When do you place a comma after an introductory phrase?

When do you place a comma after an introductory phrase?

• A. Only if the sentence is long.
• B. Before the introductory phrase.
• C. After the introductory phrase at the beginning of the sentence.
• D. Never use a comma after an introductory phrase.

Answer: (C)

When a sentence starts with an introductory phrase, you use a comma after that phrase to signal a brief pause before the main part of the sentence. This helps readers see where the setup ends and the main message begins. For example: After a long day, we finally rested. Here the introductory phrase is After a long day, and the comma comes right after it, before the main clause. That’s why the correct choice is to place the comma after the introductory phrase at the beginning of the sentence. The rule isn’t about sentence length, and you don’t put a comma before the introductory phrase. Also, you don’t skip the comma after the introductory part in standard writing—the pause helps readability.

When a sentence starts with an introductory phrase, you use a comma after that phrase to signal a brief pause before the main part of the sentence. This helps readers see where the setup ends and the main message begins. For example: After a long day, we finally rested. Here the introductory phrase is After a long day, and the comma comes right after it, before the main clause.

That’s why the correct choice is to place the comma after the introductory phrase at the beginning of the sentence. The rule isn’t about sentence length, and you don’t put a comma before the introductory phrase. Also, you don’t skip the comma after the introductory part in standard writing—the pause helps readability.