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Quizzes > Literature & Language > English & Grammar

Master Appositive Phrase Punctuation - Take the Quiz Now

Think you know appositive punctuation rules? Spot correct appositive phrase examples now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration featuring an appositive phrase punctuation quiz title on golden yellow background

This Appositive Phrase Quiz helps you pick the sentence where the appositive phrase is punctuated correctly, so you can practice commas and write with clarity. Get quick feedback as you go, then try our related sentence quiz or review comma use with appositives .

Which sentence correctly uses commas to set off the appositive phrase?
My friend, Alex, loves basketball.
My friend Alex, loves basketball.
My friend Alex loves basketball.
My friend, Alex loves basketball.
The name Alex is a nonrestrictive appositive and should be enclosed in commas on both sides. Omitting one comma or using just one disrupts the flow and clarity of the sentence. For more on appositives, see .
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
The novelist Jane Austen, wrote Pride and Prejudice.
The novelist, Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice.
The novelist Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice.
The novelist, Jane Austen, wrote Pride and Prejudice.
Jane Austen is a nonrestrictive appositive providing additional info about 'the novelist' and should be set off by commas. See for more details on comma usage with appositives.
Which option correctly punctuates the appositive phrase?
My sister, Emma is coming to visit.
My sister Emma is coming to visit.
My sister Emma, is coming to visit.
My sister, Emma, is coming to visit.
Emma is nonessential information describing 'my sister' and should be enclosed in commas on both sides. For more examples, visit .
Choose the sentence with the correctly punctuated appositive.
The capital of France, Paris, is known for art.
The capital, of France, Paris, is known for art.
The capital of France Paris, is known for art.
The capital of France Paris is known for art.
Paris is a nonrestrictive appositive adding information about 'the capital of France' and should follow a comma. See for appositive punctuation rules.
Select the sentence with proper appositive commas.
Our teacher, Mr. Smith, is strict.
Our teacher Mr. Smith, is strict.
Our teacher, Mr. Smith is strict.
Our teacher Mr. Smith is strict.
Mr. Smith is an appositive providing additional nonessential detail and requires commas before and after. For further reading, see .
Which sentence correctly uses commas for the appositive phrase?
The insect a ladybug, is red.
The insect a ladybug is red.
The insect, a ladybug is red.
The insect, a ladybug, is red.
The phrase 'a ladybug' is nonrestrictive and requires commas on both sides. To learn more about appositive commas, visit .
Identify the correctly punctuated sentence.
His car, a vintage Ford, is in the garage.
His car a vintage Ford is in the garage.
His car a vintage Ford, is in the garage.
His car, a vintage Ford is in the garage.
The nonessential appositive 'a vintage Ford' is correctly set off with commas. For additional examples, see .
Choose the sentence that correctly sets off the appositive.
The mountain, Kilimanjaro stands tall.
The mountain, Kilimanjaro, stands tall.
The mountain Kilimanjaro, stands tall.
The mountain Kilimanjaro stands tall.
Kilimanjaro is nonrestrictive information and is properly enclosed in commas. For more info on appositives, visit .
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
The painting The Starry Night was sold at auction.
The painting, The Starry Night, was sold at auction.
The painting The Starry Night, was sold at auction.
The painting, The Starry Night was sold at auction.
'The Starry Night' is a nonrestrictive appositive and should be enclosed in commas. See .
Select the correctly punctuated restrictive appositive.
My friend Sarah, won the contest.
My friend Sarah won the contest.
My friend, Sarah won the contest.
My friend, Sarah, won the contest.
Here 'Sarah' specifies which friend, so it is restrictive and does not take commas. For more on restrictive vs. nonrestrictive, see .
Which sentence correctly punctuates the appositive?
The company, Apple Inc. is launching a new product.
The company Apple Inc. is launching a new product.
The company Apple Inc., is launching a new product.
The company, Apple Inc., is launching a new product.
'Apple Inc.' is nonrestrictive and should be set off by commas. For punctuation rules, consult .
Identify the correctly punctuated sentence.
The poet, Maya Angelou, wrote I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
The poet Maya Angelou wrote I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
The poet Maya Angelou, wrote I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
The poet, Maya Angelou wrote I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
Here the name is essential to specify which poet is meant, so no commas are used. See .
Choose the sentence with proper appositive punctuation.
My neighbor, the baker makes bread daily.
My neighbor the baker makes bread daily.
