Not a writing-related question, but what is the name for the doubling of a subject in an English sentence? "The citizens, they slept soundly." "The man, he looked dashing." "The cat, it was sleeping." I've run into a youtube video where the presenter seems to think that every. damn. sentence. needs to follow this pattern and I can't for the life of me remember the name. Google, it is snatching onto particulars and not grasping the overall pattern. Thanks in advance.
It's a preposed appositive. It comes before the term it is clarifying instead of after it. It, the cat, was sleeping. (which is silly, but is a normal appositive) The cat, it was sleeping. (preposed)
Thanks! I know it can be used for emphasis, but this particular youtuber seemed to think it was just the standard way to make a sentence. The content was otherwise good but I ended up gritting my teeth in horrified anticipation.
I think I know who you mean. Does he also have a southern accent and sort of sing-song when he talks? I think it's That Umbrella Guy. If so, I've seen a few of his videos, and as soon as he starts in with that stuff I remember "Oh no, it's that guy!" and I switch off.
Nah, this guy has about eight or so channels, white dude, bald/shaved head, heavy-rimmed glasses and a dark beard. British accent. He used to do the thing where he would cut out every pause in his speaking to create a breathless, rapid-fire effect.
There's been a few times when I've written stuff like this. They always seem to get edited out later on. I don't know what the grammar term is for it (does one exist?), but to me, it's a telescoping sentence or a volvulus. Ha, hopefully, I coined a word.
