Human interest has come to some degree the place other folks ask particular questions like “When do we’d like to position a comma before ‘which’ in the UK?”
What this query in fact manner is whether or not there may be any important distinction between how British and American English customers use their commas.
Whether or not to use a comma or now not before the phrase ‘which’ is considered one of the most well liked, or extra like infamous, questions other folks ask regardless of understanding the fundamentals of writing.
So, our put up nowadays specializes in addressing those very problems, which can be just about rooted in how the English language grammar works in normal.
Let’s get started with a easy resolution.
When does a comma come before “which” in the UK (British English)?
A comma comes before “which” when it introduces knowledge that isn’t grammatically important to the sentence. In the UK or extra specifically in British English, a comma comes before “which” when it introduces a work of knowledge whose meaning is solely deliberately added for emphasis.
Getting to know the phrase “which”
The phrase “which” can be utilized as a pronoun, a determiner, or even a conjunction once in a while in the English language.
“Which” is a pronoun when it utterly replaces a noun in a sentence. This utilization is healthier observed when “which” is used as a query phrase in an interrogative sentence.
On this case, we additionally name “which” an interrogative pronoun:
Instance:
Which are the best international locations to discuss with in summer season?
Extra specifically, “which” will also be used as a relative pronoun to refer again to a prior to now discussed noun word in the identical sentence.
Instance:
This brown leather-based pockets, which may be very outdated, used to be my dad’s.
In the meantime, “which” acts as a determiner when it’s used to determine and refer to sure nouns that can have a couple of alternative.
This utilization is healthier observed when “which” comes before a noun in a sentence.
Instance:
I sought after to know which eating place in Boston is the best.
Thirdly, dictionaries additionally listing “which” as a conjunction. That is the case when “which” is used to attach a dependent or subordinate clause to the major clause.
That is specifically true in the casual use of English as a result of the casual or informal sign up lets in a freer or extra handy language use.
In the sentence under, “which” is very easily used as a conjunction. Then again, when the phrase “one” is used after it, it turns right into a determiner as an alternative.
Instance:
How do you already know which (one) is your dog?
Now that we’ve got lined the fundamentals, putting a comma before “which,” regardless of whether or not in the UK or Zurich, will have to already be much less tough.
The best comma utilization before “which” in the UK
For starters, the punctuation laws between the UK and the Zurich are typically the identical. Because of this there are in fact extra similarities than variations between the two.
If truth be told, the “laws” that govern whether or not to position a comma before “which” are the identical in maximum, if now not all, English variants to date.
It’s because punctuation in large part relies both on the construction of the language or the creator’s intent quite than the language variant itself.
When it comes to the English language diversifications, what would most likely range are the ones which might be comparable to meaning, pronunciation, accessory, or even formality stage.
For instance, American English extra in particular distinguishes the use of “which” vs. “that” in sentence building, whilst British English doesn’t.
From this attitude, we will needless to say the phrase “which” is used in British English in a extra normal and not more sophisticated means.
If that’s the case, then how precisely does the comma paintings in British English in reference to the phrase “which”?
The following 3 sections elaborate extra in this fear.
When “which” introduces a non-restrictive relative clause
A relative clause is a work of grammatically stand-alone knowledge that acts as an adjective or identifier to a noun contained in the identical sentence.
A comma before a relative clause is used when it introduces one thing this is simplest “moreover” added to make the sentence extra significant.
On the different hand, the comma is deliberately neglected if the relative clause is grammatically important to the meaning of the entire sentence.
A “non-restrictive” relative clause is solely what we in particular name relative clauses which might be grammatically unimportant.
By means of being grammatically unimportant, this type of clause is simplest used to “give a boost to” or “spice up” the meaning of a sentence.
As a result of a non-restrictive relative clause is used this manner, it does now not restrict the meaning of a sentence, therefore the dispensability.
Right here’s an instance of “which” getting used as a relative pronoun used to introduce a non-restrictive clause.
In the subsequent instance, the meaning of “which” can simplest be understood by means of referring again to the topic used in the sentence.
Instance:
The which-clause in this sentence, which isn’t in reality essential, will also be taken out.
As you’ll be able to see, “which isn’t in reality essential” is used to describe and refer again to “the which-clause in this sentence.”
A comma is positioned before “which” in the instance above as it simplest introduces an extra piece of knowledge or an aspect remark.
As recommended, the which-clause in the instance can in fact be got rid of from the sentence. Even if got rid of, the last portions can nonetheless make sense.
Observe, even though, that the major verb has simplest been deliberately modified to make the meaning of the sentence extra becoming and time-bound.
Instance:
The which-clause in this sentence has been taken out.
When “which” introduces an afterthought or parenthetical expression
Some other case that activates the pre-comma utilization is when “which” introduces a parenthetical expression or an afterthought.
This rule is in fact simply the identical as the first one previous however taken from the view of rhetorical or inventive language use as an alternative of syntax or sentence building.
A parenthetical expression is only a piece of knowledge added to make an utterance or sentence extra fascinating. They’re often referred to as free modifiers.
Afterthoughts may well be extra observable after we use spoken language as a result of we get to listen the tone of voice in addition to see the facial reactions and frame gestures of the speaker.
