Introductory Elements

Section 8.2.1

Introductory Elements

Use commas to set off transitionalwords and phrases, introductory clauses, or introductory phrases to signal where the introductory element finishesand the main part starts.

Transitional Words and Phrases

Place a comma after a transitional word or phrase that beginsa sentence.

Moreover, the opening of an export market would helpexpand the market for key escrow encryption.

In addition, several companies and individuals have proposedcommercial key escrow approaches.

--Dorothy E. Denning, "The Case for Clipper," TechnologyReview

Introductory Clauses

Place a comma after an introductory dependent clause.

Although key escrow is voluntary, critics say that the introduction of Clipper points national policyin a disturbing direction.

Introductory Prepositional or Verbal Phrases

Normally, use a comma after an introductory prepositional orverbal phrase. However, you may omit the comma after a shortintroductory phrase if no ambiguity is possible.

For the first time, researchers have used DNA analysis toidentify the animal tissue in 4,000-year-old rock paintings.

--"Science and the Citizen," Scientific American

Despite the error the experiment was successful.

Combining surface area with depth, we calculated the volume of the pond.

Do not place a comma after an introductory participial or gerund phrase if the phrase forms part of the subject or verb of the sentence.

Combining surface area with depth was our principalmthod for calculating the volume of the pond.

## Introductory Elements ##

Copyright ©2001 The McGraw-Hill Companies. Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. McGraw-Hill Higher Education is one of the many fine businesses of
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc..