Apposition and Appositives: A Grammar Guide

Apposition and appositives are grammatical terms that sound like they are the same thing. While they sound similar and occur within the same grammatical instance, both serve a unique role within grammar.

In our writing, we often provide clarification or additional information regarding a person, place or thing. When this occurs, both apposition and appositives are in play.

So, what are appositives and apposition? Which punctuation can express apposition? And how do you remember the difference between apposition and appositives?

Let’s dive in before I start repeating myself!

What is Apposition?

Apposition occurs when two noun phrases next to each other in a clause refer to the same person, place or thing. Apposition is often applied when the writer or speaker believes additional clarification to describe the noun is needed for their audience.

Examples

Rita plans to get married next month in Key West, her favorite vacation destination.

We learned in school today about Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone.

“Key West” and “her favorite vacation destination” refers to the same person in the first sentence, just as “Alexander Graham Bell” and “the inventor of the telephone” refers to the same person in the second sentence. In both examples, the two noun phrases are in apposition because they refer to the same person.

Types of Apposition

There are several ways we express apposition in our writing—that is, with punctuation. More frequently, apposition is written with commas. Sometimes, apposition is expressed with parentheses or dashes. And there are instances where no punctuation is needed.

Examples

Comma: Aiden, my cousin, just graduated from high school.

Parentheses: Aiden (my cousin) just graduated from high school.

Dashes: Aiden—my cousin—just graduated from high school.

All three examples express the same concept. “Aiden” and “my cousin” refer to the same noun in all three sentences. The only difference is that the writer chose to express the apposition with different punctuation.

There are also instances when a comma is not needed, particularly when specifying which person, place or thing we are referring from a number of possible people, places or things.

Comma: My cousin, Aiden, just graduated from high school.

No Comma: My cousin Aiden just graduated from high school. My cousin Wendell is studying abroad in Spain.

In the first example, the writer likely only has one cousin. In the second example, the writer likely has several cousins, so it is clarified which cousin is which and a comma is not necessary.

What is an Appositive?

When apposition occurs, an appositive is the second noun phrase that renames the first noun phrase or clarifies it more concretely for the audience. When apposition uses punctuation, an appositive is the noun or noun phrase contained within commas, parentheses or dashes.

Examples

Our next class field trip is to Carson City, Nevada’s state capital.

Yvonne (my roommate) works weekdays at the local coffeeshop.

Dr. Patterson—my brother’s English professor from last semester—is retiring in May.

In the first example, “Nevada’s state capital” is the appositive that renames “Carson City.” In the second example, “my roommate” is the appositive that clarifies who “Yvonne” is. In the third example, “my brother’s English professor from last semester” clarifies who Dr. Patterson is.

What’s the Difference Between Apposition and Appositives?

It can be easy to confuse these terms, since they are so similar and reliant on each other. The best way to remember the difference between apposition and appositive is that one is part of the whole.

Apposition is the instance when two noun phrases next to each other in a clause refer to the same person, place or thing. Appositive is the second noun phrase when apposition occurs. Apposition always features an appositive within its instance.

Example

Rita plans to get married next month in Key West, her favorite vacation destination.

The above sentence features apposition because “Key West” and “her favorite vacation destination” refer to the same place. “Her favorite vacation destination” serves as the appositive because it is the second noun phrase that clarifies “Key West” in relation to Rita.

How do you apply apposition and appositives within your writing? Share in the comments section below.