Introducing the Comma

Introducing the Comma Introducing the Comma Introducing the Comma By Erin Commas are a tricky little piece of punctuation, and they give many people headaches. In my students essays, I frequently see commas where they dont belong, and I see necessary commas left out. I make it one of my goals to help demystify the comma for my students. The most common missing comma is the one that comes after an introductory element in a sentence. You need a comma after an introductory word: Actually, Ive never been to Disney World. After an introductory phrase: After the storm, many people were without electricity for days. And after an introductory clause: Because it was so hot outside, we decided to stay home. Generally, its safe to use a comma in any of these cases. Be careful, thoughsometimes what looks like an introductory phrase is actually the subject of the sentence: Starting an essay without doing your research is never a good idea. To be or not to be is the question. (apologies to Mr. Shakespeare) If a sentence starts with a gerund (-ing) or infinitive (to+verb) phrase, using a comma is incorrect! Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Good At, Good In, and Good WithWhat to Do When Words Appear Twice in a Row