If you’ve ever typed a sentence that includes a word like “others” and stopped to wonder if it can sit comfortably next to a subordinating conjunction, you’re not alone. I’ve spent the better part of a decade as a supplier focused on “others” components—parts that fill gaps in product lines, custom specifications that don’t fit into off-the-shelf categories, and small, high-impact items that keep manufacturing lines running smoothly—so I’ve had way too many conversations over the years that veered from “do you have these 10 standard parts?” to “wait, can ‘others’ even be part of a complex sentence here?” Others
Let’s start with the basics, because grammar rules don’t exist just to frustrate people—they exist to make communication clear, especially when you’re talking about a niche product category like the “others” lines I supply. Subordinating conjunctions are words like “because,” “while,” “since,” “although,” “when,” and “if.” Their job is to link a dependent clause (a thought that can’t stand alone, like “we don’t have enough standard connectors”) to an independent clause (a full thought, like “we need to source supplementary parts”). The question is: does the word “others,” whether it’s a pronoun or an adjective, work in that dependent clause?
The short answer is yes, but there are a few ways to do it right—and a couple of common missteps that come up when people are writing about “others” products, especially in technical or procurement contexts. I’ll walk you through real examples I’ve seen in supplier contracts, client emails, and even industry white papers, because that’s where this question matters most.
First, when “others” is a pronoun—meaning it stands in for a group of items that have already been mentioned—it fits seamlessly into a clause headed by a subordinating conjunction. Let’s use a scenario that’s actually part of my day-to-day work. Suppose I’m talking to a client who sources electronic components for medical devices. Their standard order is for resistors, capacitors, and diodes. But when they get to a part that’s specialized for a pacemaker prototype, that’s not in their standard list. So they might send me an email that says: “Although we’ve locked in our standard 10kΩ resistor order, we need you to prioritize shipping others that meet the ISO 13485 quality standard.”
Wait a second—does that work? Let’s break it down. The subordinating conjunction here is “Although.” The dependent clause is “Although we’ve locked in our standard 10kΩ resistor order.” The independent clause is “we need you to prioritize shipping others that meet the ISO 13485 quality standard.” The word “others” here is a pronoun, standing in for “specialized electronic components that aren’t standard resistors.” Grammar-wise, that’s totally correct. It makes sense, it’s clear, and it’s exactly the kind of sentence I get all the time from procurement teams. I’ve responded to this exact type of note dozens of times, because it’s concise and specific about what’s needed beyond the standard line items.
But here’s where people sometimes stumble, especially when they’re writing more formally—like in a request for proposal (RFP) or a product specification. They’ll try to use “others” as an adjective in a subordinating clause, but they don’t make it clear what “others” refers to. For example, I once saw a draft RFP from a manufacturing firm that said: “Since we need to review part specifications for all components, please submit datasheets for others by Friday.” That feels incomplete, right? “Others” here is trying to be an adjective, modifying a noun that’s missing from the sentence—readers are left wondering, others what? But that’s not a flaw with “others” or the subordinating conjunction “since”; it’s a flaw with leaving a gap in the reference. Fix that by clarifying the noun: “Since we need to review part specifications for all components, please submit datasheets for specialized others by Friday.” Now it’s clear that “specialized others” refers to non-standard parts, and the sentence works perfectly.
Another common scenario: when we categorize “others” as a distinct line item in procurement. Let’s say a client has a PO that lists Item 1: standard enclosures, Item 2: custom circuit boards, and Item 3: others. When they’re updating that PO, they might write: “If the others line item exceeds $500 for this order, please notify our team before processing shipment.” This is a sentence I’ve seen in dozens of finalized POs. The subordinating conjunction “If” leads the dependent clause “If the others line item exceeds $500 for this order,” and the independent clause is “please notify our team before processing shipment.” “Others” here is a noun (shorthand for “other line items that aren’t Item 1 or Item 2”), and it fits perfectly in that structure. I even had a client last month who used this exact sentence in a revised PO for a custom automation project—no pushback from their finance team, no grammar issues, just clear communication.
