ifies; to omit it
would change the thought of the main clause. A non-restrictive clause is
less vitally connected with the noun or pronoun; to omit it would not
affect the thought of the main clause.)

Right: Men who are industrious will succeed. [The relative
clause restricts the meaning; it is inseparably connected with
the noun it modifies, and to omit it would change the thought
of the main clause.]

Right: Thomas Carlyle, who wrote forty volumes, was of peasant
origin. [The relative clause is non-restrictive; it is not
inseparably connected with the noun it modifies, and to omit
it would not change the thought of the main clause. Thus:
Thomas Carlyle was of peasant origin.]

Right: Where is the house that Jack built? [Restrictive.]

Right: I went to Jack's house, which is across the street.
[Non-restrictive.]

Wrong: Students, who are lazy, do not deserve to pass. [The
sentence as it stands says that all students are lazy, and that
none of them deserve to pass. Without the commas, the sentence
would mean that such students as are lazy do not deserve to
pass.]

Right: Students who are lazy do not deserve to pass.

=The rule stated above for clauses applies also to phrases.=

Right. She, hearing the voice, turned quickly. [_Hearing the
voice_ is non-restrictive. It does not identify _she_, and the
thought of the main clause is complete without it.]

Right: Books pertaining to aeronautics are in demand.
[_Pertaining to aeronautics_ is restrictive. It explains what
books are referred to, and without it the meaning of the main
thought is changed.]

Right: Our country, made up as it is of democratic people,
lacks the centralized power of a monarchy. [Non-restrictive.]

Right: A country made up of democratic people must be lacking
in centralized power. [Restrictive. _Made up of democratic
people_ explains _country_ and is essential to the thought of
the sentence.]

=e. Slightly parenthetical elements are set off by commas:=

Direct address or explanation:

Write soon, Henry, and tell all the news.

They intend, as you know, to build a great dam across the
river.

His father, they say, was frugal and industrious.

I, on my part, however, am unalterably opposed to the
expenditure.

He was, according to such repor