Commas with transitional expressions

Transitional expressions serve as bridges between sentences or parts of sentences. They include conjunctive adverbs and transitional phrases.

Transitional expression between independent clauses

When a transitional expression appears between independent clauses in a compound sentence, it is preceded by a semicolon and is usually followed by a comma.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: Minh did not understand our language; moreover he was unfamiliar with our customs. Revised sentence: Minh did not understand our language; moreover, he was unfamiliar with our customs.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: Some erosion was evident around the concrete pilings, however, the bridge was given provisional approval. Revised sentence: Some erosion was evident around the concrete pilings; however, the bridge was given provisional approval.

Transitional expression at the beginning or within a sentence

When a transitional expression appears at the beginning of a sentence or in the middle of an independent clause, it is usually set off with commas.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: As a matter of fact American football was established by fans who wanted to play a more organized game of rugby. Revised sentence: As a matter of fact, American football was established by fans who wanted to play a more organized game of rugby.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: Natural foods are not always salt free; celery for example contains more sodium than most people would imagine. Revised sentence: Natural foods are not always salt free; celery, for example, contains more sodium than most people would imagine.

Transitions without commas

If a transitional expression blends smoothly with the rest of the sentence, calling for little or no pause in reading, it does not need to be set off with commas. Expressions such as also, at least, certainly, consequently, indeed, of course, no doubt, perhaps, then, and therefore do not always call for a pause.

Example sentence: Alice's bicycle is broken; you will therefore need to borrow Sue's.

Example sentence: The outdoor drawing class was interrupted by a fierce storm; the students should at least have been allowed into the maintenance building.

Conjunctive adverbs

Transitional phrases

Exercise: Major uses of the comma 1

Exercise: Major uses of the comma 2

Exercise: All uses of the comma

compound sentence A sentence consisting of two independent clauses.

independent clause A word group containing a subject and a verb that can or does stand alone as a sentence.