Using Appositives

An appositive is a word or phrase that is apposed to, that is, positioned next to a noun to describe or to define it in some way. We most commonly use appositive phrases when we are introducing someone:

Commander Stephen, a master mariner with nearly twenty years at sea, gave the order to commence bombardment.

The underlined appositive phrase efficiently provides defining detail about Commander Stephen. It acts somewhat like a relative clause, but without the pronoun and verb—the "who is." Fewer words make it a faster kind of modifying phrase.

Appositive words and phrases are often set off with dashes, a form of punctuation that heightens the effect of the appositive as providing quick and concise detail that supports the main point of the sentence:

The Canadian contribution to the Kosovo air campaign—eighteen CF-18 aircraft—was small when compared to the massive US deployment.

An appositive phrase can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, depending on the desired effect. Here are a couple of sentences taken from articles in the Canadian Military Journal that use appositives in different ways:

Digitization, data fusion, precision-guided munitions, cybernetic devices—these are but a few concepts that are put forward as evidence of a new epoch of warfare.

This new kind of militarism was based not on obedience to traditional authority, but on individual toughness, group cohesion, and personal rather than class leadership—all combined with a mastery of technology.

Appositive phrases are a tidy way of adding information about the subject of a sentence or defining a particular person, word, or idea without greatly interrupting the flow of thought. Fast, full, and informative sentences use appositives to good effect. Be mindful, though, not to become dash-happy and overuse appositives.

Practice Exercises (12 questions)