Appositive
/əˈpɑːzɪtɪv/noun
A noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it.
My friend Josh, a talented artist, created this painting.
Often appears as...
- my brother, a professional chef
- the capital of France, Paris
Usage tips
Neutral
noun phrase, renaming, additional information
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Definition Clarity
An appositive can help clarify who or what is being referred to.
In 'the car, a red sedan, is fast', the appositive specifies the type of car.
Pro Tip 2/3Formality
Use appositives to add detail in both formal and informal writing.
In a speech, you might say: 'My daughter Sarah, the engineer, designed the project.'
Pro Tip 3/3Non-Essential Usage
Sometimes, appositives are non-essential and can be removed without altering the main meaning.
You could also say: 'My brother plays the guitar' without losing the original context.
Compare with
modifieradjectiveparentheticalclause
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