Can I rephrase "such as" with "which"?

Question

Can I rephrase "such as" with "which"?I found this sentence in a dictionary:"The party not applying for the patent shall give such assistance as the party applying for the patent shall reasonably require in pursuance of the application to grant."I thought I could rephase it as following with the word "which":"The party not applying for the patent shall give assistance which the party applying for the patent shall reasonably require in pursuance of the application to grant."The both denote the same thing?Could you tell me, please?

Teechr · Accepted Answer

Yes, they mean the same thing, but they're both awkwardly phrased.

Takehisa Tanaka · Answer

I see.
Thanks, teechr.

SoSaysSunny · Answer

Your example is legalese (complicated legal wording with special rules).

General Use Distinctions:

Such as typically begins a list or refers to a list (existing now or in the future). In your example:

The non-applicant shall give the applicant assistance such as (a list of reasonable requests the applicant needs in order to get the patent approved).

Which begins a parenthetical description. In your example:

The non-applicant shall give the applicant assistance, which (a description of the assistance: must be reasonable and necessary for patent approval).

Such as and which can be roughly equivalent if the description includes a list. In your example:

The non-applicant shall give the applicant assistance, which includes (a list of reasonable requests).

Can I rephrase "such as" with "which"?

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Your example is legalese (complicated legal wording with special rules).

General Use Distinctions:

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