Use of comma with "although"

Question

I know that "although" is a subordinating conjunction. When used in the beginning of the sentence a comma is placed before the independent clause.

When used in the middle no comma is required. However; what if there's only one clause.

"Although, I'm not too knowledgeable about imperialism."

Can you put the comma there?

Thanks

Clive · Accepted Answer

Yes. It's necessary.
However, more natural is
"I'm not too knowledgeable about imperialism, though."

Clive

Fivejedjon · Answer

CliveYes. It's necessary.

I don't agree with Clive on that one.

I agree that "I'm not too knowledgeable about imperialism, though" is more natural. but think that "Although I'm not too knowledgeable about imperialism" is fine. A comma in that sentence is unnatural, in my opinion. "However" would be followed by a pause in speech and a comma in writing; "Although" would not.

Daithy · Answer

Thank you. Is there a rule of thumb I can memorize?

Fivejedjon · Answer

Daithy Is there a rule of thumb I can memorize?

There are very few firm rules on the use of the comma, unfortunately for learners..

RandomGuy · Answer

I agree that a comma should not be used after although, but I would also advise against writing the fragment although I'm not too knowledgeable about imperialism as if it were a sentence.

Clive · Answer

Hi 5J,

Isn't English fun, that we can disagree on such simple matters?

I see 'although' as an adverb in the sentence we are discussing, like 'however'.
If you omit the comma after 'although', it becomes a subordinate clause instead of an independent sentence.

In my opinion, one would naturally pause after 'although' when speaking the sentence we are disagreeing on.
'Although' in this position indicates the speaker is having second thoughts about some aspect of what he has just said, and the comma reflects his mental wheels spinning for a second.

Clive

Fivejedjon · Answer

CliveIsn't English fun, that we can disagree on such simple matters?

CliveI see 'although' as an adverb in the sentence we are discussing, like 'however'

I am sure that works for some people, but I can't make it work for me.

CliveIf you omit the comma after 'although', it becomes a subordinate clause instead of an independent sentence.

Yes, and I agree with AG that it is not a good idea to write it as an independent sentence.
Although I am sure that many people would.

RandomGuy · Answer

As far as I know, in standard English, although is strictly a subordinating conjunction. I can’t find a dictionary that calls it an adverb.

Fivejedjon · Answer

Aspara GusAs far as I know, in standard English, although is strictly a subordinating conjunction. I can’t find a dictionary that calls it an adverb.

"although [...] is not a conjunctive adverb. It is a subordinating word that is often incorrectly used as if it were a conjunctive adverb."
http://wps.ablongman.com/long_longman_ohb_1/27/7023/1798009.cw/content/index.html

I found 'although' as a conjunctive adverb on one site, but most did not include it in their lists.

The interesting thing for me about the Pearson Longman quote above is that they think 'although' "is often incorrectly used as if it were a conjunctive adverb". I don't know exactly what they mean by 'often', but this does suggest to me that what may be acceptable to some people hasn't quite made it to the dictionaries yet.

Daithy · Answer

I see 'although' as an adverb in the sentence we are discussing, like 'however'.
If you omit the comma after 'although', it becomes a subordinate clause instead of an independent sentence.

That's exactly what I meant. Using 'although' as a 'transition word'.

http://jc-schools.net/write/transition.htm

Use of comma with "although"

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