Commas at introductory words with spread. Highlighting introductory words, introductory sentences and plug-in constructions in writing As before, a comma

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Extra punctuation marks are the same mistake as missing ones. Commas are the most insidious of them, because subconsciously it seems that the more of them, the better. The American writer Timothy Dexter also knew about this, who in 1802 wrote a novel without punctuation marks, where he offered to arrange them for readers as they wish.

We are in website collected words that are tempting to highlight with commas, because they are very similar to introductory constructions. But commas are not allowed for these words. Well, maybe just one. Let's figure it out to remember once and for all.

1. Allegedly

This supposedly introductory word is actually not. If this is a particle that means doubt, then it is never separated by commas on both sides. If "allegedly" acts as a union, then it is separated by a comma from the other part of the sentence. For example: “I often dreamed that it was already summer.”

2. In extreme, as well as any, our, your, their case

Even in the most extreme case, a comma is not useful. These adverbial expressions are never introductory, and a comma is not needed after them in the sentence either.

3. Just in case

If you want to put a comma just in case, then you do not need to do this. This is an adverbial expression, and usually it is so closely related to other members of the sentence that it does not require commas.

4. Especially

This word is a little special, because a comma can appear next to it, but only when we want to highlight the entire phrase in which we explain or clarify something. For example: "My relatives have always considered me talented, especially my grandmother, who sincerely believes that I will be a great singer." Separately, "especially" is never separated by commas.

5. Hardly

You are unlikely to forget this insidious particle when you understand 2 rules - it is always written separately and never separated by commas, no matter where it is in the sentence.

6. Of course

Be sure to remember this word, as it is very similar to ordinary introductory words that can be removed from a sentence without losing its meaning. But it is never separated by commas and can be said to be an exception.

7. Meanwhile

Meanwhile, this phrase should not be confused with another very similar and introductory: "by the way." “Meanwhile” is most often a circumstance of time, that is, it answers the question “when?” or "how long?". This means that its loss in the sentence will be noticeable - unlike introductory words. The phrase can also be a union, then a comma should be placed only before it.

For example: "Help could arrive only from the other side of the island, meanwhile, the narrow path was not visible from here, which means that people are not visible either."

"Alas" is a colloquial invariant interjection. It is used to express negative feelings such as grief or frustration. This word can be replaced by the phrase "unfortunately."

Punctuation is a complex science, and a comma is a tricky sign. Often when writing, questions arise about the correctness of its formulation.

The rule, studied back in school years, says that interjections are always separated by commas. And the word "alas" is no exception. But there are deviations from this rule (rare, but they still exist).

Therefore, it is worthwhile to figure out in which cases after "alas" a comma can be safely put on both or on one side, and in which it is worth putting some other punctuation mark (exclamation mark, brackets, dot).

The interjection “alas” is highlighted with commas if there is no exclamatory intonation during pronunciation: on both sides, if it is in the middle of a sentence; on the one hand, if it stands at the beginning or end.

Commas are not included

If the interjection "alas" is preceded by the union "but". There are commas after and before this combination of “but alas”: “I would really like to come and congratulate you personally, but alas, we are too far apart.”
If the interjection “alas” is part of the phraseological unit (stable phrase) “alas and ah”. The idiom itself is isolated, but there are no punctuation marks directly in it: "I would love to lend you money, alas, oh, I'm broke myself."

Other punctuation marks

If the word "alas" acts as an exclamatory interstitial sentence. In this case, after “alas” there is an exclamation point, and the word, being in the middle of a sentence, is separated by such punctuation marks as a dash (less often brackets). It is worth noting that the word that follows it must be written with a lowercase letter: "In this situation - alas! - nothing can be changed."
If the interjection plays the role of a separate sentence in the text. Then a period or an exclamation point (in rare cases, a question mark) is simply put after it: "Alas! And your life is miserable!"

Verbs, names and adverbs in a sentence can act as introductory words, which in one way or another - grammatically, lexically, intonationally - express the speaker's attitude to what he reports.

Compare two sentences:

This question, it seemed troubled the guest.

Face his seemed calm .

In both examples, the word seemed , but only in the second case is this word included in the members of the sentence: there it is part of the compound nominal predicate.

In the first example, the word seemed serves only to express the attitude of the speaker to what he reports. Such words are called introductory; they are not part of the sentence and can easily be omitted, for example: This question ... made the guest difficult. Note that in the second sentence, skip the word seemed impossible.

Compare a few more examples in the table:

Take with you by the way, our books.
This phrase by the way reminded me of an old joke.

These words are spoken by the way.

This phrase was spoken by the way.

Words separated by commas can be removed from a sentence without destroying its meaning.

By the way, from the first sentence, you can ask the question HOW?
To the phrase BETWEEN OTHERS, you can put the question WHEN?

Many words can be used as introductory words. But there is a group of words that are never introductory. Read two sentences:

There will obviously be a good harvest this year;
There will certainly be a good harvest this year.

The first sentence uses the word obviously, in the second - certainly . Although these words are very close in meaning, only the word from the first sentence is separated by commas and is introductory. The words below must be remembered: they are very similar to introductory words, but they are not and commas are not separated:

MAYBE, AS IF, SUDDENLY, BECAUSE, HERE, IS HARD TO, ALL THE SAME, EVEN, EXACTLY, AS IF, JUST, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, MANDATORY, ALMOST, ONLY, ALLEGEDLY.

Introductory words can convey five different types of meanings:

Most often, with the help of introductory words, the speaker conveys various degree of certainty in what he says. For example: You will surely do well in the exam. or You seem to need to do more. This group includes the words:

OF COURSE, OF COURSE, UNDOubtedly, DEFINITELY, WITHOUT A DOUBT, DEFINITELY, REALLY, SEEMS, PROBABLY, POSSIBLY, PLEASE.

Introductory words can also convey feelings and attitude speaker to what he is talking about. For example: Unfortunately, you didn't do well in your exam.

LUCKYLY, UNFORTUNATELY, SURPRISELY, UNFORTUNATELY.

Sometimes introductory words indicate on the The source of information reported by the speaker. Introductory phrases in this case begin with the words BY MESSAGE, BY WORDS, BY OPINION. For example: You, according to doctors, need to interrupt training for a while.

The source of the message may also be the speaker himself (IN MY OPINION, IN MY OPINION), or the source may be indefinite (SPOKEN, HEARD). For example: You, they say, will have to interrupt training.

BY MESSAGE, BY WORDS, BY OPINION, BY HEARING, SAYING, HEARD, IN MY OPINION, IN MY OPINION, IN YOUR WAY.

Introductory words are also used for ordering thoughts and indications of their relationship with each other. For example: Firstly, this participle was formed from a perfective verb; secondly, it has dependent words. Therefore, it should contain two letters N.

FIRSTLY, SECONDLY, THIRDLY, FINALLY, THEREFORE, THEREFORE, SO, ON THE CONTRAST, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE REVERSE.

There are also sentences where the introductory words indicate on the way of thinking. For example: In a word, everything went well.

OTHERWISE, IN ONE WORD, IT IS BETTER TO SAY IT SOFTLY.

Introductory words also include words that serve to attract attention interlocutor:

KNOW (KNOW), UNDERSTAND (UNDERSTAND), LISTEN (LISTEN), SEE (SEE) and others.

The same meanings can be expressed not only by introductory words, but also by similar predicative constructions (introductory sentences). Compare: Snowfall likely to end soon and The snowfall, I think, will end soon. In addition to commas, brackets or dashes can be used to highlight introductory sentences. This is done when the introductory construction is very common and contains additional comments or explanations. For example:

Here we pass once through our village, years will be - how to tell you not to lie - fifteen years. (Turgenev)
Alexei (the reader has already recognized it) meanwhile he gazed intently at the young peasant woman. (Pushkin)

The rule of isolation of introductory words and sentences has several very important notes.

If the introductory word is preceded by the union A or BUT, then a comma is not always placed between the introductory word and the union. Compare a couple of sentences:
The doctor has finished but of course, look at a seriously ill patient.
He gave his word and consequently, must restrain him.

The introductory word can be rearranged or removed without a union only in the first case, so a comma is required between the introductory word and the union. In the second sentence, this cannot be done, which means that the comma is not put.

Very often, difficulties arise in sentences with the words HOWEVER and FINALLY. The word HOWEVER stands out only when it cannot be replaced by the union BUT. Compare two sentences:
However we understand that this figure is still low(HOWEVER = BUT) . Bye, but, we still don't have a clear picture of what's going on(HOWEVER - introductory word) .

The word FINALLY is introductory only when it has no spatial or temporal meaning, but indicates the order of thoughts. For example:
I hope this project will be completed soon. finally will be implemented. AND, finally, The last thing I would like to pay attention to.

Introductory words can begin with a separate construction, for example, a clarifying phrase. In this case, a comma is not placed after the introductory word (in other words, the comma, which was supposed to “close” the introductory word, is transferred to the end of a separate turnover).

I saw, or rather felt, that she was not indifferent to me.

In addition, a comma is not placed before the introductory word located at the end of a separate turnover.

For the holidays, we decided to go somewhere, to Kolomna for example.

If the introductory word is in the middle of a separate construction, then it is separated by commas on a common basis.

I decided to declare my love, feeling, it seems, in my heart that she, too, was not indifferent to me.

If the introductory words are located before the turn, beginning with the words "how" or "to", then they are separated by commas.

The day she lived seemed meaningless to her, in fact, like all life.
He thought for a moment probably, to find the right words.

