Rule 1: A comma after “as such” is needed when you can remove it without changing the sentence’s meaning.
Also, when you can remove the second clause without leaving the first clause incomplete, you need a comma after “as such.”
- Correct: Limes are a type of citrus fruit, and, as such, they are acidic.
- Incorrect: Limes are a type of citrus fruit and as such they are acidic.
- Incorrect: Limes are a type of citrus fruit, and as such they are acidic.
Rule 2: If “as such” appears at the start of the sentence, it needs a comma after it.
- Correct: The President is a very powerful man. As such, people act respectfully around him.
- Incorrect: Mr. Peterson is Head of the Ethics Committee. As such he must deal with any issues of morality.
Rule 3: Do not use a comma when you need “as such” for the sentence to make sense.
For example, when “as such” means “in the traditional sense” or “like that,” you should avoid putting commas.
- Correct: The prosecutors did not class his offense as such under domestic law.
- Incorrect: Why is learning a foreign language viewed as such, a difficult task?
In the rest of the article, you can learn more about the different rules concerning “as such,” as well as the exceptions to these rules.
When to Use a Comma After “As Such”
When you need to decide when to use a comma after “as such,” you should refer to Rule 1 and Rule 2.
Rule 1: Use a comma after “as such” when you can remove it without changing the meaning of the sentence.
Furthermore, when you can remove the second clause without leaving the first clause incomplete, you should use a comma.
- He was the oldest of his friends, and, as such, he always wanted to be the leader.
- Cats are inquisitive animals, and, as such, they get themselves in a lot of mischief.
In this sense, “as such” means something similar to “therefore.”
In the two examples above, we can remove the term “as such,” and the sentences still make sense and contain the same message.
Therefore, you need the commas before and after to show that they are “parenthetical” or “unnecessary” elements.
Rule 2: Use a comma after “as such” when it is the first term that appears in a sentence.
- Jenny got the promotion to area manager. As such, she is now responsible for five people.
- They are all dedicated staff members. As such, we should reward them for their loyalty.
When “as such” appears at the start of the sentence, you need to place a comma after it because it is an “introductory clause,” which always requires a comma.
When to Avoid a Comma After “As Such”
You should avoid placing a comma after “as such” when rule 3 applies.
Rule 3: When you need “as such” to make the rest of the sentence make sense, you should not use commas.
- He came across as such a quiet and timid person.
- The vases were made of priceless Chinese porcelain and were valued as such by the auctioneers.
In the above examples, if you remove the “as such,” the sentences does not make sense. Therefore, you do not need commas.
In this context, the term “as such” often means “like that” or “in a typical sense.”
- He wasn’t a police officer as such. (Means he wasn’t the same as a traditional police officer.)
- It wasn’t a meeting as such. It was more like an informal chat. (It wasn’t like a typical meeting.)
Conclusion
Use a comma after “as such” when it starts a sentence. Furthermore, use a comma either when you don’t need “as such” for the sentence to make sense or you don’t need the second clause. In contrast, if “as such” gives the sentence meaning, do not use a comma.