My neighbor, the baker, makes bread daily.
My neighbor the baker, makes bread daily.
'The baker' is additional info about 'my neighbor' and is nonrestrictive, requiring commas on both sides. More at .
Which sentence correctly sets off the appositive?
The element oxygen, is essential for life.
The element, oxygen is essential for life.
The element oxygen is essential for life.
The element, oxygen, is essential for life.
Oxygen is a nonrestrictive appositive and should be enclosed in commas. For more details, visit .
Select the properly punctuated sentence.
Her dog Buddy, loves to play fetch.
Her dog, Buddy loves to play fetch.
Her dog, Buddy, loves to play fetch.
Her dog Buddy loves to play fetch.
Buddy is nonessential information and requires commas on both sides. For tips on using commas with appositives, see .
Which sentence correctly punctuates the appositive?
The president of the US Joe Biden, gave a speech.
The president of the US, Joe Biden, gave a speech.
The president of the US Joe Biden gave a speech.
The president of the US, Joe Biden gave a speech.
Joe Biden is nonrestrictive here and is properly set off with commas. For style guidelines, consult .
Which sentence correctly punctuates the complex appositive phrase?
My car, a 1967 Mustang Shelby GT500 has been fully restored.
My car a 1967 Mustang Shelby GT500, has been fully restored.
My car, a 1967 Mustang Shelby GT500, has been fully restored.
My car a 1967 Mustang Shelby GT500 has been fully restored.
The lengthy phrase 'a 1967 Mustang Shelby GT500' adds nonessential detail and must be enclosed in commas. For advanced guidance, see .
Identify the correct punctuation of the appositive phrase.
Our CEO Jennifer Lee, Ph.D., will join us today.
Our CEO Jennifer Lee Ph.D. will join us today.
Our CEO, Jennifer Lee Ph.D will join us today.
Our CEO, Jennifer Lee Ph.D., will join us today.
Titles and credentials after a name are appositives and should be set off by commas. For more, see .
Which is punctuated correctly?
The artist, Banksy a mysterious street painter, intrigues fans worldwide.
The artist, Banksy, a mysterious street painter intrigues fans worldwide.
The artist Banksy, a mysterious street painter, intrigues fans worldwide.
The artist Banksy a mysterious street painter, intrigues fans worldwide.
'a mysterious street painter' is a nonrestrictive appositive describing Banksy and requires commas. Get more detail at .
Select the correctly punctuated sentence.
My hometown, Nashville Tennessee is known for music.
My hometown Nashville Tennessee, is known for music.
My hometown, Nashville, Tennessee, is known for music.
My hometown Nashville, Tennessee is known for music.
Both Nashville and Tennessee form a compound appositive and each is set off by commas. For compound appositives, see .
Which sentence correctly punctuates the nested appositive?
The explorer, Sir Edmund Hillary, the first to summit Everest, was a New Zealander.
The explorer, Sir Edmund Hillary the first to summit Everest was a New Zealander.
The explorer Sir Edmund Hillary the first to summit Everest was a New Zealander.
The explorer Sir Edmund Hillary, the first to summit Everest, was a New Zealander.
Both 'Sir Edmund Hillary' and 'the first to summit Everest' are nonrestrictive and require commas. See .
Identify the correctly punctuated sentence.
The novel, War and Peace written by Leo Tolstoy, in 1869 is lengthy.
The novel War and Peace, written by Leo Tolstoy in 1869, is lengthy.
The novel War and Peace written by Leo Tolstoy in 1869 is lengthy.
The novel, War and Peace, written by Leo Tolstoy in 1869, is lengthy.
Here 'War and Peace' and the clause 'written by Leo Tolstoy in 1869' are nonrestrictive and both set off by commas. For more on layered appositives, visit .
Which sentence correctly punctuates the essential appositive?
The poet Edgar Allan Poe born in 1809 wrote dark tales.
The poet Edgar Allan Poe, born in 1809, wrote dark tales.
The poet Edgar Allan Poe, born in 1809, wrote dark tales.
The poet, Edgar Allan Poe born in 1809, wrote dark tales.
Here the appositive is essential in context to specify which poet is meant and thus does not take commas. For more, see .
Which sentence correctly handles punctuation with a parenthetical appositive?
The award (the Nobel Prize in Literature), is prestigious.
The award (the Nobel Prize in Literature) is prestigious.
The award, (the Nobel Prize in Literature), is prestigious.
The award, (the Nobel Prize in Literature) is prestigious.
When using parentheses for a nonrestrictive appositive, the comma goes after the closing parenthesis. See .
Choose the correctly punctuated sentence with a semicolon and appositive.
She visited Rome; the Eternal City and Florence; the cradle of Renaissance.
She visited Rome, the Eternal City; and Florence, the cradle of Renaissance.
She visited Rome, the Eternal City and Florence, the cradle of Renaissance.
She visited Rome; the Eternal City, and Florence; the cradle of Renaissance.
In a complex series, semicolons separate items that include commas. Each appositive follows the item it describes and is preceded by a comma. For semicolon usage, see .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Appositive Phrases -

