Did you know that some punctuation rules are optional? Now, I’m not talking about bending the rules in your experimental fiction class or leaving out punctuation to sound more relatable. I’m talking about punctuation that can go either way, depending on your preference.
An obvious choice that comes to mind in the Oxford (serial) comma. But that's an editorial minefield, so I'll leave it for another post. Today, I'll be covering the use of commas after introductory clauses (i.e. words at the start of a sentence that provide additional information or modify the meaning.) But there’s a bit of confusion about when you can and can’t do this, so here are 3 quick and dirty rules you can follow:
Rule 1
If the introductory phrase has a preposition (e.g. in, for, with, between, before, etc.) and less than 4 words (this number depends on your style guide), a comma is optional.
✅ In 1984, I finally bought a boom box.
✅ In 1984 I finally bought a boom box.
✅ On average, I listen to my boom box three times a day.
✅ On average I listen to my boom box three times a day.
This can make your sentence crisp and direct, or provide drama and rhythm. However, when the prepositional phrase has 4 words or more, you’ll need a comma for clarity.
✅ After working for three months, I finally had enough money to buy a boom box.
Rule 2
A comma is necessary when omission can cause ambiguity or confusion in a sentence. (You don't want to interrupt the flow by making your audience read a line twice!)
❌ In December 2000 boom boxes were stolen from a warehouse.
✅ In December, 2000 boom boxes were stolen from a warehouse.
Without a comma, you’re left wondering if 2000 is a date or the number of stolen boom boxes. If you're referring to 2000 boom boxes, then you need a comma after 'December'.
Rule 3
If the introductory phrase has an adverb (e.g. however, ideally, unfortunately, meanwhile, furthermore), a name or a greeting, you’ll also need a comma.
✅ However, I forgot to plug in the boom box.
✅ Roberto, don’t forget to plug in the boom box.
✅ Goodbye, Roberto.
When a comma is optional, I try to retain the author’s preference (unless it causes confusion). That’s just good manners! In my own writing, I lean toward using commas in all introductory phrases, even when they’re relatively short. It keeps things simple and prevents ambiguity.
Commas after introductory clauses: Summing up
Introductory clauses can be tricky, and most writers don't know when they should or shouldn't include a comma. However, if you follow the three simple rules above, you'll make your writing clearer and avoid distracting ambiguities that can confuse or lose readers. How do you navigate commas in introductory phrases? Do you prefer light or heavy punctuation? Or maybe you want to talk about my obsession with retro boom boxes. Let me know in the comments below.
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