An exercise

The portraits hung in front of the mirror.
On the contrary, he did not even change his face.
On the one hand, I completely agree with you.
On the one hand, a double-headed eagle was depicted on the coin.
The truth is always better than a lie.
I_true_ was somewhat surprised by this news.
In spring, flooding is possible.
There will be a flood in the spring.
Everyone in our city is already talking about it.
In Greece_ they say_ everything is there.
Maybe_ you deigned to express yourself in this way for the beauty of the style? (Gogol).
The weather forecast says it will be colder next week.
As scientists say, global warming awaits us.
The train leaves in an hour_ therefore_ we need to leave the house.
Fortunately, Pechorin was immersed in thought (Lermontov).
We have gathered here _ firstly_ in order to resolve the issue of the timing of work.
He didn’t want to shoot himself_ thank God_ he didn’t want to try ... (Pushkin).
Of course, you have seen the album (Pushkin) of the county young lady more than once.
In one word, you got off lightly.
So_ now we can conclude.
You do not interfere with me in the least,” he objected, “if you please, shoot, but_ by the way_ as you like; your shot is yours; I am always ready at your service (Pushkin).
She suffered for a very long time after separation, but_ as you know, time heals any wounds.
The wind, however, was strong.
Fedya brought flowers_ however_ Masha did not like it.
A strong yet warm wind blew through the window.
A good upbringing, as you know, is obtained in boarding schools (Gogol).
However, there are various improvements and changes in methods ... (Gogol).
You must certainly come to us.
I took from the table_ as I remember now_ the ace of hearts and threw it up (Lermontov).
However, even General Khvalynsky himself did not like to talk about his service career; he seems to have never been to war (Turgenev).
You become wild - you know - if you live locked up all the time (Gogol).
Probably_ he was a man of gratitude and wanted to pay this for good treatment.
You supposedly were supposed to come to his office and report on the trip.
Yes, I confess, I thought so myself.
Anyway, I decided to do things my own way.
Ivan Petrovich_ you know_ was an extraordinary person.
Nobody went to him, of course, (Turgenev).
Gleb, as far as I knew, studied well at the Bryansk gymnasium (Paustovsky).
But_ perhaps_ the reader is already tired of sitting with me at Ovsyannikov's one-palace, and therefore I eloquently fall silent (Turgenev).
My arrival - I could notice it - at first somewhat embarrassed the guests.
However, the political process began to develop in a different way.
In my last report, I hastened to inform you that we finally managed to solve this problem.
The experiences of transformations that were around us had, no doubt, a strong influence on the thoughts of most of the people involved in them (M. M. Speransky).
A group of border guards led by an officer went to the violators with the intention, as it_ happened_ earlier, to protest and demand that they leave the territory.
Finalization of the agreement will probably take several more months.
Secondly, there are many abuses in the field of international tourism.
However_ if you remain committed to the spirit and letter of this document, it could not be otherwise.
We all know very well, and everyone here knows well that on the western, or _ as they say_ the second front, about 1.5 million Allied troops and about 560 thousand German troops were concentrated.
This modest, symbolic gesture_ seems to me_ full of deep meaning.
Luckily, the examples mentioned above are the exception, not the rule.
Extra value luggage_ can be claimed for certain types of items.
The reason for this is obvious: when the mind begins to recognize the price of freedom, it dismisses with negligence all the children's toys, so to speak, with which it amused itself in its infancy (M. M. Speransky).
Pravda_ spoke to me politely, did not force me to do anything, and I remember that I had the impression that he did not take all these accusations seriously.
But in our case, the truth quickly came out, and we were soon released.

Verbs, names and adverbs in a sentence can act as introductory words, which in one way or another - grammatically, lexically, intonationally - express the speaker's attitude to what he reports.

Compare two sentences:

This question, it seemed made it difficult guest.

Face his seemed calm.

In both examples, the word seemed , but only in the second case is this word included in the members of the sentence: there it is part of the compound nominal predicate.

Compare a few more examples in the table:

Many words can be used as introductory words.
But there is a group of words that are never introductory.

Read two sentences:
There will obviously be a good harvest this year;
There will certainly be a good harvest this year.

Commas are NOT separated:

MAYBE, AS if, SUDDENLY, BECAUSE, HERE, IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY, ALL THE SAME, EVEN,

EXACTLY, AS IF, JUST, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, MANDATORY, ALMOST, ONLY, ALLEGEDLY.

Introductory words can convey five different types of meanings:

Most often, with the help of introductory words, the speaker conveys various
degree of certainty in what he says.
For example:
You will surely do well in the exam.
or
You seem to need to do more.
This group includes the words:
OF COURSE, OF COURSE, UNDOubtedly, DEFINITELY, WITHOUT A DOUBT, DEFINITELY, REALLY, SEEMS, PROBABLY, POSSIBLY, PLEASE.
Introductory words can also convey
feelings and attitude speaker to what he is talking about.
For example:
Unfortunately, you didn't do well in your exam.
LUCKYLY, UNFORTUNATELY, SURPRISELY, UNFORTUNATELY.
Sometimes introductory words indicate
to the source of information reported by the speaker.
Introductory phrases in this case begin with the words
BY MESSAGE, BY WORDS, BY OPINION.
For example:
You, according to doctors, need to interrupt training for a while.

The source of the message can also be the speaker himself (IN MY OPINION, IN MY OPINION)
or the source may be vague (SPEAK, HEARD).
For example:
You, they say, will have to interrupt training.

BY MESSAGE, BY WORDS, BY OPINION, BY HEARINGS, SAY, HEARD,
IN MY OPINION, IN MY OPINION, IN YOUR OPINION.
Introductory words are also used
to organize thoughts and indications of their relationship with each other.
For example:
Firstly, this participle was formed from a perfective verb; secondly, it has dependent words. Therefore, it should contain two letters N.

FIRSTLY, SECONDLY, THIRDLY, FINALLY, THEREFORE, THEREFORE, THEREFORE, THEREFORE
FOR EXAMPLE, THE REVERSE.
There are also sentences where the introductory words indicate on the way of thinking.
For example: In a word, everything went well.

OTHERWISE, IN ONE WORD, IT IS BETTER TO SAY IT SOFTLY.

Introductory words also include words that serve to attract attention interlocutor:

KNOW (KNOW), UNDERSTAND (UNDERSTAND), LISTEN (LISTEN), SEE (SEE) and others.

The same meanings can be expressed not only by introductory words, but also by similar predicative constructions (introductory sentences).

Compare:
Snowfall likely to end soon and The snowfall, I think, will end soon.

