Is it possible to use the word which without a comma before it?
An office which is painted dull gray is not conducive to creative work.
Is that okay or does the "which" need to be changed to "that?"
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M$2 Answers
Oh, wait, you wrote more than just the part that showed initially.
From this "usage note" that I picked up from Random House via dictionary.com seems to indicate that your sentence is now considered OK. However, I think that "that" would sound (feel) better.
Usage note:
The relative pronoun which refers to inanimate things and to animals: The house, which we had seen only from a distance, impressed us even more as we approached. The horses which pulled the coach were bay geldings. Formerly, which referred to persons, but this use, while still heard (a man which I know), is nonstandard. Contrary to the teachings of some usage guides, which introduces both restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses. The “rule” that which can be used only with nonrestrictive clauses has no basis in fact. In edited prose three-fourths of the clauses in which which is the relative pronoun are restrictive: A novel which he later wrote quickly became a bestseller. See also that.
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M$
Since you need that part of it, to clarify the color of the wall, then I am pretty sure you don't.
I have to look it up to be sure, but as a tech writer I am pretty sure this is how I usually do it and was never dinged by my editors because of it :P
There's a word for this added info but I cannot remember the name of it off the top of my head.
ETA: I looked it up. It's called parenthetical elements :P
Here's a link on comma usage http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm
btw: this rule is for more than just which. It works with which, but, however, etc
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M$
