Commas Following Introductory Words, Phrases and Clauses

Compiled from Goodwill's Skill Builders Writing Skills

A comma is used to:

1. set off introductory words, phrases and clauses from the main part of a sentence.
2. help save the reader’s time and reduce the chances of misinterpreting what you write.

The examples below show how introductory words, phrases and clauses are set off with commas.

Words

·        Disappointed, we left the party shortly after we arrived.

·        Annoyed, John stomped back to his room and slammed the door.

Phrases

·        Expecting the worst, we stopped spending and started saving.

·        Badly injured in the accident, the actor was absent for more than three months.

Clauses

·        If we plan carefully for our trip, we can see and do a lot of things.

·        While we were having lunch, an important call came.

·        Because we left before the seminar ended, we were not eligible for the free trip to Shanghai.

Note:

In the sentences above, the first part of each sentence, also known as the subordinate/dependent clause is followed by a comma. However, if you reverse the sentence parts, making the independent clause the first clause in the sentence, you would NOT need a comma.

• The actor was absent for more than three months after the he was badly injured in the accident.
• An important call came while we were having lunch.
• We were not eligible for the free trip to Shanghai because we left before the seminar ended.