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July 2001

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Subject:
Re: A simple question?
From:
Richard Veit <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 26 Jul 2001 17:05:06 -0400
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At 04:05 PM 7/26/2001, you wrote:
>Jennifer,
>
>1) The commas aren't needed with single word appositives:  "My sister
>Alice was beautiful."

Actually the distinction is between restrictive appositives (no commas) and
nonrestrictive appositives (commas). The number of words has nothing to do
with it.

Restrictive examples (note: these are read with no pauses):

   The color purple is ...
   Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice is ...
   My son the doctor is ...

Nonrestrictive examples (note the pauses where the commas are):

   My favorite color, purple, is ...
   Shakespeare's most celebrated play, Hamlet, is ...
   My father, a Korean War veteran, is ...

Dick Veit

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