Writing Tips has been archived and won’t be updated before it is permanently deleted.
For the most up-to-date content, please consult Writing Tips Plus, which combines content from Writing Tips and The Canadian Style. And don’t forget to update your bookmarks!
Do not use a comma after a clause acting as a subject:
In the example above, the noun clause Whatever you decide is the subject of the verb is. We don’t normally separate a subject from its verb with a single comma, even when the subject is an entire clause.
The one exception to this rule occurs when the verb at the end of the noun clause is the same as the verb in the main clause:
In sentences like these, it is usual to use a comma for clarity.
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2024
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
Writing tools – Writing Tips
A product of the Translation Bureau