Understanding how and when to use the comma in English can be confusing.<\/p>\n
One reason is because there is not always a strict rule about when to use a comma.<\/p>\n
Both native and foreign speakers of English struggle with comma usage.<\/p>\n
While there are times when you definitely need a comma<\/a><\/strong> and times when you definitely do not, some comma usage<\/a><\/strong> is a matter of style and not grammar.<\/p>\n Different industries or publications have their own rules about when to use these optional commas. “Hopefully” needs to be followed by a comma when it comes at the beginning of a sentence as an adverb or a sentence adverb.<\/p>\n It does not need to be followed by a comma if it starts a sentence as part of a fronted adverbial, and it rarely needs to be followed by a comma if it is used as an adverb anywhere else in the sentence.<\/p>\n The exception is if it is used in some way that requires a comma<\/a><\/strong> of any type of word, such as part of a list of three or more things. There are two ways to use “hopefully.” The first way is to describe someone performing an action in a hopeful way.<\/p>\n In this definition, “hopefully” is an adverb, meaning that it modifies a verb, or gives you additional information about an action that is performed.<\/p>\n Here is an example:<\/p>\n She smiled hopefully at her teacher.<\/i><\/p>\n As you can see, you do not need a comma when “hopefully” is used in this way.<\/p>\n There is one way in which “hopefully” needs a comma when used an adverb in the middle of a sentence.<\/p>\n You may already know that you need to use a comma to separate three or more words in a list. For example:<\/p>\n He chose the colors red, blue, and green.<\/i><\/p>\n (Note that in a list like this one, the final comma after the second to last item in the list, before “and,” is optional!)<\/p>\n It would be uncommon to string together a series of adverbs in this way, but you might do it for a slightly humorous effect.<\/p>\n He ran toward the pile of money hopefully, quickly, and desperately.<\/i> The second way hopefully is used is to mean “I hope.” In this definition, “hopefully” is known as a sentence adverb.<\/p>\n While regular adverbs just modify one verb<\/a><\/strong>, a sentence adverb modifies the sentence or phrase that follows it. For example, you might say:<\/p>\n Hopefully, I did well on that test.<\/i><\/p>\n While “hopefully” used in this way most commonly comes at the beginning of a sentence, it might appear between the subject and the verb as well. You do not need to follow it with a comma if this is the case:<\/p>\n I hopefully did well on that test.<\/i><\/p>\n This second meaning is a newer one.<\/p>\n
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\n[toc]\n <\/p>\nDo you need a comma after “hopefully”?<\/h2>\n
\n <\/p>\n“Hopefully”: Regular adverb or sentence adverb?<\/h2>\n
\n <\/p>\n”Hopefully” as an adverb<\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\n“Hopefully” as a sentence adverb<\/h3>\n