Page:The king's English (IA kingsenglish00fowlrich).pdf/95

Rh relative; the reason for each modification is given in its place. We must here remind the reader of the distinction drawn in a. between defining and non-defining clauses: a defining clause limits the application of the antecedent, enabling us to select from the whole class to which the antecedent is applicable the particular individual or individuals meant.

1. 'That' should never be used to introduce a non-defining clause; it is therefore improperly used in all the following examples:

But by her side was kneeling her better angel, that hid his face with wings: that wept and pleaded for her: that prayed when she could not: that fought with Heaven by tears for her deliverance.—.

Rendering thanks to God in the highest—that, having hid his face through one generation behind thick clouds of war, once again was ascending.—.

And with my own little stock of money besides, that Mrs. Hoggarty's card-parties had lessened by a good five-and-twenty shillings, I calculated...—.

How to keep the proper balance between these two testy old wranglers, that rarely pull the right way together, is as much...—.

Nataly promised amendment, with a steely smile, that his lips mimicked fondly.—.

It is opposed to our Constitution, that only allows the Crown to remove a Norwegian Civil servant.—.

I cannot but feel that in my person and over my head you desire to pay an unexampled honour to the great country that I represent, to its Bench and Bar, that daily share your labours and keep step with your progress.—.

'That I represent' is right: 'that daily share' is wrong.

As to dictionaries of the present day, that swell every few years by the thousand items, the presence of a word in one of them shows merely...—R. G..

The sandy strip along the coast is fed only by a few scanty streams, that furnish a remarkable contrast to the vast volumes of water which roll down the Eastern sides.—.

'That' and 'which' should change places.

The social and economic sciences, that now specially interest me, have no considerable place in such a reform.—Times.

If this is a defining clause, excluding 'the social and economic Rh