Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

nawee · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Posts: 400

Hello All,

I have just read somewhere that it is incorrect to put a comma after sentence-initial time and place phrases. There exists such a rule??? Accoring to this 'rule', the following sentences are incorrect.

1. Yesterday, I went to school.
-- I agree that there shouldn't be a comma after "yesterday"

2. In Spain, people have late lunches.
-- maybe the comma is not needed, but is it "incorrect"? I think I have a comma after this kind of phrase. Is that a result of ignorance or careless writing?

Thank you,

Nawee

myprofe · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:00 am Post subject:

I don't know the rule and I'm not going to look for it.

When we speak, we pause between words, phrases etc. This is, in many cases, for clarity. If you write, with no commas, you are speaking without pauses. It's confusing. It is my humble opinion that, many times, the comma is an option, as I have domonstrated here.
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ClarissaMach · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 5:27 pm Post subject:

I believe this comma after adverbial adjuncts is always right, but we're not obliged to put it there always.
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