Subordinate Clauses Used as Qualifiers

The subordinate clauses typically used as qualifiers in technical writing are of two types: that and which clauses and adverb clauses. This chapter begins by looking at that and which clauses because (1) they are ubiquitous in technical writing; (2) the rule for punctuating that and which clauses can serve as a model for the punctuation of all other qualifiers; and (3) most of the other qualifiers, both clauses and phrases, can be recast as that or which clauses. That and which clauses were qualifiers that modify nouns, adverb clauses are qualifiers that may modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or perhaps the entire core of the sentence. Finally the chapter presents general rule for punctuating the subordinate clauses.