Contents | Index | Previous | NextClauses - Restrictive and Nonrestrictive
1. Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses Defined. Restrictive clauses limit the possible meaning of a preceding subject. Nonrestrictive clauses tell you something about a preceding subject, but they do not limit, or restrict, the meaning of that subject. Compare the following examples.
Note how the subject "suspect" in this
sentence is restricted in two ways: we know that this suspect is both in
the lineup and has red hair. As a result, we know that the other suspects,
who are not in the lineup, could not have committed the crime. Moreover,
of those suspects in the lineup, we know that the one suspect in the lineup
with red hair committed the crime. If there were more than one suspect
in the lineup with red hair, the above usage would be incorrect because
it implies a different meaning.
Correct Nonrestrictive Use:
In this example, the restrictive clause
"in the lineup" tells us that of all possible suspects in the world, the
one who committed the crime is in the lineup. However, while the nonrestrictive
clause "who owns a red car" tells us something about the suspect, it does
not foreclose the possibility that there are several different suspects
in the lineup with red cars. The car color may tell us something useful,
but it does not restrict us to only one possibility.
2. When choosing between "that" and "which," use "that" to introduce a restrictive clause and "which" to introduce a nonrestrictive clause. Although some writers use "which" to introduce a restrictive clause, the traditional practice is to use "that" to introduce a restrictive clause and "which" to introduce a nonrestrictive clause. When writing a restrictive clause, do not place a comma before "that." When writing a nonrestrictive clause, do place a comma before "which."
Correct Nonrestrictive Use:
These sentences have different meanings
as well as different punctuation. In the restrictive sentence, the store
honored only those complaints less than 60 days old, but not those over
60 days old. In the nonrestrictive sentence, the store honored all the
complaints, all of which were less than 60 days old.
3. Place proper punctuation around nonrestrictive clauses, but do not place punctuation around restrictive clauses. When a nonrestrictive clause appears in the middle of a sentence, place commas around it. When a nonrestrictive clause appears at the end of a sentence, place a comma before it and a period after it. Do not punctuate restrictive clauses.
Correct Punctuation of Nonrestrictive
Clause:
Correct Punctuation of Restrictive
Clause: