From the course: Writing with Proper Punctuation

Unlock the full course today

Join today to access over 24,700 courses taught by industry experts.

How to use commas after an introductory element

How to use commas after an introductory element

From the course: Writing with Proper Punctuation

Start my 1-month free trial Buy for my team

How to use commas after an introductory element

“

- According to a study by the Stanford University Writing Center, not using a comma after an introductory element is one of the most common mistakes in student writing. But whether you're a student or a professional, let's make sure you're not doing it. First, transition words such as meanwhile and furthermore need a comma if they come at the beginning of a sentence. Meanwhile, Harold is getting the customer's signature. Furthermore, Sylvia is on the phone with the lender. Second, a variety of introductory phrases need a comma if they come at the beginning of a sentence. These phrases don't have a subject and a verb and can include prepositional phrases such as, "In the East coast office, calls are already going to voicemail," and, "Of all the people who could be handling this problem, Sylvia is the best choice." Appositive phrases that tell us about a person such as, "Last year's winner of the sales contest, Maria was ready…

Contents