In addition to commas, brackets or dashes can be used to highlight introductory sentences.
This is done when the introductory construction is very common and contains additional comments or explanations.

For example:
Here we pass once through our village, years will be - how to tell you not to lie - fifteen years. (Turgenev)
Alexei (the reader has already recognized it) meanwhile he gazed intently at the young peasant woman. (Pushkin)

The rule of isolation of introductory words and sentences has several very important notes.

Notes:

If the introductory word is preceded by a union A or NO, then a comma between the introductory word and the union is not always put.
Compare a couple of sentences:
The doctor has finished but of course, look at a seriously ill patient.
He gave his word and consequently, must restrain him.
The introductory word can be rearranged or removed without a union only in the first case, so a comma is required between the introductory word and the union.
In the second sentence, this cannot be done, which means that the comma is not put.
Very often difficulties arise in sentences with words HOWEVER and FINALLY. The word HOWEVER stands out only when it cannot be replaced by the union BUT.
Compare two sentences:
However we understand that this figure is still low (HOWEVER = BUT).
Bye, but, we still don't have a clear picture of what's going on (HOWEVER - an introductory word).
The word FINALLY is introductory only when it has no spatial or temporal meaning, but indicates the order of thoughts.
For example:
I hope this project will be completed soon. finally will be implemented.
AND, finally, The last thing I would like to pay attention to.
Introductory words can begin with a separate construction, for example, a clarifying phrase.
In this case, a comma is not placed after the introductory word (in other words, the comma, which was supposed to “close” the introductory word, is transferred to the end of a separate turnover).
I saw, or rather felt, that she was not indifferent to me. In addition, a comma is not placed before the introductory word located at the end of a separate turnover.
For the holidays, we decided to go somewhere, to Kolomna for example. If the introductory word is in the middle of a separate construction, then it is separated by commas on a common basis. I decided to declare my love, feeling, it seems, in my heart that she, too, was not indifferent to me.
If the introductory words are located before the turn, beginning with the words "how" or "to", then they are separated by commas. The day she lived seemed meaningless to her, in fact, like all life.
He thought for a moment probably, to find the right words.

1. Introductory words and phrases are not part of the offer. With their help, the speaker expresses his attitude to the content of the statement (confidence or uncertainty, emotional reaction, etc.):

Example: Unfortunately, he did not have watercolors.(Soloukhin).

Introductory sentences can also perform the same function.

For example: I dare say I was loved in the house(Turgenev) - in terms of structure, a definite-personal one-part sentence; In life, you know, there is always a place for exploits(M. Gorky) - in structure, a two-part sentence; We, if you want to know we came to demand(Gorbatov) - in structure, a conditional one-part clause.

In writing, introductory words, phrases and sentences usually separated by commas.

