{"id":13662,"date":"2021-06-26T11:41:57","date_gmt":"2021-06-26T11:41:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/?p=13662"},"modified":"2022-09-19T18:08:58","modified_gmt":"2022-09-19T18:08:58","slug":"comma-after-a-period","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-after-a-period\/","title":{"rendered":"Comma after a Period \u2014 The Complete Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Using punctuation marks is nothing short of confusing, taxing, and even time-consuming; blame this on the variation among the rules in writing style guides.<\/span><\/p>\n

Language is inherently arbitrary, and writers have the prerogative to calibrate their writing style to make their inner thoughts visible to readers.<\/span><\/p>\n

So today, we’ll try to focus our sense-making on the adjacent period-comma placement to make things clearer.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When do we need a comma after a period?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A comma after a period is necessary when the period ends an abbreviation in a list, introductory expression, parenthesis, salutation, compound sentence, and inverted complex sentence. But, no comma is needed when the abbreviation is used as a name title or prefix, essential sentence element, and suffix.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Placing the necessary comma after a period<\/b><\/h2>\n

Placing a comma after a period can look awkward, <\/span>especially<\/b><\/a> if it is done midsentence.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is so because we are preconditioned to the terminal function of periods or <\/span>full stops<\/b><\/a> as per the Brits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Albeit<\/b><\/a> a bit of an eyesore, certain circumstances entail the necessary comma placement after a period.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s look at each of them in detail.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the period is part of an abbreviation in a list<\/b><\/h3>\n

At least in American English (AmE) and its followers, the convention is to place periods in abbreviated words, <\/span>whereas<\/b><\/a> British English practices period omission.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re quite keen on comma placement<\/a> rules, you must already know that a serial list needs to be chunked with commas.<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>meanwhile<\/b><\/a> suggests that when an abbreviated word comes in a list, particularly in the realm of AmE language use, a comma is also expected to come afterward.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s an example to illustrate the explanation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Allen, M.C., Andrew, and Eric went to the same high school.<\/div><\/div>\n

Furthermore, AmE also suggests placing a post-comma when the abbreviation is listed before the conjunctive device, <\/span>such as<\/b><\/a> “and” in the previous example.<\/span><\/p>\n

Allen, Andrew, M.C., and Eric went to the same high school.<\/div><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the abbreviation comes at the end of an introductory expression<\/b><\/h3>\n

Another case that essentializes the comma placement after a period is when the abbreviated word comes at the end of an introductory statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Introductory expressions can be as short as a word and as long as a clause; <\/span>hence<\/b><\/a>, it is needless to say that a comma should be placed whenever the abbreviated term ends the sentence’s introduction.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s an example to represent the explanation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Around the end of Oct., we’re planning to have a reunion.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Note, <\/span>though<\/b><\/a>, that abbreviations are generally frowned upon in formal writing, so avoid using one when it is inappropriate.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the abbreviation comes before a parenthesis<\/b><\/p>\n

The next case the requires a comma after a period is when the abbreviated word comes before what we refer to as “parenthetical information.”<\/span><\/p>\n

In stylistics, a parenthesis is a statement that is inserted to convey emphasis to drive rhetoric or persuasion.<\/span><\/p>\n

As these elements are non-essential to the overall grammaticality of the sentence, they are set off with commas to signal the reader of such implication.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can refer to the next sentence as an example.<\/span><\/p>\n

My friend A.J., who’s a diagnosed alcoholic, ironically got hit by a drunk driver.<\/div><\/div>\n

Remember that removing a parenthesis does <\/span>not<\/b><\/a> lacerate the sentence’s grammatical structure, <\/span>thereby<\/b><\/a> making it nonrestrictive to the whole unit of meaning suggested by the leftover information.<\/span><\/p>\n

And<\/b><\/a>, of course, when this happens, you can already drop your commas.<\/span><\/p>\n

My friend A.J. ironically got hit by a drunk driver.<\/div><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the abbreviation ends a parenthesis<\/b><\/p>\n

Since<\/b><\/a> we’ve already understood what parentheses are, the rule in this subsection should be a lot easier to digest.<\/span><\/p>\n

We have previously known that parenthetical information needs to be encapsulated with commas, particularly when it appears midsentence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Apparently<\/b><\/a>, it should also follow that a post-comma is necessary if the abbreviated word is the last element in the parenthesis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Look at this one.<\/span><\/p>\n

George’s success in the B2B market can be attributed to strong organizational systems, not to mention his great mgmt., as well as his engagement strategies.<\/div><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the abbreviation in itself is a parenthesis<\/b><\/p>\n

Sometimes<\/b><\/a>, the abbreviated term per se serves as the only parenthetical element, especially those Latin abbreviations that are still commonly used to date.<\/span><\/p>\n

A post-comma is also necessary when parenthetically inserting common Latin abbreviations like “<\/span>etc.<\/b><\/a>,” “e.g.,” and “i.e.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s an example.<\/span><\/p>\n

Previous board members, e.g., Peter Dutton, Robert Schultz, and Ryan Anderson, were against that idea.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The sentence above may <\/span>also<\/b><\/a> be represented in another way, particularly by enclosing the examples in parenthetical marks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Previous board members (e.g., Peter Dutton, Robert Schultz, and Ryan   Anderson) were against that idea.<\/div><\/div>\n

