Choose the sentence that correctly uses a comma after an introductory phrase.

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a comma after an introductory phrase.

• A. After a long time the team finally celebrated their victory.
• B. After a long time, the team finally celebrated their victory.
• C. After a long time the team, finally celebrated their victory.
• D. After a long time: the team finally celebrated their victory.

Answer: (B)

Introductory phrases set up the main part of a sentence, so we put a comma after them. This pause helps readers see where the setup ends and the main action begins. The sentence that correctly uses this rule is: After a long time, the team finally celebrated their victory. The comma after “After a long time” clearly separates the introductory idea from the main clause. The other forms don’t fit because they either omit the necessary comma after the introductory phrase, or they place punctuation in a spot that disrupts the sentence flow. For example, putting a comma after “team” breaks apart the subject from the verb, which isn’t correct, and using a colon after the introductory phrase isn’t appropriate here because what follows isn’t an explanation or a list. So the sentence with the comma right after the introductory phrase is the correct one.

Introductory phrases set up the main part of a sentence, so we put a comma after them. This pause helps readers see where the setup ends and the main action begins. The sentence that correctly uses this rule is: After a long time, the team finally celebrated their victory. The comma after “After a long time” clearly separates the introductory idea from the main clause.

The other forms don’t fit because they either omit the necessary comma after the introductory phrase, or they place punctuation in a spot that disrupts the sentence flow. For example, putting a comma after “team” breaks apart the subject from the verb, which isn’t correct, and using a colon after the introductory phrase isn’t appropriate here because what follows isn’t an explanation or a list. So the sentence with the comma right after the introductory phrase is the correct one.