How do you punctuate appositive phrases?
This question came to us with a specific example, wondering about the correct punctuation in this sentence: The eleven-inch wand, the one made of ash[,] shot out a stream of sparks.
Let's start by identifying "the one made of ash" as an appositive phrase. Our Grammar 101: Prepositions & Phrases article defines an appositive as "a noun or pronoun, often with modifiers, that renames or identifies another noun or pronoun within a sentence."
Specifically this appositive is nonrestrictive, meaning that the sentence would still make sense if it were removed. Consider the two sentences:
The eleven-inch wand, the one made of ash, shot out a stream of sparks.
The eleven-inch wand shot out a stream of sparks.
Both make sense, right?
Because the appositive is nonrestrictive, or nonessential to the meaning of the sentence, it is set aside from the rest of the sentence using punctuation. Commas are the most frequently used punctuation for appositives, though like all parentheticals, em dashes or parentheses can also be used. Distance and clarity are the determining factors in which punctuation to use.
Distance
The distance you want between the rest of the sentence and the appositive can determine which kind of punctuation to use. We cover distance (and an overview of parentheticals) in Grammar 101: Punctuation for Pauses, Omissions, and Parentheticals, but to review:
All vampires fear the Slayer, Buffy Summers.
All vampires fear the Slayer-Buffy Summers.
Clarity
Em dashes or parentheses can also be used if a comma would be confusing, such as if the appositive contains commas.
Which sentence is easier to read?
All the Weasleys at Hogwarts, Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George, were part of Dumbledore's Army.
All the Weasleys at Hogwarts-Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George-were part of Dumbledore's Army.
The second sentence is obviously clearer concerning what is placed in apposition to "All the Weasleys at Hogwarts."
Back to the Beginning
So, remembering the sentence that started this-The eleven-inch wand, the one made of ash[,] shot out a stream of sparks-and the fact that we know "the one made of ash" is nonessential, or nonrestrictive, we just need to decide which punctuation to use.
Out of context, I'm inclined to think "the one made of ash" is very close to the rest of the sentence and would recommend using commas. Since the appositive appears in the middle of the sentence, we need a pair of commas. Thus the correct punctuation of the sentence is:
The eleven-inch wand, the one made of ash, shot out a stream of sparks.
Just remember that whenever you're punctuating nonessential information, you need a pair of punctuation marks to separate that nonessential bit from the essential part of the sentence. The nonessential bit can be removed and the sentence still makes sense, which is why we show that with punctuation.
Sources
Wikipedia: Apposition
Grammar Girl: Appositives
Grammar Girl: Commas: Oxford, Appositive, Nonrestrictive
Grammar Monster: What Is Parenthesis in Apposition?
Grammarly Handbook: Setting Off Appositives That Contain Commas
Let's start by identifying "the one made of ash" as an appositive phrase. Our Grammar 101: Prepositions & Phrases article defines an appositive as "a noun or pronoun, often with modifiers, that renames or identifies another noun or pronoun within a sentence."
Specifically this appositive is nonrestrictive, meaning that the sentence would still make sense if it were removed. Consider the two sentences:
The eleven-inch wand, the one made of ash, shot out a stream of sparks.
The eleven-inch wand shot out a stream of sparks.
Both make sense, right?
Because the appositive is nonrestrictive, or nonessential to the meaning of the sentence, it is set aside from the rest of the sentence using punctuation. Commas are the most frequently used punctuation for appositives, though like all parentheticals, em dashes or parentheses can also be used. Distance and clarity are the determining factors in which punctuation to use.
Distance
The distance you want between the rest of the sentence and the appositive can determine which kind of punctuation to use. We cover distance (and an overview of parentheticals) in Grammar 101: Punctuation for Pauses, Omissions, and Parentheticals, but to review:
- Commas provide the least distance, showing the least break in the sentence. Just consider how commas are nothing more than bumps in a sentence:
Harry followed the passage to the Shrieking Shack, the Most Haunted House in Britain, where he’d surely find Ron and Hermione.
Em dashes are the next level of distance, showing some physical separation between the sentence and the appositive. Visually it also draws more attention to the appositive:
Xander wasn’t about to stand in the way of Anya-former vengeance demon and ex-girlfriend-not if he wanted to keep all his man-parts.
Parentheses show the greatest distance. You can almost visualize a capsule around the words in parentheses, like they can float away in an escape pod!
Though Buffy has had romantic entanglements with vampires (Angel, Spike, Dracula), she has no problems slaying vampires.
All vampires fear the Slayer, Buffy Summers.
All vampires fear the Slayer-Buffy Summers.
Clarity
Em dashes or parentheses can also be used if a comma would be confusing, such as if the appositive contains commas.
Which sentence is easier to read?
All the Weasleys at Hogwarts, Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George, were part of Dumbledore's Army.
All the Weasleys at Hogwarts-Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George-were part of Dumbledore's Army.
The second sentence is obviously clearer concerning what is placed in apposition to "All the Weasleys at Hogwarts."
Back to the Beginning
So, remembering the sentence that started this-The eleven-inch wand, the one made of ash[,] shot out a stream of sparks-and the fact that we know "the one made of ash" is nonessential, or nonrestrictive, we just need to decide which punctuation to use.
Out of context, I'm inclined to think "the one made of ash" is very close to the rest of the sentence and would recommend using commas. Since the appositive appears in the middle of the sentence, we need a pair of commas. Thus the correct punctuation of the sentence is:
The eleven-inch wand, the one made of ash, shot out a stream of sparks.
Just remember that whenever you're punctuating nonessential information, you need a pair of punctuation marks to separate that nonessential bit from the essential part of the sentence. The nonessential bit can be removed and the sentence still makes sense, which is why we show that with punctuation.
Sources
Wikipedia: Apposition
Grammar Girl: Appositives
Grammar Girl: Commas: Oxford, Appositive, Nonrestrictive
Grammar Monster: What Is Parenthesis in Apposition?
Grammarly Handbook: Setting Off Appositives That Contain Commas