Could the problem be style?

Hi,

What are you assuming that there is something wrong with this? Seems fine to me.

Best wishes, Clive

Hi Clive,

The following text is from my lecture:

Use a comma after an introductory element in a sentence:
-After our study session, I passed the test. (tick)
-In the morning, we made our way to Sydney. (cross)

Unfortunately, I don't remember the explanation my lecturer gave for the cross. Any ideas?

Hi,

Still seems acceptable to me.

Best wishes again, Clive

I think you can also drop the comma because your adverbial clauase is less than five words.

"Drop the comma"

I would have said something similar. An introductory prepositional phrase rarely requires a comma. You might use one in the case of a particularly long phrase, however.

CJ

Ahh, I see now. Thanks!

But compare the one marked right to the one marked wrong - are they so different? And while it's not required, it's not out-and-out wrong to have it either. I can't think of what the problem would be, considering the one above it is marked as correct.

Oh yeah, they're not at all different. Both are introduced with a
prepositional phrase. It was good of you to point that out. Should I
just ignore my lecturer's markings and deem the comma usage in both to
be optional and, as stated before, generally not required?

after our study session suggests a subordinate clause (after we studied) in a way that in the morning does not and cannot, even though both have a surface structure of a prepositional phrase. Maybe that's what the lecturer was thinking of when he advised punctuating the two differently. Personally I am comma averse so I wouldn't use the comma in either one.

C

I like your reasoning, CalifJim.

Can I ask why some people, like you, are averse to such comma usage? Is leaving out the c