Appositive Phrases

An appositive phrase is a type of noun phrase thatfollows the noun or pronoun it modifies and amplifies or restricts itsmeaning.

Our department head, a careful reader and outspoken critic, willreview the memo before it is circulated. [The italicized phrase is anappositive.]

Appositive phrases are similar to relative clauses; to avoid wordiness, relative clauses can often be reducedto appositive phrases.

As with adjective phrases, punctuation with appositive phrases is determined bywhether the phrases are restrictive ornonrestrictive.

## Appositive Phrases ##

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