The Grammar Guide CommaShould you use a comma before "while"?

Should you use a comma before "while"?

Should you use a comma before "while"?

While is a subordinating conjunction, but in some circumstances it can act as an adverb of concession as well. In these circumstances it should have a comma before it.

If you can replace while with as, then it shouldn't have a comma before it. It is just a normal subordinating conjunction.

The man left the restaurant while it was raining.

If you can replace while with whereas then you should use a comma before it because it is being used as an adverb of concession.

The man left the restaurant, while his partner stayed.

Common Questions about Comma

Should an introductory phrase be followed by a comma?When should you use a comma before a coordinating conjunction?How do I add commas to a number for clarity?What is a comma splice and how do you fix it?Do I need a comma after a subordinate clause?Do I need a comma after a participle phrase?How should I use commas with "not only... but also"?Should I use a comma before a subordinate conjunction?Do you need a comma in a compound predicate? When is a comma unnecessary?Why should you put a comma after prepositional phrases?Do I need a comma when I omit a word for stylistic reasons?Do you need a comma after an adverbial infinitive phrase?Should I use a comma at the end of a quotation, before the closing quotation mark?Should I use a comma before an opening quotation mark?Should I use a comma before "which"?Should I use a comma before and after an appositive?Should I use a comma before "not"?Do I need to use a comma with list items?How do I use commas with parenthetical elements?Should I use a comma between a city and a country/a city and a state?Should I use a comma before and after vocative?Do you need a comma to separate the day from the month, and the date from the year?Do you need a comma before or after "too"?When should I use a comma to separate numbers?Should I use a comma before or after “please” in a sentence?Is it grammatically correct to put a comma before "and"?Is it grammatically correct to put a comma before "then"?Should I use a comma after an introductory adverb like "apparently"?Should I use a comma after a time phrase such as "in the meantime"?How should I use a comma with a subordinate clause?Should you use a comma before "whereas" and "although"?Should you have a comma before "because"?Should I use a comma before "for"?Should I use a comma before "since"?Should I use a comma between two adjectives?Should I use a comma with a participle or gerund phrase?When should a comma be used in a sentence?

Writing Resources

© 2020 - Orpheus Technology, prowritingaid.com