Comma after union a. A combination of conjunctions at the beginning of a sentence. Always written WITHOUT commas

If the introductory word can be omitted or rearranged to another place in the sentence without violating its structure (usually this happens with the unions “and” and “but”), then the union is not included in the introductory construction - a comma need.

For example: "Firstly, it became dark, and, secondly, everyone was tired."

If the introductory word cannot be removed or rearranged, then the comma after the union (usually with the union "a") not put.

For example: “She just forgot about this fact, or maybe she never remembered it”, “..., and therefore ...”, “..., and maybe ...”, “..., which means ...”.

If the introductory word can be removed or rearranged, then the comma need after the union "a", since it is not associated with the introductory word.

For example: “She didn’t just not love him, but maybe even despised him.”

If at the beginning of the sentence there is a coordinating union (in an attached meaning) (“and”, “yes” in the meaning of “and”, “too”, “also”, “and then”, “otherwise”, “yes and”, “ and also ", etc.), and then the introductory word, then a comma before it need not.

For example: “And really, you shouldn’t have done this”; “And perhaps it was necessary to do something differently”; “Finally, the action of the play is ordered and divided into acts”; “Besides, other circumstances came to light”; “But of course, everything ended well.”

It happens rarely: if at the beginning of a sentence worth joining union, a the introductory construction is emphasized intonation, then commas are NEEDED.

For example: "But, to my great annoyance, Shvabrin decisively announced ..."; "And, as usual, they remembered only one good thing."

Always WITHOUT commas are written:

first of all

at first sight

for sure

likewise

More or less

literally

in addition

in the (final) end

in the end

last resort

best case scenario

anyway

at the same time

overall

mostly

especially

in some cases

no matter what

subsequently

otherwise

as a result

concerning

in this case

in the same time

in this regard

mainly

often

exclusively

as a maximum

meanwhile

just in case

in case of emergency

if possible

as far as possible

still

practically

approximately

with all (with) that

with (all) desire

on occasion

likewise

the biggest

at least

actually

in addition

to top it off

by the proposal

by decree

by decision

traditionally

A comma is NOT placed at the beginning of a sentence:

“Before… I was…”

"Since…"

"Before as…"

"Although…"

"As…"

"To…"

"Instead of…"

“Actually…”

"While…"

"Besides..."

"Nonetheless…"

“Despite the fact that ...” (at the same time - separately); DO NOT put a comma before "what".

"If…"

"After…"

“And…”

« Finally" in the meaning of "finally" - does not stand out with commas.

« And this despite the fact that…"- in the middle of a sentence, a comma is always placed!

« Based on this, …"- a comma is placed at the beginning of the sentence.

BUT: “He did so on the basis of ...” - the comma is not put.

« After all, if...then..."- a comma before "if" is not put, since the second part of the double union - "then" goes on. If there is no “then”, then a comma before “if” is put!

« Less than two years..."- a comma before "what" is not put, because this is not a comparison.

comma before "how" put only in case of comparison.

« Policies such as Ivanov, Petrov, Sidorov ... ”- a comma is placed, because is the noun "politics".

BUT: "… politicians such as Ivanov, Petrov, Sidorov ... ”- no comma is placed before“ how ”.

No commas are placed:

"God forbid", "God forbid", "for God's sake"- no commas stand out, + the word "god" is written with a small letter.

BUT: commas are placed in two directions:

"Thank God" in the middle of the sentence it is separated by commas on both sides (the word "God" in this case is capitalized) + at the beginning of the sentence - it is distinguished by a comma (on the right side).

"God"- in these cases, commas are placed on both sides (the word "god" in this case is written with a small letter).

"My God"- separated by commas on both sides; in the middle of the sentence "God" - with a small letter.

How much, you can put, these commas! Of course, it is impossible not to put them at all, but it is better if all the commas are in their place. They are more comfortable, and you are smarter.

Correctly: once I missed the plane

The nightmare of all travelers, and indeed of any person. It is better to obey your mother - and arrive in advance (five hours). And don't put an unnecessary comma after the word "once". This is an adverb that is mistaken for an introductory word and is separated by commas. In vain. It is easy to check for "false input": introductory words, as a rule, do not answer questions. So that's enough to ask a question. When did you miss the plane? One day.

Correctly: and it's almost summer

Two extra commas detected! But why? We don't know either. "Here" is a demonstrative particle, which is extremely rarely separated by commas. A comma is needed if the next part of the sentence clarifies, reveals the meaning of the previous one: “I have long wanted to tell the news. So, now I'm the class teacher of the 5th grade. For our example with almost summer (and many other examples with “here”), this option is not very suitable. Restrain your punctuation impulses.

