The apposition

The apposition is a peculiar attribute expressed by a noun or nominal phrase and referring to another noun, nominal phrase, or a clause. The apposition may give another name to, or description of the person or non-person, or else put it in a certain class of persons or non-persons.

From the point of view of their relation to the headword, appositions are subdivided into two types:

a) non-detached appositions:

Sir Peter, Docto r Watson, Colone l Davidson, Mount Everest, etc.

Your friend George Lamb has just telephoned.

b) detached appositions:

Cooper was three inches taller than Mr. Warburton, a strong, muscular young man.

References to words, books, are often expressed in the appositive form: the word “geese”, the good ship “Venus”, the play “Romeo and Juliet”.