0
English 1b3 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Articles in shortened writing

After the birth of his baby two months ago with wife Sarah, Ross...

Is this in bold grammatical or shortened writing for say a magazine, newspaper article and such? Shouldn't it be with his wife Sarah. But why should we use 'his'? What's wrong with it as is?

Also shouldn't we use a comma before Sarah, since there is only one wife (non-restrictive)?

Thanks
  

Top answer

with wife Sarah -- It is not a journalistic or other stylistic shortening. This is dealt with as idiomatic, I believe, and/or as a 'restrictive appositive' (if I have not imagined the term). It occurs in a limited number of cases of standard relationships consisting of short appositives only: John Smith, son Samuel, and eldest daughter Sarah will be arriving next week, so we'd better clean out the guest rooms .

— Mister Micawber

  • with wife Sarah -- It is not a journalistic or other stylistic shortening.
  • This is dealt with as idiomatic, I believe, and/or as a 'restrictive appositive' (if I have not imagined the term).
  • It occurs in a limited number of cases of standard relationships consisting of short appositives only: John Smith, son Samuel, and eldest daughter Sarah will be arriving next week, so we'd better clean out the guest rooms .
  • Somewhere I have read a short paragraph in a grammar book on this.
  • If I run across it again, I'll post it.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

3 Answers
0
with wife Sarah -- It is not a journalistic or other stylistic shortening. This is dealt with as idiomatic, I believe, and/or as a 'restrictive appositive' (if I have not imagined the term). It occurs in a limited number of cases of standard relationships consisting of short appositives only: John Smith, son Samuel, and eldest daughter Sarah will be arriving next week, so we'd better
0
0
HOw is John Smith an appositive?

And how is it a restrictive appositive? Isn't it non-restrictive? He only has the one wife...

Thanks
0
0
'John Smith' is not an appositive! 'Son Samuel' and 'eldest daughter Sarah' contain appositives. Please allow me to include other context in my example sentences.

As to restricitive / non-restrictive, I have said that it is idiomatic and that I would supply more authority if I met it again.
0

Related Questions