The nonrestrictive clause in `I always buy his books, which have influenced me greatly,' refers to his books generally and adds an additional fact about them. From Wordnet, Princeton University.
Adjective : a nonrestrictive modifier. From Dictionary.com.
You use which in nonrestrictive clauses, and if you eliminate a nonrestrictive clause, the meaning of the remaining part of the sentence will be the same as it was before. From Wordnik.com. [Grammar Girl: Which Versus That « Write Anything] Reference
You can think of a nonrestrictive clause as simply additional information. From Wordnik.com. [Grammar Girl: Which Versus That « Write Anything] Reference
A nonrestrictive clause is something that can be left off without changing the meaning of the sentence. From Wordnik.com. [Grammar Girl: Which Versus That « Write Anything] Reference
NACAC defines Early Action as nonrestrictive -- which it is at top schools like the University of Chicago, Georgetown and Harvard. From Wordnik.com. [The Early Decision Rebellion] Reference
Reid noted that the phrase "when approaching from any direction" is a nonrestrictive modifier and can be removed from the sentence. From Wordnik.com. [Dropped 'at' in Va. law yields acquittal in school bus case] Reference
At the same time, the instruction to put a comma before a nonrestrictive clause is not unique to Strunk & White but can be found in many writing texts. From Wordnik.com. [The Volokh Conspiracy » From Language Log to the New York Times Magazine] Reference
Again, I will testify that when Chinese university students are placed in a stress-free, nonrestrictive learning environment, they true colors appear, and these simple presentations are proof. From Wordnik.com. [Archive 2008-09-01] Reference
But she goes into some detail about restrictive vs. nonrestrictive clauses, and how something as small as a single comma can significantly change meaning, and have broad-reaching repercussions. From Wordnik.com. [Comma Kameleon] Reference
The first three lines encourage us to read without pausing but the forced pause created by the quotation marks around "genial" allow us to catch our breath before moving on through the next two lines and arriving at the inserted nonrestrictive "in my youth.". From Wordnik.com. [October 2009] Reference
If it were about any subject other than the “On Language” column, the press release would be unremarkable for failing to use a comma in its second sentence before the nonrestrictive relative clause “who was the founding and regular columnist until his death last fall.”. From Wordnik.com. [The Volokh Conspiracy » From Language Log to the New York Times Magazine] Reference
Hemmings said he intentionally made the bill nonrestrictive. From Wordnik.com. [Starbulletin Headlines] Reference
Here I confess my lapses regarding restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses. From Wordnik.com. [Las Vegas Sun Stories: All Sun Headlines] Reference
You want to wear nonrestrictive clothing, Preferably something sleeveless like a good vest. From Wordnik.com. [Wrong Planet Asperger / Autism Forums] Reference
Relative clauses fall into two types: restrictive (also called essential) and nonrestrictive (nonessential). From Wordnik.com. [Kansas.com Blogs Master Site Feed] Reference
Available under a free and practically nonrestrictive license, in both a wiki and a printed and bound text on Lulu. From Wordnik.com. [Learn Online] Reference
A lightweight, performance-oriented water sandal, the Tillie Creek has a very supportive, nonrestrictive heel lock and fit. From Wordnik.com. [ESPN.com]
Set designer David Potts frames director Dan Bonnell's largely well-paced action in a nicely expressionistic, nonrestrictive space. From Wordnik.com. [LAist] Reference
December 2008 (UTC), Jr. Cheer up Hayford, we still use commas for nonrestrictive adverbial clauses and introductory participial phrases. From Wordnik.com. [Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium - Recent changes [en]] Reference
King said Kroger was the first business in the city to receive a nonrestrictive alcohol sales permit from the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission. From Wordnik.com. [The Daily News - News] Reference
The camp offers water and land recreational activities for the campers in a highly structured, nonrestrictive environment on Lake Martin in Jackson's Gap. From Wordnik.com. [news | FT | http://www.timesdaily.com] Reference
Also, I deplore the use of that in non-nonrestrictive clauses, though condone the occasional use of which in restrictive clauses where the sense is clear. From Wordnik.com. [VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol XX No 1] Reference
Consisting of soft, ultra-thin silicone, the djay Keyboard Cover has a smooth texture that won't slip off the keyboard and is nonrestrictive to regular typing. From Wordnik.com. [Low End Mac] Reference
I have a few pet copy-editing peeves, among which is the failure of many writers to omit commas from restrictive clauses and include them in nonrestrictive clauses. From Wordnik.com. [VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol XX No 1] Reference
Although the exercise was somewhat embarrassing, I found help in "The Chicago Manual of Style," sections 6.31, 6.36, and 6.38 on restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses. From Wordnik.com. [Las Vegas Sun Stories: All Sun Headlines] Reference
Although contractors who work on Missouri public-works projects do not have be domiciled in the state, the people they hire to work on the projects must be Missouri or nonrestrictive state residents. From Wordnik.com. [The Rolla Daily News Homepage RSS] Reference
The Strategic Arms Limitations Talks between the Soviet Union and the United States were held up for weeks over a comma - basically, whether a definition of a certain weapons systems was restrictive or nonrestrictive. From Wordnik.com. [Boundless Line] Reference
County government officials were notified by the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations on Thursday that it must only employ workers from Missouri or from nonrestrictive states on public-construction projects. From Wordnik.com. [The Rolla Daily News Homepage RSS] Reference
You probably know the rule about setting off nonrestrictive elements - the descriptive bits that could be omitted without changing the essential meaning of a sentence - with commas: "The berries, which were moldy, went straight into the compost.". From Wordnik.com. [Boston Globe -- Ideas section] Reference
The internet is an nonrestrictive and interactive learning tool, online media outlets, encyclopedias, forums, blogs and organizations provide young, curious individuals with a means by which to acquire various degrees of knowledge and information. From Wordnik.com. [Cafferty File] Reference
To compare the effects of two dietary approaches on changes in dietary intakes and body weight: (1) an approach emphasizing nonrestrictive messages directed toward the inclusion of fruits and vegetables (HIFV) and (2) another approach using restrictive messages to limit high-fat foods (LOFAT). From Wordnik.com. [Naturejobs - All Jobs] Reference
Anything of a nonrestrictive and nonmilitary nature. ". From Wordnik.com. [With Friends Like These...]
224: You forgot my sentence fragments, my questionable use of nonrestrictive elements, and my inconsistency in using quotation marks around “gotcha” but not “moment.”. From Wordnik.com. [More ISO-2000 Weather Stations from Jones and Hansen « Climate Audit] Reference
“That’s a standard rule of grammar—a comma before the nonrestrictive ‘which’ and not before the restrictive ‘that’—but generally only professional writers and people who’ve gone to good schools follow it anymore.”. From Wordnik.com. [THE DEVIL’S TEARDROP] Reference
"That is the defining, or restrictive pronoun, which the nondefining, or nonrestrictive. From Wordnik.com. [UUpdates - All updates] Reference
Lesson plans nonrestrictive phrases. From Wordnik.com. [quotes « WordPress.com Tag Feed] Reference
"Which" introduces extra information in a "nonrestrictive clause.". From Wordnik.com. [Ten Tips For Better Business Writing] Reference
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