Comma After “As Such”? (Helpful Examples)

Have you ever wondered whether “as such” requires a comma? It’s tricky to understand comma rules, but we’ve got you covered.

We’ll help you understand where to place a comma when using “as such” in your writing.

Comma After “As Such”?

There is a comma after as such at the beginning of a sentence. It’s an introductory clause when explaining why something happens (i.e. “as such, these are the comma rules”). You may also find a comma after as such in the middle of a sentence after a conjunction.

Comma rules can be finicky. They seem complicated at first glance. Luckily, most standard phrases and introductory clauses follow the same rules. Once you’ve understood a few, you’ll find that you understand most of them.

You won’t always find a comma after “as such.” Sometimes, the phrase appears at the end of a sentence. In these situations, it’s impossible to place a comma after it. You must always end a sentence with a period, so that has to come after “as such” at the end of a sentence.

When to Use Comma After “As Such”

You should use a comma after “as such” when it is an introductory element or setting up the last clause in a sentence. You won’t find any other situations where “as such” needs a comma.

This is what it looks like when you start a sentence with “as such:”

• We needed more help. As such, I went to the only people I knew who could help at short notice.

Here, “as such” becomes an introductory clause. You should use it to modify the following clause, showing that everything mentioned is part of the explanation of “as such.”

It’s good to use a comma here to help the reader understand the flow of your writing.

Here’s what happens when you set up the last clause of a sentence:

• I did not want to help them out, and as such, I made it clear that I wouldn’t look out for them.

You can only use it to set up the last clause when it comes after a conjunction. In this case, “as such” comes after “and.” “And as such” is a common phrase showing how two things relate to each other.

When Not to Use Comma After “As Such”

You don’t always need a comma after “as such.” In fact, there are times when you don’t need a comma at all.

There is no need to place a comma after “as such” at the end of a sentence. This is a fairly common phrase in spoken English:

• It isn’t related to the family as such.
• I didn’t think about that as such.

Here, “as such” means “in the exact sense.” You do not need commas here because it shows that you’re taking the literal meaning of what was previously stated.

Comma Before “As Such”?

You might find a comma after “as such.” You could even find that “as such” has no commas. You will only find a comma before “as such” if it’s the first part of a parenthetical element.

It’s rare to come across a comma before “as such.” It is a phrase that cannot be used as a conjunction or link two dependent clauses together. These are common situations where a comma before it might occur.

However, you might find it as the first phrase in parentheses:

• The variables, as such listed, will make it easier to do this.

“As such” is rare at the start of a parenthetical element. It is very jarring in most written cases. Nevertheless, it is grammatically correct, and you may come across a comma before “as such” in this case.

Conclusion

You will find a comma after “as such” at the beginning of a sentence. A comma also appears in the middle of a sentence when “as such” comes after a conjunction.

You will not find a comma before or after “as such” at the end of a sentence. A comma here would invalidate the meaning of “as such.”

“As such” only has a comma beforehand when it’s the first phrase in parentheses. Otherwise, there is never a comma before.