link) that lists as an example of an unrestrictive clause:

My father had ten cows, which I had to escort to and from pasture each morning and evening.

It shows the examples of restrictive clauses as:

A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
A prince that is a tyrant is unfit to rule.


Want to ask the best questions? Read Eric S. Raymond's essay "How To Ask Questions The Smart Way". TANSTAAFL!

 

[CajunCenturion]

The key question is the third - how to tell if a clause is restrictive or non-restrictive. In general terms, a restrictive clause is one that is necessary to identify a specific object, whereas a non-restrictive clause is one that informs about an already identified object.

In the specific sentence that predicated this thread,

This application, which has been shown to meet your needs for AR payment imports, will be a more effective use of your resources than having a custom application built and tested.

The clause "which has been shown to meet your needs ..." does not help identify the application. It tells us something about that application. Therefore, the clause is non-restrictive, should begin with 'which' (not 'that'), and should be separated with commas.

See also: that vs which discussions.

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[Dagon]

On a different but related issue, a person whose document I'm reviewing loves using commas where I think full stops should be used. Typical example:

"This document will not show the exact table layouts, these will be defined in the technical design".

"Some of these rules may be covered in the document, as this is clarified the rules will be removed".

I believe there are some writers who've adopted this as a style, but I hate it and don't think it should be used in technical documents. Are there any links I can use to back up my argument that it's not really acceptable ?

 

[CajunCenturion]

There are scores of websites focused on comma usage that may be found with a Google search for 'comma usage'.

As far as the two provided examples -
==> "This document will not show the exact table layouts, these will be defined in the technical design".
This is an incorrect use of a comma because commas are not used to separate independent clauses.

You may use a semi-colon (:
"This document will not show the exact table layouts; these will be defined in the technical design".

You may use a full stop (.):
"This document will not show the exact table layouts. These will be defined in the technical design".

You may use a comma along with a conjunction:
"This document will not show the exact table layouts, but these will be defined in the technical design".

You may reword so that you don't have two independent clauses:
"This document will not show the exact table layouts that will be defined in the technical design".

Although any of the above four are correct, as well as many other options, I prefer the latter.

The second example contains two comma errors. The first comma in another example of attempting to join two independent clauses. The second mistake is a missing comma after the introductory phrase 'As this is clarified'. I would suggest the following:

"Some of these rules may be covered in the document; however, as this is clarified, rules will be removed".


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[Dagon]

It's technically called a "comma splice":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma_splice

I should have remembered that because I've read "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" by Lynn Truss.

 

[2ffat]

You may use a comma along with a conjunction:

I've read that in every English book I've used but I've never had an English teacher that allowed it. I was always marked down for it.

Or should I say:
I've read that in every English book I've used, but I've never had an English teacher that allowed it, I was always marked down for it, ;-)


James P. Cottingham
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[SantaMufasa]

...I've never had an English teacher that allowed it. I was always marked down for it.

You must have grown up in Southern Idaho or Utah. Teachers in those locations often incorrectly mark down for correct usage. We call the dialects in those locations Idahonics and Utahnics, respectively.


Employers often reject applicants that are trained in speaking Idahonics and Utahnics because of the sub-standard nature of the training. <grin>

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
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