Appositives—What They Are and
How to Use Them
Catherine Traffis
BASICS
An appositive noun or noun phrase follows another noun or noun phrase
in apposition to it; that is, it provides information that further identifies or
defines it. Such “bonus facts” are framed by commas unless the appositive is
restrictive (i.e., provides essential information about the noun).
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GET GRAMMARLY
Appose is a very old word that one doesn’t cross paths with much except in the
realms of grammar and science. It came to English from Middle French via
Latin, and means “to put near, side by side, or alongside.” It doesn’t quite mean
the same as oppose, but it is quite close in meaning to juxtapose. Apposition is
used in medical science to describe how cell walls defend themselves by
thickening themselves with layers of protection. In grammar, an element is said
to be placed in apposition to another element if it provides an extra layer of
description to it.
What Is an Appositive?
At its heart, an appositive is bonus information.
Hermione Granger, a witch at Hogwarts School, is accomplished at spells.
The core of this sentence is Hermione Granger is accomplished at spells. A witch
at Hogwarts School is an appositive noun phrase that gives us additional
information about Hermione Granger.
The Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel’s masterpiece, can be found on the Champs de Mars.
This is a sentence about where the Eiffel Tower can be found.
The appositive phrase Gustave Eiffel’s masterpiece tells us a bit more about the
sentence’s subject noun, Eiffel Tower.
My childhood friend, Anne-Marie, loved horses.
Here, the core sentence is My childhood friend loved horses. It works as a
sentence on its own, but the appositive, the proper noun Anne-Marie, gives the
reader supplemental information about my friend. It renames her.
Commas and Appositives
Appositive nouns and noun phrases are often nonrestrictive; that is, they can be
omitted from a sentence without obscuring the identity of the nouns they
describe. Another word for nonrestrictive is nonessential. Always bookend a
nonrestrictive, appositive noun or phrase with commas in the middle of a
sentence. If the noun or phrase is placed at the end of a sentence, it should be
preceded by a comma.
Use Commas to Frame Nonrestrictive Elements
Frédéric Chopin a Polish composer was one of the most celebrated virtuoso pianists of his
day.
Frédéric Chopin, a Polish composer, was one of the most celebrated virtuoso pianists of his
day.
My brother often likens himself to Zeus the god of thunder.
My brother often likens himself to Zeus, the god of thunder.
Depending on the tone you want to achieve and the context, you may also choose
either parentheses or brackets to frame a nonrestrictive appositive phrase.
My brother often likens himself to Zeus (the god of thunder).
My brother often likens himself to Zeus—the god of thunder.
Whichever way you choose to punctuate it, the key is to realize that My brother
likens himself to Zeus is the core sentence and that the god of thunder is
nonessential to that sentence. It is nice to know, but it is not essential in terms of
function.
Think of a sentence with a nonrestrictive appositive in it as a motorcycle with a
sidecar attached to it. The sidecar is a lovely addition to the motorcycle and
changes the overall experience of taking it for a spin, but the motorcycle could go
on without it. The nonrestrictive appositive is your sidecar, and it needs
punctuation to attach it to the motorcycle, which is your sentence.
Commas and Restrictive Elements Don’t Mix
When an appositive noun or noun phrase contains an essential element without
which a sentence’s meaning would materially alter, do not frame it with commas.
My friend, Bill, owes me fifty dollars.
My friend Bill owes me fifty dollars.
There are no commas here because Bill is an essential description of my friend.
We can assume from this sentence that the speaker has many friends, but the one
who owes him or her money is Bill. The unlikely circumstance under which the
first sentence could be construed as correct would be if the speaker has only one
confirmed friend, and that friend’s name is Bill.
Now think of a motorcycle again, except now without the sidecar. This is the
restrictive appositive motorcycle. If anyone wants to hitch a ride on this
motorcycle, he or she will have to ride double behind the driver. With this type
of appositive, there is no disconnection between the driver and the passenger;
one has his or her arms around the other. The restrictive appositive motorcycle
zooms out of sight—without commas.
