Apposition
Definition
Apposition places one noun phrase beside another noun phrase that identifies, renames or explains the same person or thing. Extra, non-essential appositive information is normally separated with commas.
Examples
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My neighbour, a doctor, works nights.
A doctor adds extra information about my neighbour.
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The poet Maya Angelou wrote many books.
The name identifies which poet is meant, so no commas are needed.
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Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, lies on the coast.
The second noun phrase explains Lisbon and is non-essential.
Identifying vs. extra apposition
My brother Daniel lives in Dublin.
The name identifies which brother is meant, so it is not separated by commas.
Daniel, my brother, lives in Dublin.
The name already identifies the person, so my brother is parenthetical.
Comma use depends on whether the second noun phrase is needed to identify the first.
Apposition can be short or extended
An appositive may be a name, title, role or longer noun phrase. It can also appear after a colon or dash when it is presented as an explanation or specification.
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The winner, a sixteen-year-old runner from Nairobi, accepted the prize.
A long noun phrase adds non-essential information about the winner.
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She had one goal: a place in the final.
The noun phrase after the colon specifies the meaning of one goal.
Common mistakes
The author, George Orwell wrote the novel.
The author George Orwell wrote the novel.
When the name identifies which author is meant, no comma is needed.
Madrid the capital of Spain is inland.
Madrid, the capital of Spain, is inland.
The explanatory phrase is non-essential and needs a comma on both sides.
Quick check
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly punctuates extra appositive information?
Our project manager is extra information and needs commas on both sides.Which sentence uses identifying apposition without commas?
Here Marie Curie identifies which scientist is meant, so the name is integrated without commas.Which phrase is in apposition with Lisbon?
The capital of Portugal renames and explains Lisbon.Nice work — you've completed the quick check.
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