Daniel Kies Department of English College of DuPage
Modern English Grammar English 2126		Contact Form

Punctuating Introductory Elements

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Introduction to the problem

Traditionally, formal written English requires writers to use a comma after introductory elements, that is, after clauses or phrases that are at the beginning of a sentence. However, the trend among contemporary writers — even well-educated, professional writers — is to punctuate more lightly, using fewer marks of punctuation.¹ Readers too seem to prefer this contemporary style, feeling that the traditional punctuation practices create text that looks over-punctuated and "heavy." This contrast between the (older) traditional conventions of written English and the (newer) practices of contemporary readers and writers is the source of this particular usage problem.

Such contrasts between groups are not uncommon in any language. Linguists refer to them as examples of divided usage.

Examples

Examine the sentences below and decide if the punctuation usage is sufficient or not. Then hover your mouse over the sentences to see my comments.

1. Before a thief can steal, he must first get elected.
2. After supper I'll wash the dishes.
3. However, we will leave the laundry until tomorrow.
4. Whenever she stands up she feels faint.
5. After rereading these examples I think I need to revise.

Discussion

In the sentences above, the traditions of formal written English would require us to punctuate the introductory elements, especially those functioning as adverbials before the main clause. Contemporary writers, on the other hand, prefer not to punctuate introductory elements at all, making exceptions to that principle (a) if clarity of meaning fails, (b) if the introductory element is particularly long (on the order of six or more words), or (c) if the introductory element is a full subordinate clause. Consequently, contemporary writers have a range of stylistic options here.

Fig. 1: Stylistic Range of Acceptable Usage in English formal |<--------->| informal traditional |<--------->| contemporary

"acceptable usage" generally means "whatever the majority of educated readers and writers will accept"

One can see that range of acceptability too when one reads the pages below linked in the "More resources" section. Close reading might lead one to think that the pages give contradictory advice, leading to frustration and a sense that usage rules are all ad hoc. Not so, exactly. Each author below suggests a range of acceptable usage, and in times when the language seems in flux each author will have slightly different perspectives (and preferences) about which of the several paths s/he would like us to follow.

Since "acceptable usage" generally means "whatever the majority of educated readers and writers will accept," contemporary English truly has a case of divided usage here: the tradition tells us always to use the comma following the introductory element, and contemporary readers and writers prefer not to use the comma. As a result, I suggest that writers choose a punctuation practice that is appropriate for her/his purpose and audience and then stay consistent (meaning not to switch between more formal and less formal styles).

As in all cases of divided usage, the best course a careful writer can take requires that the writer choose a style (a more formal style or less formal style) depending on the purpose of document and the expectations of the audience. Some purposes require a more formal style, such as an academic paper or letter of application for a job. Some require a less formal style, as in a letter to mom or an email to a friend. Audience expectations too bear consideration: your teachers will likely expect a different writing style than your friends will, for example.

Note

¹ To get a better sense of how lightly some writers punctuate in contemporary English, consider this bit of dialog between John Grady Cole (the boy) and the family attorney (Franklin) from page 17 of Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses (1992), winner of the National Book Award for Fiction:

Note that McCarthy skips all punctuation, unless it is necessary for meaning. Thus, he ignores quotation marks and most commas and apostrophes. He will use end-punctuation, comma, and apostrophes only to promote clarity, as in It's [not Its] his own damned fault.

More resources

"Commas After Introductions"

Peck, Frances. "The Comma"

Penrose, Sandra. "A Handbook of Selected Punctuation Marks"

"Rules for Comma Usage"

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