Digits of introductory words by value

Meaning	Introductory Components	Examples
1. Evaluation of the reported in terms of reliability, etc.:
1.1. Confidence, credibility	Of course, of course, undoubtedly, undoubtedly, without a doubt, certainly, really, in fact, really, naturally, naturally, naturally and etc.	Undoubtedly, someone is sucking the life out of this strange girl who cries when others in her place laugh (Korolenko). The heroine of this novel needless to say, was Masha (L. Tolstoy). Indeed, since my mother died ... I was very rarely seen at home (Turgenev).
1.2. uncertainty, speculation, vagueness, assumption	Probably, it seems, probably, in all probability, right , in some way, in some way, suppose, suppose, suppose, if you like, anyway and etc.	She probably still drinks coffee and cookies in the morning.(Fadeev). Life, it seems, has not yet begun(Paustovsky). Gift bread, apparently, to your taste(Mezherov). And he dreamed, perhaps, of approaching by another way, of knocking at the window as a welcome guest, dear(Twardowski). My head hurt a bit. Must be bad weather(Chekhov).
2. Different feelings:
2.1. Joy, approval	Fortunately, for happiness, for joy, for joy, for the pleasure of someone, what is good, what is even better and etc.	Fortunately, Alekhine left the house an hour earlier and managed to catch the steamer sailing to Frankfurt(Kotov). Here, to the indescribable admiration of Petya, on the old kitchen table, a whole locksmith's workshop is arranged(Kataev).
2.2. regret, disapproval	Unfortunately, unfortunately, unfortunately, to the shame of someone, to regret, to annoyance, to misfortune, as to misfortune, as if on purpose, a sinful deed, which is even worse, which is insulting, alas and etc.	Unfortunately, I must add that in the same year Paul died(Turgenev).
2.3. Surprise, bewilderment	Surprisingly, surprisingly, surprisingly, surprisingly, strangely, strangely, incomprehensibly and etc.	Naydenov, to Nagulny's amazement, in one second brushed off his leather jacket, sat down at the table(Sholokhov).
2.4. Fear	Irregular hour, what good, God forbid, just look and etc.	Just look, the oar will vomit and throw itself into the sea(Novikov-Priboy).
2.5. The general expressive nature of the utterance	In conscience, in fairness, in fact, in essence, to the soul, in truth, truth, in truth, it is necessary to tell the truth, if the truth is told, it is ridiculous to tell, to tell in honor, between us, there is nothing to say in vain, I confess, except jokes, actually and etc.	Followed him, however, some weakness(Turgenev). I confess, I do not like this tree - aspen too much ...(Turgenev). Nothing offends me so much, I dare say, offends me so much, as ingratitude.(Turgenev).
3. Message source	According to someone's report, according to someone's opinion, in my opinion, in your opinion, according to someone, according to someone's expression, according to rumors, according to a proverb, according to legend, from someone's point of view, I remember, hear, they say, they say, how they hear, how I think, how I think, how I remember, how they say, how they think, as it is known, as it was indicated, as it turned out, as they used to say in the old days, in my opinion and etc.	Pesotsky, they say, has apples as big as his head, and Pesotsky, they say, has made a fortune with his garden(Chekhov). The calculation, in my opinion, was mathematically accurate(Paustovsky). Twenty years ago, Linen Lake was such a wilderness that, according to foresters, not every bird dared to fly there(Paustovsky).
4. The order of thoughts and their connection	firstly, secondly, thirdly, finally, so, therefore, therefore, thus, on the contrary, vice versa, for example, for example, in particular, in addition, besides, to top it all, in addition, moreover, on the one hand, on the other hand, by the way, by the way, in general, in addition, therefore, the main thing, by the way, by the way, by the way and etc.	On the one hand, the darkness was saving: it hid us(Paustovsky). Forest air is healing, it lengthens life, it increases our vitality, and, finally, it turns the mechanical and sometimes difficult process of breathing into pleasure.(Paustovsky). So, the next day I stood in this room outside the doors and listened to how my fate was decided.(Dostoevsky).
5. Evaluation of the style of utterance, manner of speech, ways of formulating thoughts	In a word, in a word, in other words, in other words, directly speaking, roughly speaking, actually, in fact, in short, in short, rather, it is better to say, to say directly, easier to say, so to speak, how to say, so to speak, what is called and etc.	In a word, Storeshnikov every day more and more firmly thought to marry(Chernyshevsky). In short, this is not a master in science, but a worker(Chekhov). We got up and went to push to the well, or rather, to the fountain.(Garshin).
6. Evaluation of the measure, the degree of what is being said; the degree of generality of the stated facts	at least, at least, to some extent, to a large extent, as usual, as usual, happens, happens, as usual, as always, as it happens, as it happens, as it happens sometimes and etc.	Talked to me at least like an army commander(Simonov). Behind the counter, as usual, almost the entire width of the opening stood Nikolai Ivanovich ...(Turgenev) It happens that my luck is happier(Griboyedov).
7. Attracting the interlocutor's attention to the message, emphasizing, underlining	Do you see (whether), know (whether), remember (whether), understand (whether), believe (whether), listen, allow, imagine, imagine, can imagine, believe, imagine, admit, believe, believe, do not believe, agree, notice, do me a favor, if you want to know, I remind, we remind, I repeat, I emphasize what is important, what is even more important, what is essential, what is even more significant and etc.	You were scared, admit it, when my fellows threw a rope around your neck?(Pushkin). Imagine our young ones are already bored(Turgenev). We, if you want to know we came to demand(Gorbatov). Where was it, please?(Pavlenko).

2. According to their grammatical correlation, introductory words and constructions can go back to various parts of speech and various grammatical forms:

nouns in various cases with and without prepositions;

No doubt, happily, fortunately and etc.

adjectives in short form, in various cases, in superlative degree;

Right, to blame, the main thing, in general, the most important thing, the least.

pronouns in indirect cases with prepositions;

Besides, besides, meanwhile.

adverbs in positive or comparative degree;

Undoubtedly, of course, probably shorter, rather.

verbs in various forms of indicative or imperative mood;

I think, do you believe, it seemed, they say, imagine, have mercy.

infinitive or combination with infinitive;

See, know, admit, it's funny to say.

combinations with adverbs;

To tell the truth, in short, to put it bluntly.

two-part sentences with a subject - a personal pronoun and a predicate - a verb with the meaning of will, speaking, thought, etc.;

For as long as I can remember, I often think.

impersonal offers;
She thought we all remember well.
indefinitely personal proposals.
So they thought of him, as they usually spoke of him.

That's why it is necessary to distinguish between introductory words and homonymous forms and constructions.

Note!

Depending on the context, the same words sometimes act as introductory (hence, not members of the sentence), then as members of the sentence. In order not to be mistaken, you should remember that:

a) a question can be put to a member of the proposal;

b) the introductory word is not a member of the sentence and has one of the meanings listed above;

in) introductory words can usually (but not always) be removed from the sentence.

Compare the following sentences in pairs:

This is true(Dostoevsky). - True, sometimes ... it's not too fun to wander along country roads (Turgenev).

During the summer, he can become attached to this weak, talkative creature, get carried away, fall in love (Chekhov). - You might think that I'm asking you for money!(Dostoevsky).

Listen, we right went? Do you remember the place? (Kassil). - Donkey shouts: we, right, will get along, if we sit next to each other(Krylov).

In a number of cases, the criterion for distinguishing between introductory words and members of a sentence is the possibility of adding a word saying.

By the way, he never came.("By the way"); You really shouldn't have come.("as a matter of fact"); In short, the book is useful.("shortly speaking"); I really don't want to go back to what I said.("in truth").

When determining the syntactic function and punctuation, in some cases it is necessary to take into account several conditions.

1) The word probably is introductory in the sense of "probably, apparently":

The sisters are probably already asleep(Korolenko).

The word probably is a member of the sentence in the sense of "undoubtedly, exactly":

If I know(how?) maybe that I must die, then I will tell you everything, everything!(Turgenev).

