Commas with Appositives
The Comma
Rulebase Summary
Use commas to set off appositives — nouns or noun phrases placed after another noun to rename or explain it. If the proper noun comes first, the appositive description that follows is nonessential and set off with commas.
If a common noun comes first with a superlative or qualifying adjective (best, latest, first, last, only), and is then followed by a proper noun that identifies it, the proper noun is essential (restrictive) and is not set off with commas.
Reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself) may or may not be set off, depending on whether emphasis or clarity is needed.
Examples
A. Dr. Patel the attending physician examined the patient at 3:00 a.m.
A. Dr. Patel, the attending physician, examined the patient at 3:00 a.m.
Nonessential appositive set off with commas.
A. My attorney Robert Feldman advised me not to sign.
A. My attorney, Robert Feldman, advised me not to sign.
Name renames the noun — commas around the appositive.
Transcript Notes
Appositives that immediately follow the word they rename are generally nonessential when they follow: (1) a proper noun, (2) a plural noun, or (3) a noun that can represent only one singular thing (e.g., 'my mother'). If the sentence continues after the nonessential appositive, it is surrounded by punctuation.
Style Guide References (9)
Morson's
BGGP
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