Q. Do you perceive any difference in meaning in the following two sentences? (1) Communication patterns must be created so that parallel transmissions are possible when using the RS formula or the DL method, as shown in figure 1. (2) Communication patterns must be created so that parallel transmissions are possible when using the RS method or the DL method as shown in figure 1.
A. Yes, there is a difference. In sentence 1, the final phrase is nonrestrictive: the figure illustrates (incidentally) how patterns must be created, perhaps showing only one of many ways. In sentence 2 the last bit is restrictive: patterns must be created as shown in the figure. In your sentences, the difference is possibly very important. In other contexts the real difference in meaning might be so slight as not to matter: (1) He chose a slip of paper, which turned out to be the winning ticket. (2) He chose a slip of paper which turned out to be the winning ticket.