Now, let’s talk about the one case where you might think “others” doesn’t work with a subordinating conjunction, but it’s not the word or the conjunction that’s the problem—it’s word order. English grammar allows subordinating conjunctions to come at the start of a sentence or in the middle, but when “others” is part of that structure, you don’t want to separate it from the noun it’s referring to too awkwardly. For example, a sentence like “Others, because they have tighter tolerances, are the only parts that fit your assembly” is correct, but a bit clunky. You’d rephrase that to “Because they have tighter tolerances, others are the only parts that fit your assembly” or “Others are the only parts that fit your assembly because they have tighter tolerances.” That’s not a rule against using “others” with “because”—it’s a rule about sentence flow, which matters a lot when you’re dealing with technical specs where clarity is non-negotiable.
As someone who’s in the “others” supplier space, I can tell you that this isn’t just a grammar trivia question. Clients get frustrated when communication is unclear, and misusing “others” in a sentence with a subordinating conjunction is a surprisingly common source of confusion between buyers and suppliers. I’ve had emails from clients where they wrote “while we need others,” and they meant “while we need other parts,” but left out the noun, so I almost sent the wrong size of component. Another time, a procurement manager wrote “since others are available, we’ll switch suppliers,” and I initially thought they meant they were switching away from my company, until I realized they’d cut out “from your line” at the end. That’s the thing about “others”: it’s such a useful shorthand for extra, non-standard, or supplementary items that buyers and sellers use it all the time, but it’s easy to forget that it needs to be anchored to a clear reference when paired with a conjunction like “since” or “while.”
Let’s circle back to real, working examples that come from my business. Last quarter, I worked with a medical device startup that needed parts for a new at-home testing kit. Their standard component supplier had a 6-week wait, but they needed a custom sensor that fell under the “others” category on their PO. Their project lead emailed me: “Although our initial order was for standard sensors, we can’t wait 6 weeks, so we need you to prioritize the others that have the CE marking we require.” That sentence is perfect. “Although” is the subordinating conjunction, “we need you to prioritize the others that have the CE marking we require” is the independent clause, and “others” clearly refers to the custom sensors they need. We fulfilled that order in 10 days, and they haven’t had an issue since.
Another example: a large appliance manufacturer I partner with updates their bill of materials (BOM) every quarter. They recently added a line for “others: utility-grade fasteners” and sent me a note that said: “When the others line item on our Q3 BOM totals more than 200 units, please use your pre-approved bulk pricing for metal fasteners.” That’s another flawless sentence. The subordinating conjunction is “When,” “others” is clearly referring to the utility-grade fasteners in the “others” line, and the entire sentence is a clear instruction for how to process the order. I input that instruction into our system without any questions, and the order came through exactly as they specified.
So, to answer the original question definitively: yes, “others” absolutely can be used in a sentence with a subordinating conjunction. The key is making sure “others” is tied to a clear reference—either a noun that’s already been mentioned or a clear context that your audience (whether that’s a grammar teacher, a procurement team, or a manufacturer) understands. The word “others” is a workhorse in business, especially for suppliers that specialize in non-standard or supplementary parts, and pairing it with conjunctions like “because,” “while,” “when,” or “although” is not just grammatically allowed—it’s often the most concise way to communicate critical needs.
If you’re a buyer who’s struggled to write clear orders for the parts that fall outside standard lines, or a supplier who’s ever had to decode a confusing note that uses “others” with a conjunction, I get it. That’s why my team focuses on making the process simple: we work with you to define what “others” means for your specific project, whether that’s custom electronics, specialized hardware, or supplementary components, and we make sure every communication is clear, no grammar tricks or shorthand that leads to mistakes.
If you have a project that needs “others” components—whether it’s a small prototype run or a large manufacturing order—feel free to reach out to discuss how we can support your needs. We’re here to turn that confusing sentence about “others” and subordinating conjunctions into a clear, actionable order that gets you the parts you need, when you need them.
Pharmaceutical Intermediates References
- Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., Leech, G., & Svartvik, J. (1985). A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. Longman.
- Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S., & Finegan, E. (1999). Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Longman.
- Crystal, D. (2003). A Dictionary of Modern English Usage (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
- Proceedings of the International Association of Business Communicators (2022). Clear Communication in Procurement: Grammar Best Practices for Supply Chain Teams.
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