Appositives: Enhancing Your Grammar with Punctuation and Common Mistakes

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By Mr. Osama Ahmad | January 15, 2024

Appositives: Enhancing Your Grammar with Punctuation and Common Mistakes

Part I: The questions are related to the notes. Read the notes and answer the questions.

Intermediate -Appositives - Rules, Punctuation, Errors.

This is the final category for dependent clauses. So far, we've taken:

1. Introductory Clauses

a) Prepositions

b) Subordinate

c) Modifying

2. Modifying Clauses

3. Relative Clauses

Today we focus on the following:

4. Appositive Phrases

5. Nonessential Clauses

1. Appositive Phrases

What is an appositive phrase? It is a phrase that gives more information about a noun.

The appositive phrase can appear at a sentence's beginning, middle, or end.

The appositive phrase contains NO subject and NO verb. It functions as an ADJECTIVE modifying or describing a noun.

A. Appositives at the beginning of a sentence

An appositive used at the beginning of a sentence functions the same exact way as an introductory clause.

Sentence formula: [appositive][comma][subject][verb]

Example 1:

A great investment back in 2010, Tesla has risen over 10,000% since its introduction into the U.S. stock market.

Can you identify the appositive?

You're correct if you said, 'A great investment…'. Notice the appositive is followed by a comma, then its subject 'Tesla' and verb 'has risen.'

Example 2:

Another key management concern is that killer whales may not be getting enough food during certain times of year. A supportive conservation and research program, the Vancouver Aquarium is using unmanned aerial vehicles to take high-resolution images of the endangered killer whale. This innovative photogrammetry project allows researchers to closely monitor killer whales' health by comparing the impacts of different salmon runs.

Can you identify the appositive in the paragraph?

If you said 'A supportive conservation..' You would be correct. The appositive modifies the correct subject, 'the Vancouver Aquarium'.

B. Appositive phrases in the middle of a sentence

The appositive can also be placed between two commas and appear in any phrase or clause. Usually between a subject and verb, but not necessarily.

Double commas or dash appositives can appear INSIDE the subordinate, modifying, or relative clauses.

Example 1:

When Dr. Mark, a young graduate from Columbia University, traveled to the rainforest, he was shocked at the number of indigenous people suffering from explosive diarrhea.

Can you identify the appositive? If you said 'a young graduate…', then you are correct. Notice how the phrase can appear inside a subordinate clause, describing 'Dr. Mark'.

Note: We stated in earlier chapters that a 'double' comma can appear inside dependent or independent clauses. Check previous practice exercises for more information.

Example 2:

Over 80 percent of a Southern Resident killer whale's summertime diet consists of Chinook salmon. However, the population of salmon, a diminished species, are harder to find in the Salish Sea, and killer whales are suffering as a result. The Killer Whale Research and Conservation Program is investing in organizations such as Long Live the Kings, which researches the correlation between salmon and zooplankton. "Understanding zooplankton is important to getting a handle on what is driving the survival of the salmon," said Michael Schmidt, deputy director of Long Live the Kings. "We're working toward a future with more salmon and thus more prey for killer whales."

Can you identify the appositive between two commas? If you said 'a diminished species…', then you would be correct.

Notice in this example, the appositive phrase appears inside the independent idea.

Remember the sentence formula: [subject][comma][appositive][comma][verb]

Note: The double dash is used like the double comma. So if we replace the commas with dashes, that would be OK.

Sentence formula:

[subject][dash][appositive][dash][verb]

The subject 'population' is followed by the double comma appositive, then a verb.

C. Appositive phrases at the end of a sentence

Like modifiers, the appositive can appear after the independent or dependent clause (at the end of a sentence).

Example 1:

Another key management concern is that killer whales may not be getting enough food during certain times of year. The Vancouver Aquarium, with support from the Killer Whale Research and Conservation Program, is using unmanned aerial vehicles to take high-resolution images of the endangered whales. This innovative photogrammetry project allows researchers to closely monitor killer whales' health by comparing the impacts of different salmon runs, a critical step towards helping the population recover.

Can you identify the appositive at the 'end'? You would be correct if you said 'a critical step towards…'.

This innovative photogrammetry project allows researchers to closely monitor killer whales' health by comparing the impacts of different salmon runs, a critical step towards helping the population recover.

Sentence formula: [ind][comma][appositive]

D. Appositive phrases and punctuation

The appositive phrase receives a comma and only a comma. Anything else would be incorrect.

E. Nonessential vs. Essential Appositives

Nonessential clauses have been discussed previously with 'who,' 'which,' and 'modifying' phrases. The appositive phrase can be essential or nonessential depending on the context of the sentence and paragraph.

Here are two examples. Think about which example would be correct.

Example 1: When professor, Dr. Boutros, traveled to Aswan for an excavation, he discovered nothing but sand and dust.

Example 2: When professor Dr. Boutros traveled to Aswan for an excavation, he discovered nothing but sand and dust.

Which one is correct? Example 2. The name Dr. Boutros is important to the meaning of the sentence.

