{"id":20247,"date":"2022-09-25T10:42:20","date_gmt":"2022-09-25T10:42:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/?p=20247"},"modified":"2023-03-19T12:49:26","modified_gmt":"2023-03-19T12:49:26","slug":"comma-before-through","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/comma-before-through\/","title":{"rendered":"Comma Before “through” \u2014 Punctuation Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, we’ll tackle the guidelines for placing a comma before “through” – a word that comes with multiple faces.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s get right into it.<\/span>
\n <\/p>\n

When does a comma come before “through”?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A comma comes before “through” when it is used to introduce a piece of parenthetical information midsentence or when “through” is used after a parenthetical idea. A comma is also needed when “through” comes after an introductory phrase as well as when it is used after a direct address.<\/strong>
\n <\/p>\n

Necessary comma before “through” in detail<\/b><\/h2>\n

“Through” is a quite flexible word in English. It can act as a preposition, adverb, and even an adjective in a sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a preposition, it also contains multiple senses, but the most common usage of the preposition “through” is to suggest either “by,” “past,” or “across.”<\/span><\/p>\n

As an adverb, “through” suggests either the movement from one side to another or the continuation of a procedure up to a certain time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, as an adjective, “through” could mean “nonstop” in a more formal sense or “done” in informal contexts.<\/span><\/p>\n

To know whether a comma should come before “through” or any other word in the English lexicon, we need to consider grammar and style.<\/span><\/p>\n

Grammatical and stylistic conventions mainly guide whether a comma should be used or not before or after any word within a sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n

In particular, sentence structure and idea emphasis are two of the main things to consider when we talk about grammar, style, and punctuation.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, a <\/span>comma before “whenever”<\/b><\/a> is needed when it introduces a parenthetical idea, but the comma should be omitted when it mainly introduces a dependent clause.<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, knowing whether a <\/span>comma before or after “although”<\/b><\/a> is necessary also requires the same background knowledge of grammar and style.<\/span><\/p>\n

In case these things are not your cup of tea, listed below are the specific guidelines on comma usage before “through.”<\/span>
\n <\/p>\n

Comma before “through” in the middle of a sentence<\/b><\/h3>\n

One of the most confusing parts of comma placement<\/a> before “through” happens when the word is used somewhere in the middle of the sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n

In cases like this, the first thing to do is to understand the idea behind parentheticals or “side comments” in simpler terms.<\/span><\/p>\n

A piece of parenthetical information can be conveniently added by the writer to make sentences richer or more meaningful.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember that we are not simply talking about a <\/span>comma before or after a parenthesis<\/b><\/a> symbol here.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, we are talking about grammatically flexible ideas that are added for rhetorical or persuasive reasons.<\/span><\/p>\n

A piece of parenthetical information can be as short as a word or as long as a clause. To understand this better, you can simply think of how “afterthoughts” work in spoken contexts.<\/span><\/p>\n

When we convert these afterthoughts into written form, they need the help of commas to be clearly understood by the reader.<\/span><\/p>\n

When using “through” to introduce a parenthetical idea, the part of speech of the word does not matter at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

This means that no matter which part of speech “through” belongs, it can always be used by the writer to introduce a parenthetical idea.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s look at the next example below in which “through” is used as a preposition introducing a parenthetical phrase in the middle of the sentence:<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>Example:<\/span><\/p>\n

It is about us humans trying, <\/span><\/i>through<\/i><\/b> the gentlest gesture of nature, to make up for our mistakes in the past.<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Comma before “through” at the end of a sentence<\/b><\/h3>\n

When we insert parentheticals in the middle of the sentence, this writing technique pushes the remaining part towards the end.<\/span><\/p>\n

As you may already figure, commas go around parenthetical ideas to set them off from the rest of the sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n

When a piece of parenthetical information goes midsentence, and the succeeding phrase or clause begins with “through,” a comma should automatically be used.<\/span><\/p>\n

The closing comma for the parenthetical comment also serves as the pre-comma for “through,” as shown in the next example:<\/span><\/p>\n

Example:<\/span><\/p>\n

We can make changes as individuals, to some extent, <\/span><\/i>through<\/i><\/b> volunteerism.<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n

 
\nMoreover, it is worth noting that the parenthetical phrase “to some extent” is something grammatically removable.<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, removing “to some extent” would not hurt the grammatical correctness of the remaining parts.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, this would also mean that the comma before “through” as well as the comma before “to” in “to some extent” should also be dropped in the process.<\/span><\/p>\n

Example:<\/span><\/p>\n

We can make changes as individuals <\/span><\/i>through<\/i><\/b> volunteerism.<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Comma before “through” after an introduction<\/b><\/h3>\n

The next consideration for comma usage before “through” happens when it comes after an introductory expression.<\/span><\/p>\n

Introductory expressions are set off with commas to make the transition clear. Doing so makes the initial context more understandable to the reader.<\/span><\/p>\n

The comma after the introductory expression becomes the same comma before “through” if and when it happens to be the next word in the sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is what the explained situation might look like:<\/span><\/p>\n

Example:<\/span><\/p>\n

At present, <\/span><\/i>through<\/i><\/b> social media platforms, information-sharing has become so much more manageable.<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Comma before “through” after a direct address (vocative name)<\/b><\/h3>\n

Last but not least, a comma before “through” also becomes mandatory when “through” is used after a direct address.<\/span><\/p>\n

Any name or expression we use to refer to our message receiver to suggest that the message is directed towards that person can be called a direct address.<\/span><\/p>\n

A direct address is also known as a vocative expression in language studies. People’s names, terms of endearment, and honorifics are some of the most common examples of this.<\/span><\/p>\n

Using a <\/span>comma before a vocative<\/b><\/a> expression is also a default rule in writing, not to mention using a comma after it when the sentence structure dictates so.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although it is possible to get rid of the comma in informal writing scenarios, religiously observing these rules is still highly recommended to avoid ambiguity and misinterpretation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s an example of how to use a mandatory comma before “through” that comes after a direct address or vocative expression:<\/span><\/p>\n

Example:<\/span>
\nMa’am, <\/span><\/i>through<\/i><\/b> whom can you be reached on weekends?<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Incorrect comma before “through” in detail<\/b><\/h2>\n

If there are considerations for the necessary comma placement before “through,” there are also some guidelines that prompt its omission.<\/span><\/p>\n

To know that the comma is not needed, we should be able to understand the concept of grammatical restriction.<\/span><\/p>\n

Grammatical restriction or limitation happens when the concerned word, phrase, or clause is crucial in completing the meaning of the sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, no comma is needed when “through” acts as a regular preposition, adverb, or adjective in a sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n

To understand this idea more deeply, each of these three situations is explained in detail below.<\/span>
\n <\/p>\n

No comma before “through” as a regular preposition<\/b><\/h3>\n

No comma should come before “through” when it acts as a regular preposition in a sentence. Needless to say, it should also not be preceded with a parenthetical idea to make this happen.<\/span><\/p>\n

To know whether “through” acts as a preposition, it should be followed by a noun word or phrase afterward.<\/span><\/p>\n

The noun word or phrase is what we can call an <\/span>object of the preposition<\/b><\/a> in grammar studies. To make things easier, prepositions become useless without their objects.<\/span><\/p>\n

To compare, prepositions mainly connect ideas at a phrasal level, while conjunctions link ideas at a clausal level.<\/span><\/p>\n

If the differences between clauses and phrases are quite unclear at this point, you may simply refer to our previous post tackling the nuances of <\/span>clauses vs. phrases<\/b><\/a> in detail.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s how to use “through” as a preposition in a sentence that does not require any comma before it:<\/span><\/p>\n

Example:<\/span><\/p>\n

Parched and famished, the old man mindlessly walked<\/span><\/i> through<\/i><\/b> the woods.<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n

 
\nIn the example above, the preposition “through” means “across” or “along,” and its object is “the woods” which is a noun phrase.<\/span><\/p>\n

Placing a comma before “through” in the last example is incorrect because the prepositional phrase “through the woods” is necessary to complete the meaning of the entire sentence.<\/span>
\n <\/p>\n

No comma before “through” as a regular adverb<\/b><\/h3>\n

A comma should also not come before “through” if it acts as a regular adverb in a sentence. It typically suggests the meaning “from one location to another” or “from beginning to end.”<\/span><\/p>\n

As the adverb “through” suggests the idea of “movement” or “process,” it is also normally used to modify a verb.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once this circumstance applies to “through,” no comma should be placed before it – just like what we do with typical adverbs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Example:<\/span><\/p>\n

You’ll only appreciate the novel once you’ve read it <\/span><\/i>through<\/i><\/b>.<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n

 
\nIn the example above, “through” suggests the meaning “from beginning to end” or “cover to cover,” and it modifies the verb “read.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, recklessly using a comma before “through” in the last example would make the sentence grammatically incorrect.<\/span>
\n <\/p>\n

No comma before “through” as a regular adjective<\/b><\/h3>\n

Mostly informally, “through” may also be used as an adjective to mean “done,” “finished,” or “completed.”<\/span><\/p>\n

In its formal sense as an adjective, “through” is used to mean “direct” or “nonstop,” particularly when talking about streets or routes.<\/span><\/p>\n

When this is the case, it should be clear enough by this point that no comma should be used before “through” in this usage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Example:<\/span><\/p>\n

Lily is almost <\/span><\/i>through<\/i><\/b> with her homework.<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n

“Through” in the sentence above means “done” or “finished,” and it is used as the subject’s complement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clearly, using a comma before “through” in the last example would not make any sense as it is a grammatically crucial part of the sentence.<\/span>
\n <\/p>\n

Frequently Asked Questions on “Comma Before ‘Through’”<\/b><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

What does “through” mean?<\/b><\/h3>\n

As a preposition, “through” means “by,” “via” or “across.” As an adverb, it means “from one location to another” or “from beginning to end.” As an adjective, it means “direct” or “done.”<\/span>
\n <\/p>\n

Do we need a comma before “through which”?<\/b><\/h3>\n

We need a comma before “through which” when it introduces a piece of information that is added for rhetorical or stylistic reasons. This mainly happens midsentence. A comma would also be needed when “through which” comes after a parenthetical insertion.<\/span>
\n <\/p>\n

Can you use “through” to mean “done”?<\/b><\/h3>\n

In informal speech and writing, “through” can be used to mean “done,” “completed” or “finished” such as in “I’m almost through with my project.”<\/span>
\n <\/p>\n

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

Using commas with ease comes with time and practice. That said, you should not worry too much if some things are still unclear at this point.<\/span><\/p>\n

What you can do instead is watch out for more comma-related posts from our humble website to master the art of punctuation. See you again!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today, we’ll tackle the guidelines for placing a comma before “through” – a word that comes with multiple faces. Let’s get right into it.   When does a comma come before “through”? A comma comes before “through” when it is used to introduce a piece of parenthetical information midsentence or when “through” is used after …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20257,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable-in-feed":false,"article-schema-type":"Article","disable-critical-css":false,"_convertkit_action_broadcast_export":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1119,35,1116],"tags":[1151],"class_list":["post-20247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-comma-rules","category-english","category-grammar","tag-comma-before"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20247"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20247\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24177,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20247\/revisions\/24177"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}