Question

Introductory prepositional phrases are usually followed by a comma.

Complete this exercise:

1. To improve the clarity of any message anticipate your audience.
2. In spite of speaking English as a second language Margo wrote well.
3. Among the four people sitting with you one of them is majoring in accounting.
4. In the first week of this class you will be introduced to the three purposes of business writing.
5. Since some of you don’t recognize punctuation as critical to your writing success we will drill certain fundamentals to ensure you know them.
6. During the first series of field-performance tests at our Colorado proving ground the new engine failed to meet our expectations.
7. Because we have not reached our hiring goals for the Sales Division we recommend the development of an aggressive recruiting program.
8. If you recognize introductory phrases you will have no difficulty placing commas.
9. When you have mastered this rule half the battle with commas will be won.
10. Of all the classes you attend this year no class will bring more benefit to your career.

Answer 1

Solution:

-- During the first series of field-performance tests at our Colorado proving ground, the new engine failed to meet our expectations

Explanation: A long modifying phrase which precedes the primary clause must always be followed by a comma.

-- Because we have not yet reached our hiring goals for the Sales Division, we recommend the development for an aggressive recruiting program

Explanation: After an introductory clause or phrase place a comma, especially if it is long, for identification on where the introductory element ends and the primary part of the sentence begins