2) The word is finally introductory:

if it indicates a connection of thoughts, the order of their presentation (in the meaning of “and more”) completes the enumeration:

Opekushin was a native of the common people, at first self-taught, then a recognized artist and, finally, an academician(Teleshov).

Often the word is finally preceded by homogeneous members of the word Firstly Secondly or on the one hand on the other hand, in relation to which the word is finally the closing enumeration;

if it gives an assessment of a fact from the point of view of the speaker's face or is used to express impatience, to strengthen, emphasize something:

Yes, go away, finally!(Chekhov).

Note!

The word finally is not introductory and performs the function of a circumstance in the meaning of “at the end”, “finally”, “after everything”, “as a result of everything”.

Gave three balls annually and squandered finally (Pushkin).

In this meaning, the particle -to can usually be added to the word (with an introductory word, such an addition is impossible).

Wed: Finally got to the station (Finally got to the station). - You can finally turn to your father for advice(adding a particle -then impossible).

3) The distinction between the combination in the end as an introductory and as a member of the sentence - the circumstance is similar in terms to the word at last.

Wed: After all, in the end, we have not yet decided anything definitively! (eventually denotes not time, but the conclusion reached by the speaker as a result of a series of reasoning). - Finally agreement has been reached(the meaning of the circumstance "as a result of everything").

4) A word, however, is introductory if it is in the middle or at the end of a simple sentence:

Heat and fatigue took, however, their(Turgenev); How clever I am, however(Chekhov).

At the beginning of a sentence (part of a complex sentence) or as a means of connecting homogeneous members, the word however has the meaning of an adversative union (it can be replaced by a union but), so a comma is placed only before this word:

However, it is desirable to know - by what witchcraft did the peasant take such power over the whole district?(Nekrasov).

Note. In rare cases, however, the word is separated by a comma at the beginning of the sentence, approaching in meaning an interjection (expresses surprise, bewilderment, indignation), for example: However, what a wind!(Chekhov).

5) The word of course is usually set off with commas as a lead:

Fedor still worked in the rear, heard, of course, and read many times about "folk heroes"(Furmanov).

But sometimes the word of course, pronounced in a tone of confidence, conviction, takes on the meaning of an affirmative particle and is not punctuated:

Of course it's true!; Of course it is.

6) The word is indeed introductory in the sense of "yes, that's right, exactly" (usually it takes a position at the beginning of a sentence):

Indeed, from the battery, a view of almost the entire location of Russian troops(L. Tolstoy).

As an adverb really has the meaning "in fact, truly, in reality" (usually it comes between the subject and the predicate):

I really is as you say(Dostoevsky).

7) A word in general is introductory if it is used in the sense of "generally speaking":

In general, one could agree with this statement, but it is necessary to check some data; Actually, I would like to know what really happened.

In other cases, the word is generally used as an adverb in different meanings:

in the sense of "in general", "as a whole":
Pushkin is to Russian art what Lomonosov is to Russian education. generally (Goncharov);
in the meaning of "always", "absolutely", "under all conditions":
He kindle fires generally forbade it was dangerous(Kazakevich);
in the meaning of "in all respects", "in relation to everything":
He generally looked weird(Turgenev).

This provision also applies to the form in general.

Wed: Sadness, in general, nothing(introductory word, can be replaced - generally speaking). - These are the terms generally uncomplicated process(meaning "in the end"); I made a few remarks about various little things, but all in all very much praised(Garshin) (meaning "as a result").

8) Combination anyway is introductory if it has a restrictive-evaluative value:

Anyway, his last name was not Akundin, he came from abroad and spoke for a reason (A.N. Tolstoy); This information at least in the short term, it will be difficult to check (the entire turnover is highlighted).

In the meaning of "under any circumstances" this combination is not introductory:

You anyway will be informed of the progress of the case; I was firmly convinced that anyway I'll meet him today at my mother's(Dostoevsky).

9) The combination, in turn, is not highlighted as busy if it is used in a meaning close to direct, or in the meaning of “in response”, “on its part”:

He in its turn asked me(i.e. when it was his turn); The workers thanked their bosses for their help and asked to visit them more often; in turn, representatives of the patronage organization invited the workers to a meeting of the theatre's artistic council.

In a figurative sense, the combination, in turn, acquires the meaning of introductory and punctuation stands out:

Among the newspaper genres, the genres are informational, analytical, and artistic and journalistic; among the latter, in turn, stand out essay, feuilleton, pamphlet.

10) The combination really in the meaning of "really" is not introductory. But if this combination serves to express bewilderment, indignation, indignation, etc., then it becomes introductory.

11) In particular, indicating the relationship between parts of the statement, it is separated from both sides by commas:

He is interested in particular in the origin of individual words.

But if, in particular, it is part of the connecting structure (at its beginning or at the end), then it is distinguished by being occupied together with this structure:

Many will willingly undertake this work, and in particular I; Many will willingly undertake this work, and I in particular.

If, in particular, it is included in the design in general and in particular, then such a construction is not separated by commas:

Over tea, the conversation turned to the household in general and in particular about gardening(Saltykov-Shchedrin).

12) The combination is mainly introductory, if it serves to highlight a fact, to express its assessment.

For example: There was a wide alley ... and it was mainly the public who walked along it.(Bitter) (it is impossible to form the combination “mainly to walk”, therefore, in this example, the combination mainly is not a member of the proposal); The article should be corrected and, mainly, supplemented with fresh material. (mainly meaning "most important"). The combination mainly, which is part of the connecting structure (at its beginning or at the end), is separated by commas along with it, for example: From fifty people mostly officers, crowded in the distance(Pavlenko).

