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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Comma after "then" when beginning sentences
Hello!
I was taught that when starting a sentence with "then", you put or omit a comma depending on your intended meaning.
As in "after that", "at that time", "later":
Then we went to the restaurant. Then we decided to go home.
As in "logically, it follows…", "as a result":
Then, you must be wrong. Then, you might lose a lot of money.
However, I've noticed that in the second example (where "then" does not serve as an indicator of time) many native English speakers don't really insert a comma anyway. As in:
"Then you must be wrong". "Then you might lose a lot of money."
The rules couldn't have changed. What's the deal? Can I still insert a comma after "then" in the second example?
Thank you in advance and sorry about being anon.
I was taught that when starting a sentence with "then", you put or omit a comma depending on your intended meaning.
As in "after that", "at that time", "later":
Then we went to the restaurant. Then we decided to go home.
As in "logically, it follows…", "as a result":
Then, you must be wrong. Then, you might lose a lot of money.
However, I've noticed that in the second example (where "then" does not serve as an indicator of time) many native English speakers don't really insert a comma anyway. As in:
"Then you must be wrong". "Then you might lose a lot of money."
The rules couldn't have changed. What's the deal? Can I still insert a comma after "then" in the second example?
Thank you in advance and sorry about being anon.
Top answer
A specific example that interests me (I am the OP): 1. Pigs don't fly. 1.
- A specific example that interests me (I am the OP): 1.
- Pigs don't fly.
- 1.
- Then, they probably don't have wings.
- I would be inclined to put a comma after "then".
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3 Answers
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A specific example that interests me (I am the OP):
1. Pigs don't fly.
1. Then, they probably don't have wings.
I would be inclined to put a comma after "then". To me, it serves the function of "as it appears"
Is a comma optional in this example?
1. Pigs don't fly.
1. Then, they probably don't have wings.
I would be inclined to put a comma after "then". To me, it serves the function of "as it appears"
Is a comma optional in this example?
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The comma is unnatural in those sentences in which 'then' means something like 'in that case'.
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