Since we don’t in reality get to understand this stuff in the written language shape, we make use of commas to imitate them textually.
So, if that is how we would like to make use of the phrase “which,” which we will additionally simply name a “non-restrictive relative clause,” a comma before it will be important.
Instance:
Smelly tofu, which it appears stinks, is just right for the well being.
With out the parenthetical knowledge “which it appears stinks,” which is an aspect remark or afterthought, the sentence nonetheless makes entire sense.
Instance:
Smelly tofu is just right for the well being.
When “which” is used after a parenthetical expression
Now that we all know that “which” can be utilized to introduce a non-restrictive relative clause, which we will additionally determine as a parenthetical expression, working out this ultimate rule will have to be so much more uncomplicated.
A comma before “which” could also be important when “which” comes after a parenthetical expression.
The general comma of the parenthetical expression additionally serves as the comma before “which,” as in the subsequent instance:
Instance:
That design, now not to say it’s dangerous, which is harsh, can nonetheless be stepped forward.
In the instance above, the comma before “which” is unquestionably important as a result of it’s preceded by means of a parenthetical remark, which additionally wishes to be ended with a comma.
Except for that, we will additionally needless to say “which is harsh” could also be simply some other parenthetical remark positioned after some other parenthetical remark, therefore the comma.
The wrong comma utilization before “which” in the UK
If there are proper techniques to use a comma before “which,” there will have to be wrong ones too. On this segment, you are going to in finding two circumstances in which you will have to keep away from your comma.
As soon as once more, it’s worth noting that the comma resolution that we’ve got to make closely will depend on how we would like to construction our sentence in addition to how we would like to put across creativity.
When “which” introduces a restrictive relative clause
In British English, the use of “which” and “that” don’t seem to be essentially as distinct as in American English.
This merely implies that British English customers would quite use “which” as an alternative of “that” even for restrictive or grammatically essential clauses.
This may well be a very simple case when it comes to merely understanding how to use “which” in a sentence; alternatively, the comma resolution is a unique ball recreation.
This means that we’ve got to use our instinct when deciding when to use a comma before “which” when writing in accordance to British English conventions.
Opposite to non-restrictive relative clauses, restrictive clauses are those who undergo grammatically important meaning in accordance with the host sentence.
Restrictive clauses are the ones we’d like to entire the meaning of a sentence. Thus, disposing of them makes the last portions ambiguous.
Check out this case:
Instance:
The guide which I left right here previous is long past.
In the instance above, “which I left right here” is important to entire the meaning of the sentence, or else the hearer or reader gained’t know it in any respect.
Sure, it’s grammatically imaginable to say “The guide is long past,” however we wouldn’t perceive which actual guide is being referred to by means of the topic.
In different phrases, “which” in the ultimate instance sentence is used like “that.” If the sentence have been written in accordance to American English requirements, it will learn extra like this:
Instance:
The guide that I left right here previous is long past.
When “which” comes with a preposition
“During which,” “to which,” “on which,” and “of which” are almost definitely the most well liked words that are meant to let us know to drop our commas.
In those words, “in,” “to,” “on,” and “of” are prepositions, whilst “which” is the object being referred to by means of the prepositions.
When the usage of those words in extra entire sentences, different phrases are anticipated to come after “which” – the modifiers.
Once we mix prepositions with “which” in addition to any succeeding modifiers, we get what we name “prepositional words.”
Like the standard prepositional words, we don’t break up the preposition from the object or noun word it refers to, particularly in formal English.
The use of a comma before “which” in this situation will make the building ungrammatical. So, don’t position a comma before “which” whilst you create sentences like this:
Instance:
She wrote a screenplay in which Jonie is the major personality.
The sentence above is in fact only a aggregate of 2 sentences. We do that sentence aggregate to make our sentences richer and shorter.
Instance:
She wrote a screenplay. On this screenplay, Jonie is the major personality.
British English vs. American English with regards to the utilization of “which”
As it’s possible you’ll determine, there are each professionals and cons as to how British and American English customers make use of the English language.
If you make a decision to apply the British requirements, you possibly can possibly in finding it more uncomplicated to talk English as a result of you wish to have now not distinguish between “which” and “that.”
On the different hand, you additionally would much more likely get at a loss for words when to punctuate “which” with a pre-comma when writing.
The location is the opposite direction round in American English. When you get to use more uncomplicated writing methods, you possibly can in the meantime have a tougher time deciding when to use “which” and “that” when talking.
Regularly Requested Questions about “Comma Before ‘Which’ in the UK”
What does placing a comma before “which” mean?
Placing a comma before “which” typically implies that we’re introducing a work of extra knowledge to make our sentence extra fascinating. In different phrases, it manner we do it to upload emphasis.
Do I want a comma before “which incorporates”?
Typically, we’d like a comma before “which incorporates” as a result of we use this word to upload further knowledge. This additional knowledge is generally a chain of examples. As a substitute of commas, we may additionally use parenthetical marks to set the further knowledge except for the remainder of the major sentence.
What’s an instance of a sentence with a comma before “which”?
The next sentence uses a non-restrictive relative clause that wishes to make use of a comma before “which” in addition to at the finish of the clause: “This new pair of brogues, which I in reality love, used to be my mom’s present.”
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