LitWiki - User contributions [en]

Does an introductory clause or phrase need a comma after it?

2013-07-19T09:42:45Z

CandaceCooper:

'''"''Does an introductory clause or phrase need a comma after it?''"'''

[[File:Comma.jpg]]
(Image: Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center,
Northern Illinois University)

'''It is appropriate to use a comma after an introductory''' a) '''clause,''' b) '''phrase,''' '''or''' c) '''word that comes before the main clause:'''

a) Because it was snowing, the flight was delayed.

b) Having completed her work, she went to bed.

c) Yes, you should eat a healthy breakfast.

Use a comma to set off an introductory clause beginning with these frequently used words: ''after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while''.

Use a comma following an introductory phrase that includes: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinitive infinitive] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participle participle] phrases, nonessential [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apposition appositive] phrases, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_construction absolute] phrases,and long [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adpositional_phrase prepositional] phrases.

A comma should be used after an introductory prepositional phrase to avoid misreading:
''In all, four students failed the class.''

In addition, single introductory words should also be followed by a comma: ''however, well, yes, unfortunately'', etc.

W.W. Norton lists a stylistic '''exception''': "To accelerate the pace of their sentences, writers sometimes skip the comma after an introductory adverb or short introductory phrase" (p. 455).<ref>[http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/write/waor/CH29.pdf W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.]</ref>

==See Also==

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNoSepSmN3Y "Commas After Introductory Clauses and Phrases"] (video)

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91yGM9r0alI "Using a Comma After an Introductory Element"] (video)

==References==

<references/>

==External Links==
(Additional Sources)

[http://www.apsstylemanual.org/oldmanual/mechanics/commas.htm APS Online Style Manual]

[http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/607/ Purdue OWL]

Does an introductory clause or phrase need a comma after it?

2013-07-19T09:07:26Z

CandaceCooper:

'''"''Does an introductory clause or phrase need a comma after it?''"'''

[[File:Comma.jpg]]
(Image: Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center,
Northern Illinois University)

'''It is appropriate to use a comma after an introductory''' a) '''clause,''' b) '''phrase,''' '''or''' c) '''word that comes before the main clause:'''

a) Because it was snowing, the flight was delayed.

b) Having completed her work, she went to bed.

c) Yes, you should eat a healthy breakfast.

Use a comma to set off an introductory clause beginning with these frequently used words: ''after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while''.

Use a comma following an introductory phrase that includes: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinitive infinitive] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participle participle] phrases, nonessential [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apposition appositive] phrases, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_construction absolute] phrases,and long [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adpositional_phrase prepositional] phrases.

A comma should be used after an introductory prepositional phrase to avoid misreading:
''In all, four students failed the class.''

In addition, single introductory words should also be followed by a comma: ''however, well, yes, unfortunately'', etc.

W.W. Norton lists a stylistic '''exception''': "To accelerate the pace of their sentences, writers sometimes skip the comma after an introductory adverb or short introductory phrase"<ref>[http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/write/waor/CH29.pdf W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.]</ref> (p. 455).

==See Also==

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNoSepSmN3Y "Commas After Introductory Clauses and Phrases"] (video)

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91yGM9r0alI "Using a Comma After an Introductory Element"] (video)

==References==

<references/>

==External Links==

[http://www.apsstylemanual.org/oldmanual/mechanics/commas.htm APS Online Style Manual]

[http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/607/ Purdue OWL]

File:Comma.jpg

2013-07-19T08:24:54Z

CandaceCooper:

Does an introductory clause or phrase need a comma after it?

2013-07-19T06:50:09Z

CandaceCooper:

'''"Does an introductory clause or phrase need a comma after it?"'''

It is appropriate to use a comma after an introductory a) clause, b) phrase, or c) word that comes before the main clause:

a) Because it was snowing, the flight was delayed.

b) Having completed her work, she went to bed.

c) Yes, you should eat a healthy breakfast.

Use a comma to set off an introductory clause beginning with these frequently used words: ''after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while''.

Use a comma following an introductory phrase that includes: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinitive infinitive] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participle participle] phrases, nonessential [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apposition appositive] phrases, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_construction absolute] phrases,and long [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adpositional_phrase prepositional] phrases.

A comma should be used after an introductory prepositional phrase to avoid misreading:
''In all, four students failed the class.''

In addition, single introductory words should also be followed by a comma: ''however, well, yes, unfortunately'', etc.

W.W. Norton lists a stylistic '''exception''': "To accelerate the pace of their sentences, writers sometimes skip the comma after an introductory adverb or short introductory phrase"<ref>[http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/write/waor/CH29.pdf W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.]</ref> (p. 455).

==See Also==

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNoSepSmN3Y "Commas After Introductory Clauses and Phrases"] (video)

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91yGM9r0alI "Using a Comma After an Introductory Element"] (video)

==References==

<references/>

==External Links==

[http://www.apsstylemanual.org/oldmanual/mechanics/commas.htm APS Online Style Manual]

[http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/607/ Purdue OWL]

Does an introductory clause or phrase need a comma after it?

2013-07-12T08:36:51Z

CandaceCooper: Created page with "'''"Does an introductory clause or phrase need a comma after it?"''' It is appropriate to use a comma after an introductory a) clause, b) phrase, or c) word that comes befor..."

'''"Does an introductory clause or phrase need a comma after it?"'''

It is appropriate to use a comma after an introductory a) clause, b) phrase, or c) word that comes before the main clause:

a) Because it was snowing, the flight was delayed.

b) Having completed her work, she went to bed.

c) Yes, you should eat a healthy breakfast.

Use a comma to set off an introductory clause beginning with these frequently used words: ''after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while''.

Use a comma following an introductory phrase that includes: infinitive and participle phrases, nonessential appositive phrases, absolute phrases,and long prepositional phrases.

A comma should be used after an introductory prepositional phrase to avoid misreading:
''In all, four students failed the class.''

In addition, single introductory words should also be followed by a comma: ''however, well, yes, unfortunately'', etc.

W.W. Norton lists a stylistic '''exception''': "To accelerate the pace of their sentences, writers sometimes skip the comma after an introductory adverb or short introductory phrase."

'''Links to References'''

[http://www.apsstylemanual.org/oldmanual/mechanics/commas.htm APS Online Style Manual]

[http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/607/ Purdue OWL]

[http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/write/waor/CH29.pdf W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.]