REDUCED RELATIVE CLAUSES Academic English prefers reduced relative clauses. This relative clause should be reduced to either its past or present participle, or even deleted if the main verb is the verb "to be".   PAST PARTICIPLE (-ed) Full Relative Clause (Passive voice): Netscape allows administrators to implement programs WHICH ARE BASED on Java. Reduced Relative Clause (Better): Netscape allows administrators to implement programs BASED on Java.   PRESENT PARTICIPLE (-ing) Full Relative Clause (Active voice): This study investigates the factors WHICH INFLUENCE the lifetime of telecommunication technology standards. Reduced Relative Clause (Better): This study investigates the factors INFLUENCING the lifetime of telecommunication technology standards.   DELETION OF VERB "to be" Relative Clause (verb "to be"): The atmospheric aerosols THAT ARE IN heavily polluted areas have the potential to accelerate global warming. Reduced Relative Clause (Better): The atmospheric aerosols Ø IN heavily polluted areas have the potential to accelerate global warming.   STRATEGY FOR AVOIDING ENDING WITH A VERB See also Avoid ending with a verb. End Verb (Bad): Java is now the programming language WHICH developers in North America USE most. Reduced Relative Clause (Better): Java is now the programming language USED most BY developers in North America.