In a series of posts Virtus will provide tips and advice covering many aspects of publishing. This series will be an ongoing selection of language tips, covering areas that many authors find difficult or confusing. These will be short and to the point.

Introductory Commas

Writing errors concerning comma usage are common, particularly involving incorrect introductory commas. Let’s examine this tricky issue.

Part of the confusion is likely caused by the fact that some authors (or even copy editors) may not be taking the context into account.

Here’s an excerpt from excellent guidelines from the Purdue Online Writing Lab (which I highly recommend) concerning commas after introductions:

“Introductory clauses start with adverbs like after, although, as, because, before, if, since, though, until, when, etc.”

There is no disputing this fact, but in practice many people ignore the words “start with”: As a result they see any of these words and incorrectly insert a comma immediately after the first word:

This is incorrect:

Although, it’s a desert, there are many flowers and plants at White Sands National Monument.

Here’s the same sentence correctly punctuated:

Although it’s a desert, there are many flowers and plants at White Sands National Monument.

The comma should be at the conclusion of the introductory clause.

It is critical to remember the following points, as stated by Purdue OWL. This material has been edited for content and reformatted for clarity. The end of the quoted material is denoted by the box (∎):

Introductory Clauses

Introductory clauses are dependent clauses that provide background information or “set the stage” for the main part of the sentence, the independent clause. For example:

If they want to win, athletes must exercise every day.

(introductory dependent clause, main clause)

Because he kept barking insistently, we threw the ball for Smokey.

(introductory dependent clause, main clause)

Introductory phrases

Introductory phrases also set the stage for the main action of the sentence, but they are not complete clauses. Phrases don’t have both a subject and a verb that are separate from the subject and verb in the main clause of the sentence. Common introductory phrases include prepositional phrases, appositive phrases, participial phrases, infinitive phrases, and absolute phrases.

To stay in shape for competition, athletes must exercise every day.

(introductory infinitive phrase, main clause)

Barking insistently, Smokey got us to throw his ball for him.

(introductory participial phrase, main clause)

A popular and well respected mayor, Bailey was the clear favorite in the campaign for governor.

(introductory appositive phrase, main clause)

The wind blowing violently, the townspeople began to seek shelter.

(introductory absolute phrase, main clause)

After the adjustment for inflation, real wages have decreased while corporate profits have grown.

(introductory prepositional phrases, main clause)

Introductory words

Introductory words like however, still, furthermore, and meanwhile create continuity from one sentence to the next.

The coaches reviewed the game strategy. Meanwhile, the athletes trained on the Nautilus equipment.

Most of the evidence seemed convincing. Still, the credibility of some witnesses was in question.

When to use a comma

Introductory elements often require a comma, but not always. Use a comma in the following cases:

• • After an introductory clause. 

• • After a long introductory prepositional phrase or more than one introductory prepositional phrase. 

• • After introductory verbal phrases, some appositive phrases, or absolute phrases.

• • If there is a distinct pause. 

• • To avoid confusion.

When not to use a comma

Some introductory elements don’t require a comma, and sometimes the subject of a sentence looks like an introductory element but isn’t. Do not use a comma in the following cases:

• • After a brief prepositional phrase. (Is it a single phrase of fewer than five words?)

• • After a restrictive (essential) appositive phrase.

• • To separate the subject from the predicate.

Each of the following sentences may look like it requires a comma after the opening segment, but the opening segment is really the subject. It’s sometimes easy to confuse gerund- or infinitive-phrase subjects like the following with nonessential introductory phrases, so be careful.

Preparing and submitting his report to the committee for evaluation and possible publication was one of the most difficult tasks Bill had ever attempted.

To start a new business without doing market research and long-term planning in advance would be foolish.

Extracting the most profit for the least expenditure on labor and materials is the primary goal of a capitalist.

Most of the evidence seemed convincing. Still, the credibility of some witnesses was in question.

∎

Another issue I’ve seen a lot comes up with the conjunction “while.”

Here’s an example of that type of error I’ve seen in often:

While, a great deal occurs below the threshold of our awareness, …

Many authors may use a comma after “while”: It is incorrect.

Similarly, here’s another example:

Although most of us have no problem ranking the importance of decisions…

Some authors may insert a comma after “although”: This is incorrect.

When we are writing it’s imperative that we pay attention to all text, rereading what’s been written thoroughly for meaning and context. Without reading carefully (and checking what we’ve written) we can easily overlook these issues.