Look at example one. Let's cross out the 'nonessential' clause:

When the professor, Dr. Boutros, traveled to Aswan for an excavation, he discovered nothing but sand and dust.

Now the sentence just reads: When the professor traveled to Aswan…

Would you know which professor? No. That's why the information is ESSENTIAL to the meaning of the sentence.

Let's look at another example, but in paragraph form:

Dr. Boutros was raised in the capital of Cairo, a city pluming with people, cafes, and great restaurants. When the professor, Dr. Boutros, traveled to Aswan for an excavation, he was surprised to only find sand and dust. He returned to his university empty-handed and ashamed.

Focus on the highlighted phrase. Is this phrase correct as a nonessential clause or incorrect because the information is critical?

If you said correctly, the phrase 'Dr. Boutros' is nonessential, then you would be correct.

Why? We already know who the sentence is discussing from the CONTEXT of the paragraph. Earlier in the paragraph, the professor was already mentioned.

Do NOT put yourself in a box. Always take CONTEXT into account. Paragraphs are not built from individual sentences but from CONNECTED sentences.

F. Common Errors

1. Common Error #1: Comma/Dash/Semicolon Fragment

Comma fragments appear with appositives when they appear in the MIDDLE of a sentence.

Incorrect:

When the professor Dr. Boutros, traveled to Aswan for an excavation, he discovered nothing but sand and dust.

Can you identify the comma fragment?

When the professor Dr. Boutros, traveled to Aswan for an excavation, he discovered nothing but sand and dust.

The phrase in red shows the comma fragment. We divide the subject 'Dr. Boutros' from its verb 'traveled'.

How would you fix the sentence? Depending on the context.

If the information is essential, simply remove the comma.

When the professor Dr. Boutros traveled to Aswan for an excavation, he discovered nothing but sand and dust.

If the information is nonessential, then just add a comma.

When the professor, Dr. Boutros traveled, to Aswan for an excavation, he discovered nothing but sand and dust.

2. Common Error #2: Semicolon, Colon, and Period Fragments.

As stated earlier, the appositive can only receive the comma, anything else would be a fragment.

Leo Tolstoy enjoyed casual gardening; a known past time for the genius.

Leo Tolstoy enjoyed casual gardening: a known past time for the genius.

Leo Tolstoy enjoyed casual gardening. A known past time for the genius.

3. Common Error #2: Run On Sentence

This appears when the appositive is used at the beginning or end of a sentence.

As stated earlier, we need to separate the appositive from the independent clause or other dependent clauses.

Incorrect:

Leo Tolstoy enjoyed casual gardening a known past time for the genius.

Correct:

Leo Tolstoy enjoyed casual gardening, a known past time for the genius.

4. Common Error #4: Making an essential appositive nonessential (and vice versa)

This has been thoroughly discussed under E. Essential vs. Nonessential.

An appositive can be essential or nonessential depending on the context of the sentence and paragraph.

5. Misplaced Appositive [misplaced modifier].

Appositive can be misplaced, describing the incorrect noun.

For example:

Incorrect: A technique used for centuries, the professors studied mummification in the Valley of the Kings.

If you mastered misplaced modifiers, then you would be able to see the mistake. The sentence here states 'A technique..' and connects it to the word 'professors'. WRONG. We need to make sure the correct noun is modified.

Correct:

Correct: A technique used for centuries, mummification was studied by the visiting professors in the Valley of the Kings.

Here are some potential FAQs and common mistakes based on the provided notes about appositives:

FAQs:

1. What is an appositive phrase?

- An appositive phrase is a phrase that gives more information about a noun. It contains no subject or verb and functions as an adjective modifying or describing a noun.

2. Where can an appositive phrase appear in a sentence?

- An appositive phrase can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.

3. How should an appositive phrase be punctuated?

- An appositive phrase should be set off by commas. If it appears in the middle of a sentence, it should be enclosed by two commas. If it appears at the beginning or end of a sentence, it should be followed or preceded by a comma, respectively.

4. What is the difference between an essential and nonessential appositive?

- An essential appositive provides information that is necessary for the meaning of the sentence, while a nonessential appositive provides additional, non-critical information. Essential appositives are not set off by commas, while nonessential appositives are.

Common Mistakes:

1. Comma/Dash/Semicolon Fragment: Using a single comma, dash, or semicolon to separate an appositive phrase in the middle of a sentence, creating a fragment. The appositive should be enclosed by two commas or dashes.

2. Semicolon, Colon, and Period Fragments: Using a semicolon, colon, or period before an appositive phrase instead of a comma. Appositives should only be set off by commas.

3. Run-On Sentence: Failing to use a comma to separate an appositive phrase at the beginning or end of a sentence from the independent clause or other dependent clauses.

4. Making an Essential Appositive Nonessential (and vice versa): Incorrectly punctuating an appositive phrase as nonessential when it provides critical information (or vice versa). The context of the sentence and paragraph should be considered when determining if an appositive is essential or nonessential.

5. Misplaced Appositive (Misplaced Modifier): Placing an appositive phrase next to the incorrect noun, causing confusion or altering the intended meaning of the sentence. The appositive should be placed directly next to the noun it modifies.

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