##  [Commas with “such as”](/writing-tips-plus/commas-with-such-as)

##  Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

## On this page

- [When to use commas](#use-commas)
- [When to omit commas](#omit-commas)
- [Commas directly after “such as”](#after-such-as)
- [Additional information](#additional-information)

## When to use commas

When **such as** introduces a non-restrictive modifier (a modifier that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence), a comma is required before and after the modifier:

- Many vegetables, such as artichokes, peas and broccoli, are high in fiber.

In the example above, the modifier **such as artichokes, peas and broccoli** is not essential; it simply adds detail. Therefore, the modifier should be set off by commas, one before **such as** and one after **broccoli**.

To determine whether a modifier is non-restrictive, try removing it. You’ll know it’s non-restrictive if the sentence remains true: Many vegetables are high in fibre.

## When to omit commas

Restrictive modifiers (modifiers that are essential to the meaning of the sentence) are not set off by commas:

- Words such as **street**, **avenue**, and **road** are abbreviated only in addresses.

In the example above, the modifier **such as street, avenue and road** is essential to the meaning of the sentence; it restricts the general term **words** to a specific type of word. For that reason, the modifier is not set off by commas.

You’ll know a modifier is restrictive if you try removing it, and the sentence no longer holds true: Words are abbreviated only in addresses.

## Commas directly after “such as”

Note that **such as** should not be separated from the list of examples that follows it. For that reason, you should never put a comma immediately after **such as**:

- To avoid any misunderstanding, use clear, precise language in documents such as contracts, proposals and reports \[**not** such as, contracts, proposals and reports\].

## Additional information

- [Commas with non-restrictive elements](/en/writing-tips-plus/commas-with-non-restrictive-elements)
- [Commas with appositives](/en/writing-tips-plus/commas-with-appositives)

### Quiz

- [Commas: Missing or not?](/en/quiz/commas-missing-or-not-eng)

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## Liens connexes

- [Writing Tips Plus](/fr/writing-tips-plus/index-fra) (page d’accueil)
- [Outils d’aide à la rédaction](/fr/outils-tools/index-fra)
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