Learn English – Can/should I put a comma before a phrase’s time specifier

commaspunctuation

For instance, consider the sentence, "I ate lunch today." Is it necessary or acceptable to put a comma before "today?"

Generally speaking, some of these time phrases look wrong to me when used with a comma, while others do not. I think the central question and the source of my confusion is, "When is the time not critical to the meaning of the idependent clause?" Is there a better rule of thumb?

  • "I ate lunch, today."
  • "I ate lunch, while the others were out."
  • "I ate lunch, at the same time the others did."

Best Answer

In your 3 examples, the one sentences who requires the comma is the number 3. Let's see:

  • "I ate lunch, today." - VS - "I ate lunch today."

In this case you normally wouldn't put a comma, as there's no need. The second one is perfectly uacceptable. But if you put a comma, you would emphasise "today". So it might sound like "I normally don't eat lunch but today I did".

  • "I ate lunch, while the others were out." - VS - "I ate lunch while the others were out."

Here the same more or less, but the sentence without comma still sounds understandable. Although if you put it, it will sound much more clear, and in that case, it won't hurt.

  • "I ate lunch, at the same time the others did." - VS - "I ate lunch at the same time the others did."

Here it's the same. Without comma it sounds different than with it, but it still makes sense.

  • So, with short sentences you can leave it out, but if it makes the meaning clearer with 2 clauses, put it. You can look here for further reference.
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