The combination is mainly not introductory in the meaning of "first of all", "most of all":

He achieved success mainly due to his industriousness; What I like most about him is his sincerity.

13) The word main is introductory in the sense of "especially important", "especially important":

You can take any topic for the story, but, most importantly, it should be interesting; Details can be omitted, and most importantly - to make it entertaining(a comma cannot be put after the union a, and a dash is put after the introductory combination to strengthen punctuation).

14) The word means is introductory if it can be replaced by introductory words hence it became:

People are born, get married, die; it means it's necessary, it means it's good(A.N. Ostrovsky); So, does that mean you can't come today?

If the word means is close in meaning to "means", then the punctuation depends on the place it occupies in the sentence:

in the position between the subject and the predicate, it serves as a means of communication between the main members of the sentence, a dash is placed in front of it, and no sign is placed after it:

To fight is to win;

in other cases, it means that it is not separated or distinguished by any signs:

if the word means is between the subordinate and the main clause or between the parts of the non-union complex sentence, then it is separated from both sides by commas:

If he so stubbornly defends his views, it means that he feels he is right; If you did not save the child, then blame yourself.

15) The word vice versa means “as opposed to what is said or expected; on the contrary" is introductory and is separated by commas:

Instead of slowing down, he, on the contrary, stood on the goats and desperately twisted his whip over his head.(Kataev).

If, on the contrary (after the union and) is used as a word replacing a sentence member or a whole sentence, then the following punctuation is observed:

when a member of a sentence is replaced, then no sign is placed before the union and:

In the picture, light tones turn into dark ones and vice versa.(i.e. dark to light);

when, on the contrary, it joins the whole sentence, then a comma is placed before the union:

The closer the light source, the brighter the light emitted by it, and vice versa(replacing the whole sentence: The farther away the light source, the less bright the light it emits.; a kind of complex sentence is formed);

when, on the contrary, it joins a subordinate clause, a comma before the union is not put:

This also explains why what was considered criminal in the ancient world is considered legal in the new and vice versa.(Belinsky) (as if homogeneous subordinate clauses are formed with a non-repeating union and: ...and why what was considered criminal in modern times was considered legal in the ancient world).

16) The combination is at least introductory if it has an evaluative and restrictive meaning, that is, it expresses the attitude of the speaker to the thought expressed:

One person, driven by compassion, decided to at least help Akaky Akakievich with good advice.(Gogol); Vera Efimovna advised to apply for transferring her to political or, at least, to a nurse in a hospital.(L. Tolstoy).

If the introductory combination at least stands at the beginning of a separate turnover, then it is separated by commas along with it:

Nikolai Evgrafych knew that his wife would not return home soon, at least five o'clock! (Chekhov).

The combination is at least not separated by commas if it has the value "not less than", "at least":

From his tanned face one could conclude that he knew what smoke was, if not gunpowder, then at least tobacco smoke.(Gogol); At least I will know that I will serve in the Russian army (Bulgakov).

17) A turnover, including a combination from the point of view, is separated by commas if it has the meaning "according to":

Choosing a place to build a cottage, from my point of view, lucky.

If such a combination has the meaning "in relation", then the turnover is not separated by commas:

I know that a crime has been committed if you look at things from the point of view of general morality; In terms of novelty, the book deserves attention.

18) The word approximately is introductory in the sense of "for example" and is not introductory in the sense of "approximately".

Wed: I try about her, about("for example"), not to think is impossible(Ostrovsky). - We are about("approximately") in these tones and with such conclusions they talked(Furmanov).

19) The word for example is associated with the following punctuation:

separated by commas as introductory:
Nikolai Artemyevich liked to argue persistently, for example, about whether it is possible for a person to travel around the entire globe throughout his life.(Turgenev);
stands out together with a turnover, at the beginning or at the end of which is:

requires a comma before itself and a colon after itself, if it is after a generalizing word before listing homogeneous members:

Some mushrooms are very poisonous, for example: pale grebe, satanic mushroom, fly agaric.

Note!

Never are not introductory and the words are not separated by commas:

as if, as if, hardly, hardly, allegedly, almost, even, exactly, after all, only, certainly, just, nevertheless, necessarily, suddenly.

3. General rules for punctuation marks for introductory words, combinations and sentences.

1) Basically, introductory words, phrases and sentences are separated by commas:

I confess that he did not make a good impression on me.(Turgenev); Yes, you probably saw her that evening(Turgenev).

2) If the introductory word is after the enumeration of homogeneous members and precedes the generalizing word, then only a dash (without a comma) is placed before the introductory word, and a comma after it:

Books, brochures, magazines, newspapers - in a word, all kinds of printed matter lay on his desk in complete disarray.

If the sentence is complex, then a comma before the dash is placed on the basis of the general rule for separating parts of a complex sentence:

The men drank, argued and laughed - in a word, dinner was extremely cheerful (Pushkin).

3) When two introductory words meet, a comma is placed between them:

What good, perhaps, and marries, out of tenderness of the soul ...(Dostoevsky); So, according to you, physical labor should be done by everyone without exception?(Chekhov).

Amplifying particles with introductory words are not separated from them by a comma:

This is probably true, since there are no contraindications.

