Comma usage.
1.Relentless detective, Sherlock Holmes, thinks he has evidence.
2.High flying student Sarah made the grade.
1.Undercover cop, Steven, uncovers a conspiracy.
2.Hard working student Sarah earned the grade.
Are the commas around the names in these examples optional? Is one examples usage different from the other or are these all the same? I understand if the information preceeding the name identifies it then a pair of commas is used, but not sure with this example.
1. A unfair and corrupt cop, Steven made the false arrest.
2. A unfair and corrupt cop, Steven, made the false arrest.
Are these ok too with the comma placement? Optional placement of the commas?
Top answer
These are all examples of appositives, and appositives are set off by commas. So 1. Relentless detective, Sherlock Holmes, ...
- These are all examples of appositives, and appositives are set off by commas.
- So 1.
- Relentless detective, Sherlock Holmes, ...
- 2.
- High-flying student, Sarah, ...
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These are all examples of appositives, and appositives are set off by commas. So
1. Relentless detective, Sherlock Holmes, ...
2. High-flying student, Sarah, ...
1. Undercover cop, Steven,...
2. Hard-working student, Sarah,...
1. An unfair and corrupt cop, Steven,...
2. An unfair and corrupt cop, Steven,...
0The relentless detective, Sherlock Holmes, thinks he has evidence. Commas required.
Detective Sherlock Holmes thinks he has evidence. No commas.
The high flying student, Sarah, made the grade. Commas required.
An unfair and corrupt cop, Steven, made the false arrest.
The rule is that you always have an even number of commas (0, 2, .4) between the subject and the verb.
0
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