Comma Before "Like": Explained For Beginners (With Examples)

Learning punctuation rules can be tricky if you don’t know much about them. When it comes to placing commas in the right place with the word “like,” we want to make sure we know what we’re doing. This article will explain when it works and when it doesn’t.

When Should I Place A Comma Before “Like”?

You can place a comma before “like” when it is used as a filler word, when it starts a parenthetical element, or when it is used after a parenthesis to add extra information to a sentence. These are the only ways when a comma works best before “like.”

To help you understand what we mean by each case, we can separate them into groups.

Filler Word

When we use “like” as a filler word in this way, we often break up the clause. It’s something we do in spoken English, and it’s difficult to get away with in writing.

It isn’t right, like, at all, to do something like that!
We should have, like, made sure we were alone before doing this!
Why can’t we, like, just be friends again?

Parenthetical Element

When it’s part of a parenthetical element, “like” works well to introduce a second clause to the sentence. This clause can add extra information to the sentence, but it’s also possible to remove it if we need to while still retaining all the relevant information.

To emphasize this point, we thought it would help to share some examples with you:

My father died, like all the men before him, for a just cause.

Here, we can remove the “like” parenthetical element, and the sentence will still have the same meaning.

My father died for a just cause.

We’ve also got some other parenthetical elements to share with you, to really drive home how useful they can be:

This isn’t my first time, like so many other things, and I’ll be happy to help you out.
You shouldn’t be here, like I told you so many times, and now you have to go!

First Word After A Parenthesis

We might also use “like” as part of the final parentheses of a sentence. In this way, we include a comma before it, and it only introduces a new idea at the very end of the sentence. We often use it in this way to add extra information that we might have missed.

My father really appreciates the finer things in life, like fine wine and great suits.
We really need to go and get some of our supplies, like food and drink, for the upcoming event.
I’ve made it my goal to look after all the animals I care about, like dogs and pigs!

Is It Ever Correct To Use A Comma After “Like”?

It is rare to ever find a correct case where a comma can be used after “like.” However, it’s possible to do so only when it is used as a filler word, and there is no extra information that the filler word “like” adds to the sentence. It’s mostly done in spoken English.

“Like” without a comma only works in very particular circumstances, and we can mostly only use it in this way in spoken English. Written English comes with much stricter rules which we must abide by.

It isn’t that, but, like, if you didn’t want to be here, you didn’t have to be.
Like, if you weren’t so annoying, I’d have happily gone with you.
You can’t be there for him, like, it’s not okay to do!

As you can see, “like” breaks up the flow of the sentence here because we’re using it as a filler word.

When Should I NOT Use A Comma With “Like”?

We do not need to place a comma before or after “like” when we use it as an adjective, a noun, a verb, a conjunction, or a preposition. In all of these cases, we need no commas, and “like” simply acts as extra information for the sentence.

Adjective

It’s not often we’ll use “like” as an adjective, but you might do so if you find it in the following ways.

“Like” is an adjective when we want to talk about two things that are similar. We use it in this way as a comparative tool to help us explain something.

They had like minds when it came to choosing a place to eat.
Your like personalities are unbearable!

Noun

“Like” can be used as a noun when we want to introduce further ideas to a list. It’s common to use “like” similarly to things like “etc.” or “and so on.” It’s not often that we’ll use it in this way, but it still works.

He enjoys shopping, eating, and the like.
We enjoy long walks on the beach, going out into town, and the like!
She loves expensive jewelry and the like!

Verb

“Like” is a common verb that we use to show that we have a preference over something compared with something else. We can usually talk about things that we “like” when they bring us happiness or joy.

I really like you, and I just thought I’d tell you that.
I’d like to go out tonight if you are happy to come.
I like eating here!

Conjunction

We can use “like” as a conjunction when we want to connect two clauses with each other. In this way, no commas are needed when including “like,” and less punctuation is needed overall to get it correct.

For example:

He can’t get away with this. It seems.

Becomes:

It seems like he can’t get away with this.

Preposition

Finally, let’s look at how “like” works as a preposition in a sentence. Whenever we want to compare two or more things with a different verb, we will use “like” in this way.

As a preposition, “like” works to compare two or more things. Usually, we’ll include a verb unrelated to “like” to compare those things.

She looks a lot like my ex-girlfriend.
He needs to be more like his father.
You should know about this like your father does.