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What does the word as mean in the following sentence?

Such preparations shall be made as will completely obscure all Federal buildings and non-Federal buildings occupied by the Federal government during an air raid for any period of time from visibility by reason of internal or external illumination

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  • Please tell us the source of this text. Ideally please link to the text. The word "as" seems to be an error.
    – James K
    Commented Jun 21, 2019 at 6:08
  • It is rather a verbose way to say, "Turn all the lights out"!
    – Old Brixtonian
    Commented Jun 21, 2019 at 6:23
  • 1
    Haha,right , it's an indeed verbose way to say "Turn all the lights out."
    – Ken Chen
    Commented Jun 24, 2019 at 23:59
  • The source of this text comes from page 8 of the book "On writing well" by William Zinsser.
    – Ken Chen
    Commented Jun 25, 2019 at 0:01

1 Answer 1

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The word as is the completion of the formula Such....as.

Such can mean "of this kind/type".

Such farms as have sheep: The kind of farms that have sheep, or Those farms which have sheep.

Such men as have swords: Those men who have swords.

So

Such preparations shall be made as will completely obscure...

means

The type of preparations shall be made which will completely obscure...

Or

Those preparations shall be made which will completely obscure...

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  • Thank you. Your answer has been very helpful as I understand well now.
    – Ken Chen
    Commented Jun 25, 2019 at 0:05
  • You're welcome, Ken. Glad it helped.
    – Old Brixtonian
    Commented Jun 25, 2019 at 0:17

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