a question about comma usage

[denamarie]

In the sentence below, I have a question about comma usage. I am looking at the phrase "who made no move to release the child" as functioning as an appositive; therefore, I chose to use a comma before it. However, people much smarter than me do not use it. Which way is correct?

Jake locked his arms more snugly around Adriana, who made no move to release the child.

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by denamarie

In the sentence below, I have a question about comma usage. I am looking at the phrase "who made no move to release the child" as functioning as an appositive; therefore, I chose to use a comma before it. However, people much smarter than me do not use it. Which way is correct?

Jake locked his arms more snugly around Adriana, who made no move to release the child.

That sentence is fine as is. (An appositive phrase takes a comma both before and after it.)

[denamarie]

Originally Posted by RonBee

That sentence is fine as is. (An appositive phrase takes a comma both before and after it.)

Bee, would you consider the phrase an appositive?

[RonBee]

An appositive phrase is an adjectival phrase that comes after the noun, thus:

Jack, her husband, called at 6 o'clock.

~R

[RonBee]

Correction:

Usually, but not always, commas come before and after an appositive phrase. An appositive phrase describes the noun that comes before it, thus:

Jake locked his arms snugly around Adriana, his wife.

~R

[Soup]

denamarie, why did you decide to place a comma there? The comma is OK but not really all that necessary. Relative who refers to the closest noun, so there is no need to add punctuation for clarity:

Ex: Jake locked his arms more snugly around Adriana who made no move to release the child.