<p>Rita Dove, African American writer and teacher, as poet laureate of the United States from 1993 to 1995.
Answer Choices</p>
<pre><code>* (A) Rita Dove, African American writer and teacher, as
* (B) Rita Dove was an African American writer and teacher as
* (C) African American writer and teacher Rita Dove was
* (D) African American writer and teacher, Rita Dove was
* (E) An African American writer and teacher, it was Rita Dove
</code></pre>
<p>Why is D incorrect?</p>
<p>The correct answer is C. This was the daily CB question. D is incorrect because there is no need for that comma. There would be a need if the sentence started with “An…”.</p>
<p>Saying what is said in D is like saying “President, Obama” (incorrect). Saying what is said in C is like saying “President Obama” (correct). It’s a title that serves as an adjective, like blue in the phrase blue skies. You don’t put a comma between an adjective and its modified noun. “President” in this case is a title, just like “writer” and “teacher” are.</p>