It's appositival, if it's there. And it doesn't have to be there. And it's really obvious that it's there when it's there.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- If an appositive is present, it’s obvious; if not, it’s optional.
- In plain terms
- An appositive is clear when there, but not required.
- What can you take from it?
- Use appositives when they add clarity, otherwise omit them.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does an appositive improve readability?
- How can you spot unnecessary appositives?
Another view
Overusing appositives can make sentences cumbersome.
More from Larry Wall
I wouldn't ever write the full sentence myself, but then, I never use goto either.
Permalink to quote #106 Oh, get ahold of yourself. Nobody's proposing that we parse English.
Permalink to quote #108 Sometimes we choose the generalization. Sometimes we don't.
Permalink to quote #105
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