    Understand what appositive phrases are and how they function to clarify or rename nouns within sentences.

  2. Identify Appositive Phrases in Context -

    Identify appositive phrase examples in various sentences to build recognition skills and reinforce your grammar knowledge.

  3. Apply Appositive Punctuation Rules -

    Apply appositive punctuation rules and comma with appositives guidelines to ensure correct comma placement around nonessential phrases.

  4. Analyze Correct Punctuation -

    Analyze sentences to determine in which sentence is the appositive phrase punctuated correctly, boosting your editing accuracy.

  5. Differentiate Restrictive vs Nonrestrictive Appositives -

    Differentiate between essential (restrictive) and nonessential (nonrestrictive) appositive phrases to use commas correctly.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Defining vs. Nondefining Appositives -

    Defining appositive phrases provide essential identification and aren't set off with commas, while nondefining ones add extra detail and require commas on both sides. For example, "The poet Emily Dickinson wrote many famous poems" needs no commas, but "Emily Dickinson, the poet, wrote many famous poems" does. Purdue OWL emphasizes that correct comma usage prevents misreading.

  2. Identify Appositive Phrases with the Removal Test -

    To spot appositive phrase examples, try removing the phrase and see if the sentence still makes sense; if it does, you've found a nondefining appositive that needs commas. For instance, removing "my neighbor" from "Sarah, my neighbor, won the award" leaves "Sarah won the award," confirming comma necessity. This quick test is endorsed by the Chicago Manual of Style.

  3. Commas with Appositives: Punctuation Rules -

    Nondefining appositive punctuation rules state that commas must enclose the phrase, ensuring clear separation of extra information. In "The Nile, the longest river in Africa, is vital to Egypt," the commas signal the appositive "the longest river in Africa." The Cambridge Dictionary's style guide highlights this as a core rule for clarity.

  4. Using Appositive Phrase Examples Correctly -

    Practice with a variety of sample sentences, such as "Mark Twain, the pen name of Samuel Clemens, penned classic novels," to internalize comma placement around appositives. Notice how the commas frame "the pen name of Samuel Clemens," offering a clear appositive phrase example. This approach is recommended by university writing centers for mastering punctuation.

  5. Quiz Strategy: Which Sentence Is Correct? -

    When answering "in which sentence is the appositive phrase punctuated correctly," scan for proper comma placement around nonessential information. Focus on whether removing the appositive changes the core meaning - if not, it needs commas. Following these tips from WriteCheck can help you ace any punctuation quiz.

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