P2

(Comma needed: p.2)

Gilman Punctuation Rules:

Use commas after introductory (a) clauses, (b) phrases, or (c) words that come before the main clause.

Examples:
When I get hungry for Mexican food (,) I head for Taco Bell!
Because her Powerbook was broken (,) she needed to rely upon the computers in the school lab.

Dependent Clauses (Darling et al)
Commas After Introductions (Purdue OWL)

Verbal (and other) Phrases (Darling et al)
Rules for Comma Usage (Darling et al)
Proofreading: Finding Common Errors (Purdue OWL)
Clauses: The Essential Building Blocks (Darling et al)

Commas with Introductory Elements (Darling et al)
Commas with Introductory Elements (QUIZ)
Commas: Fill-in-the-blanks (QUIZ)
Comma Usage (QUIZ)
Punctuation: Fill-in-the-blanks (QUIZ)
Punctuation (QUIZ)
Punctuation II (QUIZ)
Punctuation III (QUIZ)
Punctuation IV (QUIZ)
Punctuation V (QUIZ)

Jump to:
Usage
Punctuation & Capitalization
Form
Content

(Comma needed: P.2: introductory adverb clause)

Gilman Punctuation Rules:

Use commas to set off an adverb clause that precedes its main clause. Adverb clauses are begun by subordinate conjunctions such as after, although, as, because, if, since, when, and while.

Example:
While I was eating (,) the cat scratched at the door.

Note: Do not use a comma when the adverb clause comes after the main clause:

Example:
The cat scratched the door while I was eating.

Dependent Clauses (Darling et al)
Commas After Introductions (Purdue OWL)

Verbal (and other) Phrases (Darling et al)
Rules for Comma Usage (Darling et al)
Proofreading: Finding Common Errors (Purdue OWL)
Clauses: The Essential Building Blocks (Darling et al)

Jump to:
Usage
Punctuation & Capitalization
Form
Content

(Comma needed: P.2: introductory phrase.)

Gilman Punctuation Rules:

Use commas to set off introductory phrases such as participial phrases or infinitive phrases or a succession of prepositional phrases. (For a discussion of gerund phrases go here.)

Examples:
Participial Phrase:
Having finished the test (,) she left the room.
Infinitive Phrase:
To get a seat (,) you had better come early.
Succession of Prepositional Phrases:
After the test but before lunch (,) I went jogging.

The Garden of Phrases (Darling et al)
Verbal (and other) Phrases (Darling et al)

Recognizing Phrase Functions (Darling et al)
Verbal (and other) Phrases (Darling et al)

Jump to:
Usage
Punctuation & Capitalization
Form
Content

(Comma needed: P.2: introductory word.)

Gilman Punctuation Rules:

Here are some common words that introduce sentences: yes, however, well, no, why, consequently, nevertheless, and moreover.

Example:
Well (,) perhaps he meant no harm.

Jump to:
Usage
Punctuation & Capitalization
Form
Content

(No comma needed: P.2)

Gilman Punctuation Rules:

Do not use a comma when the adverb clause comes after the main clause:

Example:
The cat scratched the door while I was eating.

Dependent Clauses (Darling et al)
Commas After Introductions (Purdue OWL)
Rules for Comma Usage (Darling et al)
Proofreading: Finding Common Errors (Purdue OWL)
Clauses: The Essential Building Blocks (Darling et al)
The English House of Commas (Powerpoint)(Darling et al)
Clauses: Building Blocks for Sentences (Powerpoint) (Darling et al)

Jump to:
Usage
Punctuation & Capitalization
Form
Content