Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 4 down vote favorite
1

If I have a sentence that starts with additionally, finally, consequently, etc. do I always have to put a comma after this? Or is there any rule how I can judge?

share|improve this question

3 Answers

up vote 5 down vote

If starting a sentence with an introductory word or phrase then, yes, a comma would be required.

If you need money ask grandma for a loan. Alternatively, rob a bank.

You would not need a comma if the word is used as an adverb in mid-sentence:

I finally had my refrigerator repaired.

share|improve this answer
Thanks. But what if I use it like this: Finally[,] I had my refrigerator repaired. – RoflcoptrException Apr 17 '11 at 22:56
1  
Whilst I'm sure most people would put a comma after Alternatively there, many people - myself included - might well not bother if you substituted Or instead. It's not a matter of absolute rules. Or if there is a rule, it's probably Omit commas wherever this doesn't compromise legibility. – FumbleFingers Apr 17 '11 at 22:59
@Roflcoptr: A comma would be required in the sentence "Finally, I had my refrigerator repaired". The key is whether the word or phrase is introductory. – Snubian Apr 17 '11 at 23:15
@FumbleFingers: I would say that the formal rule is to always use a comma before an introductory word or phrase. In short, when the sentence doesn't begin with the subject. When writing informally I suppose you could omit the comma to dictate a certain pace to the reader: "Or take the bus". – Snubian Apr 17 '11 at 23:24
1  
@Snubian: My point is precisely that I don't accept the validity of any formal rule in this context, obviously. But let's not get into a pissing contest. If there were to be a formal rule, yours would do well enough. – FumbleFingers Apr 18 '11 at 1:45
show 1 more comment
up vote 4 down vote

Actually, it's just a matter of personal preference. Do you want your reader to mentally pause after the first word or not?

share|improve this answer
Note the comma after "actually"! – msanford Apr 18 '11 at 23:42
1  
I did actually think it might lend a touch of 'gravitas' to the answer following, to be preceded by such a portentious pause. Contrasting with the somewhat more informal if not flippant tone of the expansionary second sentence :-) – FumbleFingers Apr 18 '11 at 23:50
up vote 4 down vote

A sentence adverb (or a disjunct or an introductory adverbial element) should be followed by a comma in certain circumstances. You can find all the information you could possibly want here:

grammartips.homestead.com/adverbs2.html

share|improve this answer
Excellent link, for which I'll upvote the answer. But ideally you'd have done the spadework to point out that all of OP's introductory adverbial elements are in fact conjunctive adverbs. Which, as your link points out, are optional - with the modern tendency being to omit them. I like the metaphor of optional commas creating superfluous pauses that are as welcome as speed bumps! – FumbleFingers Apr 18 '11 at 12:19
@FumbleFingers: They might prevent accidents... – Cerberus Apr 18 '11 at 16:04
@Cerberus: Exactly! Reader is accidentally reading too fast, not paying attention, and so misses the significant of crucial clause which should have been preceded by pregnant pause. It's so much easier being a movie director than a writer - you've got total control of the pace. – FumbleFingers Apr 18 '11 at 22:42

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.