How to create Non-Essential and Essential Modifier


Through commas, modifiers can become Essential or Non-Essential.


While essential modifiers are used without commas, non-essential modifiers are always used with commas.



If a sentence still makes perfect sense without certain modifiers, those modifiers are considered "non-essential" and are/will be surrounded by commas.



Othello, which explores the theme of jealousy, is Shakespeare's masterpiece.




It is also possible to use dashes or parentheses instead of commas.


Othello—which explores the theme of jealousy—is Shakespeare's masterpiece.


Othello (which explores the theme of jealousy) is Shakespeare's masterpiece.




In this sentence, it is perfectly fine to erase the non-essential modifier and still retain the same meaning.


Othello, which explores the theme of jealousy, is Shakespeare's masterpiece.




If a non-essential modifier comes at the end of the sentence, only one comma is required.


I recently read Othello, which is Shakespeare's masterpiece.


It is also possible to make the modifier more concise.


I recently read Othello, Shakespeare's masterpiece.



With parentheses, even when a modifier comes at the end, another must be used to close it.


I recently read Othello (Shakespeare's masterpiece).



A single dash can also be used when a non-essential modifier comes at the end of a sentence, but because dashes have multiple usages, this usage is not recommended (we will discuss more about dashes in the next section).




Yet, we cannot always use non-essential modifiers. Sometimes, essential modifiers are necessary / recommended.


For example, you should avoid writing a sentence like the one below.


The painter, who drew Mona Lisa, is a genius.



This is because, though it works grammatically, it is unclear who the painter refers to because there are thousands of talented painters in the world:


The painter, who drew Mona Lisa, is a genius.



In this case, using essential modifier without a comma to make the meaning, or reference, clear is recommended.


The painter who drew Mona Lisa is a genius.





*Choosing between an essential modifier and a non-essential modifier


Students are rarely asked to choose between an essential modifier and a non-essential modifier. Among hundreds of punctuation questions tested in the SAT and ACT, there were less than 10 in total. Though this concept is important to hit the perfect score, for now, don’t worry about it because it is very minor. We will discuss this in detail soon.

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