Writing · Commas
Combine each pair of sentences into one sentence, following the direction in parentheses. Use a comma after the introductory element. You can add, delete or rearrange words as needed.
Example: Students have part-time jobs. They struggle to balance work and studies. (Begin with because.)
Answer: Because students have part-time jobs, they struggle to balance work and studies.
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About This Rule
- Use a comma after an introductory element, the words that come before the main clause of a sentence.
- This includes introductory clauses (Although students make mistakes, they learn from them.), -ing phrases (By reading books in English, students learn new vocabulary.) and longer prepositional phrases (In addition to teaching classes, professors mentor students.).
- After a very short introductory phrase, the comma is sometimes optional, but after an introductory clause it is always recommended.