Bear in mind, once again, that abbreviations should be avoided in formal writing; otherwise, feel free to truncate your words.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the abbreviation is a salutation<\/b><\/h3>\n

Salutations are introductory remarks used in e-mails or letters. They are used to inform the reader as to <\/span>whom<\/b><\/a> the message is directed.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you want to use the abbreviated version of the company or person’s name in your salutation, a post-comma is expected to come afterward.<\/span><\/p>\n

Always remember not to place your comma after adjectives like “dear” or “dearest.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Dear E.J.C.,<\/p>\n

Dearest K.D.,<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the abbreviation is in a compound sentence<\/b><\/h3>\n

The essential comma placement can also be attributed to default sentence structure rules, just like in compound sentences.<\/span><\/p>\n

A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses linked by coordinating conjunctions which are also known as the <\/span>FANBOYS<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Experienced writers know that the rear independent clause must be preceded by a comma, and <\/span>thus<\/b><\/a>, the same comma placement rule applies when the abbreviated word appears at the end of the initial clause.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also remember that the comma comes before the conjunction <\/span>rather<\/b><\/a> than after.<\/span><\/p>\n

New York City has the densest population in the U.S.A., and Greater London is also its equivalent in the U.K.<\/div><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the abbreviation is in a reversed-order complex sentence<\/b><\/h3>\n

A rule still related to sentence structure, an abbreviated word that comes at the end of the frontal clause in an inverted complex sentence needs a post-comma too.<\/span><\/p>\n

A complex sentence is made up of at least one dependent and one independent clause, in which the independent clause initially appears in the regular structure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conversely speaking, a reversed-order complex sentence is a type of structure in which the <\/span>dependent clause<\/b><\/a> comes first.<\/span><\/p>\n

While a comma is unnecessary in a regular structure, we do need a comma in the inverted type.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

(Regular) Life was so different when we lived in the U.S.A.<\/p>\n

(Reversed) When we lived in the U.S.A., life was so different.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n \n

The incorrect comma after a period<\/b><\/h2>\n

Now<\/b><\/a> that we’ve seen when to place necessary commas after a period with respect to syntactic and stylistic rules, we had better look at the instances where the post-comma placement becomes incorrect.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Name titles followed by the person’s name<\/b><\/h3>\n

First<\/b><\/a>, it is incorrect to place a comma if the name title or honorific is subsequently followed by the actual name of a person.<\/span><\/p>\n

A name title serves as a prefix to the name, mostly with a polite implication, which means it is a crucial element in effectively expressing polite language use.<\/span><\/p>\n

No comma should be placed between the name title and the actual name of the person <\/span>no matter<\/b><\/a> where it appears within the sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

(Correct) The school librarian is Mr. Calvin Smith.<\/p>\n

(Incorrect) The school librarian is Mr., Calvin Smith.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

The sentence-essential abbreviation<\/b><\/h3>\n

If the <\/span>abbreviation<\/b><\/a> is used as an essential part of the sentence, such as a subject or an object, no comma should be placed after the period that ends the abbreviated term.<\/span><\/p>\n

When used in such situations, placing a comma after the abbreviated word’s period becomes incorrect.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider the examples below.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

(Correct) Please bring a valid I.D. with you.<\/p>\n

(Incorrect) Please bring a valid I.D., with you.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

When the abbreviation is used as a suffix<\/b><\/h3>\n

Units of measurements are also commonly abbreviated in English in <\/span>which<\/b><\/a> they are used after a certain numerical data, for example, kg., cm., and km.<\/span><\/p>\n

These measurements serve as fixed suffixes to the quantitative data, and thus, no comma should be used after the abbreviation’s period.<\/span><\/p>\n

This remains true, <\/span>of course<\/b><\/a>, so long that the abbreviated word does not fall under any of the necessary comma placement rules explained earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s an example for clarity.<\/span><\/p>\n

I only used to weigh 50 kg. on average in my early twenties.<\/div><\/div>\n

Actually, most people nowadays tend to drop the period after the abbreviated unit of measurements, so please feel free to do so if you want to.<\/span><\/p>\n

But if you’re used to the traditional manner of writing, there isn’t any problem either, so long that the idea or thought is not lost.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Frequently Asked Questions on “Comma After a Period”<\/b><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Is there a comma after the period in <\/b>etc.?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

When parenthetically used mid-sentence in a running text, a comma should come before and after “etc.,” for example, “The students’ demographics such as gender, age, citizenship, etc., were taken for record-keeping.”<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Should there be a comma after the period in <\/b>inc.?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

When used in the running text, the default equation is to use a comma after the period in “inc.” when and if another comma also precedes it. This pre-comma usage leans more towards the traditional way of punctuating business name suffixes.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Does the period go after the parenthesis?<\/b><\/p>\n

When the parenthetical information appears at the end of the sentence, the period should be placed outside or after the closing parenthetical mark.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n

Although<\/b><\/a> punctuation often seems intimidating to most people, we had better express our gratitude for their existence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Without them, textual data would be clunky, messy, unemotional, and even extremely difficult to read. <\/span><\/p>\n

So<\/b><\/a>, the next time you get stuck in a similar or related concern, please don’t hesitate to refer to our humble page for clarity.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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