Correctly: however, it's not that simple

However, everything is simple! Although ... Sometimes "however" is a false introductory word, sometimes it is an introductory one. If “however” is at the beginning of a simple sentence and it can be replaced by “but”, then this is not an introductory word, but a union. A comma can be used if “however” is followed by another separate phrase, for example: “However, as Mel predicts, most students will write the exam perfectly.” If “however” is in the middle or at the end of a sentence, then it may well be an introductory word with the meaning of opposition: “Here you fooled me, however!” /

Correctly: besides, there is always a temptation to put a comma

Let's get acquainted with another false-introductory combination. There is no need for a comma after "besides". Only if after these words there is no isolated turnover. For example: besides, I think it would still not work out.

Correctly: Learning is great. Especially if they don't give homework.

If the adverb "especially" is at the beginning of a sentence, then punctuation marks are not put at all. And if a turnover with a clarification or explanation begins with the word “especially”, then it is completely isolated. For example: it's great to study, especially if they don't give homework.

Correctly: there are at least two errors in the text

What to do if you desperately want to put a comma after the misleading phrase “at least”? Just keep to yourself. This is not what we said, but the organizer of the "Total Dictation" and Deputy Head of the HSE School of Philology Maria Rovinskaya in one interview. True, author's commas are sometimes allowed to emphasize the intonational pause. But, in secret, copyright punctuation marks are possible anywhere. Only tsss.

Correctly: he came to school as an experienced teacher

The comma before “how” infuriates us too, don’t worry. Because it can be difficult to determine when it is needed and when it is not. It’s easier to go from the opposite: remember when a comma before “how” is needed, and in all other cases do not put it. A comma is needed in turns with demonstrative words: “as ... as”, “such ... as”, “that ... as” and “as ... as”, “as and ...”. It will also come in handy in comparative turnovers (I want to be like the president). And, finally, in complex sentences, when "how" attaches a subordinate clause. Here we do not have a comparison, but the meaning "as". Who did you come to school as? Experienced teacher. Read carefully - there is no other recipe.

Correctly: dear reader "Mel"

Not exactly a misleading word, but a very common childhood mistake. The rule with appeals passes almost in elementary school, but it haunts us all our lives. And yes, we do manage to get them wrong. Calls really need to be separated by commas (always!). In our version, the word "dear" (still popular for mistakes "respected") is included in the circulation and is not separated by a comma. If there was some kind of greeting before the appeal (“good afternoon, dear Olga Vasilyeva”) - then a comma is in place.

Correctly: Either way, you'll have to pass the exams.

Remember that in the combinations "in any case", "as a last resort", "in our case" (and a dozen more combinations that were not included in this text) - a comma is not needed.

At the beginning of the day, it is usually easy to work, easier than at the end, when thoughts are already confused. So it is at the beginning of a sentence: we skip it easily, without stumbling over commas, not like in the middle, when the devil himself will not figure it out in isolations and revolutions. And we don’t stumble at the beginning of a sentence on commas because you rarely see them there.

About unions with introductory words at the beginning of a sentence, a similar approach is to a combination of unions. The rule is:

“At the beginning of a sentence, the coordinating and subordinating unions, as well as the subordinating union and the allied word are not separated by a comma: Denis is dead. And when I was leaving, his old woman brought me a goose ...(Shv.); Because where can they meet now?».

I would like to say "that's it". But no, not all. This rule is from Lopatin's reference book, and Rosenthal's reference book is "more talkative":

“The placement of a comma between the connecting union (at the beginning of the sentence, after the dot) and the subordinating union following it depends on the meaning of the union:

1) ... after the union and no comma: ; ;

2) after ... union a no comma: ; ;

3) after the union but a comma is placed if there is a pause between unions and is not set if there is no pause (appreciate the cunning! - "According to the rules"): (Sim.); (Paul);

4) after the union but a comma is usually placed: ».

A comma at the beginning of a sentence after the conjunctions "but", "however", "and", "a" before the subordinating union

A comma is placed		No comma is placed
But(on pause)	But, if further the enemy managed to repulse the attackers, the infantry again rushed to the attack	But(no pause)	But when he, leaning on a stick, got out of the staff bus to the square ... something pinched in the wound
However	However, if circumstances so require, I will not stand aside.	And	And although the weather has improved significantly, the danger of drought has not passed.; And instead of turning right, we mistakenly went straight
		BUT	And when the sun rose, a view of the snowy peak opened before us.; If weather forecasts are to be believed, warmer weather is expected tomorrow.

"Now everything is brought to a single form, and rightly so." Do you need this offer comma after conjunction AND? If yes, please explain why. Google and search on the site does not give anything about the constructions "and this is good" and "and this is right." Thank you.

A comma is placed (the union And has a connecting meaning, and it connects parts of a complex sentence).


	Question #299676

Good afternoon. Do you need comma after conjunction"and" in the next sentence: Then Astafiev describes the house in which everything was abandoned and there was "an unimaginable mess."