4) If the introductory word is at the beginning or at the end of a separate turnover (isolation, clarification, explanation, attachment), then it is not separated from the turnover by any sign:

The swarthy, stocky captain calmly sips his pipe, apparently Italian or Greek (Kataev); Among the comrades there are such poets, lyrics or something, preachers of love for people(Bitter).

Introductory words are not separated from a separate turnover, even if they are at the very beginning or at the very end of the sentence:

Apparently afraid of snowdrifts, the leader of the group canceled the climb to the top of the mountain; Leave these new arguments unconvincing and far-fetched of course.

If the introductory word is in the middle of a separate turnover, then it is separated by commas on a general basis:

The child, apparently afraid of the horse, ran up to his mother.

Note!

It is necessary to distinguish between cases when the introductory word is at the beginning of a separate turnover, and cases when it is between two members of the sentence.

Wed: He had information seems to have been published recently (a separate turnover, the introductory word seems to be part of it). - In his hand he held a small, it seems, technical manual.(without the introductory word, there would be no punctuation mark, since the definitions small and technical heterogeneous, the introductory word refers to the second of them).

In the presence of homogeneous definitions, when there may be a doubt to which of the homogeneous terms, the preceding or following, the introductory word between them refers, the second definition, together with the introductory word, can form a clarifying construction.

This information is taken from the new seems special for thiscase drawn up, directory(without an introductory word, there would be a comma between homogeneous definitions); Silence and grace reigned in it, obviously forgotten by god and people, corner of the earth(specifying definition with a demonstrative pronoun this).

If the introductory word is at the beginning of a phrase enclosed in brackets, then it is separated by a comma:

Both posts (apparently recent) have received widespread attention.

5) If there is a coordinating union before the introductory word, then the punctuation will be like this. Introductory words are separated from the preceding coordinative union by a comma if the introductory word can be omitted or rearranged to another place in the sentence without violating its structure (as a rule, with unions and, but). If the withdrawal or rearrangement of the introductory word is not possible, then a comma is not placed after the union (usually with the union a).

Wed: The entire edition has already been printed, and, probably, the book will go on sale one of these days. (The entire edition has already been printed, and the book will go on sale in a few days.); This question has already been considered several times, but, apparently, the final decision has not yet been made. (This question has already been considered several times, but the final decision has not yet been made.); Here, not coal, but rather liquid fuel can be used. (It can be used not coal, but liquid fuel). - The calculations were made hastily, and therefore inaccurately.(impossible: Calculations were made hastily and inaccurately); Maybe everything will end well, and maybe vice versa(impossible: Maybe everything will end well, and vice versa).

Note!

Homogeneous member of the sentence, standing after the introductory words and therefore, therefore, is not isolated, that is, a comma is not placed after it.

For example: As a result, the strength of the electromagnetic field of incoming signals, and hence the strength of reception, increases many times over; This scheme, and therefore the whole project as a whole, needs to be verified.

6) After the connecting union (at the beginning of an independent sentence), a comma is usually not put, since the union is closely adjacent to the introductory word following it:

And imagine, he nevertheless staged this performance; And I can assure you, the performance was wonderful; And what do you think he got his way; But anyway, the decision was made.

Less often (when intonation emphasizes introductory words or introductory sentences, when they are included in the text by means of a subordinating union), after the connecting union, a comma is placed before the introductory construction:

But, to my great annoyance, Shvabrin, usually condescending, decisively announced that my song was not good(Pushkin); And, as usual, they remembered only one good thing(Krymov).

7) The introductory words before the comparative turnover (with the union as), target turnover (with the union to), etc., are separated from them on the basis of the general rule:

All this seemed strange to me, however, like others; The son thought for a moment, probably to collect his thoughts.(usually in these cases the introductory word refers not to the previous, but to the subsequent part of the sentence).

8) A dash can be used instead of a comma for introductory words, phrases and sentences.

The dash is used in the following cases:

if the introductory phrase forms an incomplete construction (any word restored from the context is missing), then a dash is usually put instead of one comma:

Chichikov ordered to stop for two reasons: on the one hand, to give the horses a rest, on the other, to rest and refresh himself(Gogol) (a comma before a subordinate clause is absorbed by a dash);

a dash is placed before the introductory word as an additional sign after the comma if the introductory word is between two parts of a complex sentence and can be referred to either the preceding or the subsequent part:

The dog disappeared - probably someone drove it out of the yard(the dash emphasizes that not “the dog must have disappeared”, but that “the dog must have been driven away”).

Sometimes an additional sign emphasizes causal or conjunctive relationships between parts of a sentence:

It was difficult to check his words - obviously, the circumstances had changed a lot.

Sometimes a comma and a dash are placed before the introductory word, which is at the beginning of a separate turnover, and a comma after it, to avoid possible ambiguity:

Since there is still time, we will call someone else for the exam, for example, those who are retaken (allowable in the meaning of "suppose", "say");

a dash is placed before the introductory word after a comma if the part of the sentence following the introductory word summarizes what was said in the first part:

Chichikov asked with extreme accuracy who was the governor in the city, who was the chairman of the chamber, who was the prosecutor - in a word, he did not miss a single significant person.(Gogol);

using a dash, introductory sentences can be distinguished if they are quite common (have secondary members):

To suspect Yakov Lukich of sabotage - now it seemed to him- it was not easy(Sholokhov); Let the enemy get away, or - as it is said in the solemn language of military regulations- letting him break away is a big nuisance for scouts, almost a shame(Kazakevich).