Rule 1: Put a comma before “along with” when the words that follow it are not essential for the sentence to make sense.
- Correct: I think that Mark, along with his friends, cheated on the exam.
- Incorrect: I think that Mark along with his friends, cheated on the exam.
Rule 2: Do not put a comma when the words “along with” are required for the sentence to make sense.
- Correct: He went along with the plan even though he disagreed with it.
- Incorrect: He went, along with the plan even though he disagreed with it.
Keep reading to learn more about the rules and contexts in which you can use commas with “along with.”
When to Use a Comma Before “Along With”
If you are choosing whether to insert a comma before “along with,” you should refer to Rule 1.
Rule 1: Use a comma before “along with” when it starts a non-defining relative clause.
A non-defining relative clause is non-essential information that you enclose in commas.
- Jack, along with his friend Bill, is going to study medicine at college.
If we remove the part “along with his friend Bill” then the sentence still makes sense because it says:
- Jack is going to study medicine at college.
Here are some more examples of sentences where the “along with” clause is non-defining, and you can remove it.
- The USA, along with its allies, has condemned the invasion as illegal.
- Barry, along with his parents, is looking for an apartment in the suburbs.
Furthermore, you do not need a comma before “along with” at the end of a sentence because you cannot end a sentence with “along with.”
Also, you cannot use a semicolon before the term “along with.”
When to Avoid a Comma Before “Along With”
Rule 2 states when you shouldn’t use a comma before “along with.”
Rule 2: You shouldn’t use a comma before “along with” when you need it for the sentence to make sense.
In these sentences, if you remove the words “along with,” the sentence doesn’t make sense.
- She came along with us to the market.
- We went along with what they told us to avoid any conflicts.
- They included an invoice along with the products.
Conclusion
You should always put a comma before “along with” when it forms part of a non-defining relative clause. E.g., “Bob, along with his brother, went to California.” However, no comma is needed when “along with” is necessary for the sentence. E.g., “I went along with their poorly thought-out plan.”