Never put a comma after “such as,” and put one before it only when the examples are extra information rather than essential. Write “Citrus fruits, such as lemons and limes, are high in vitamin C” but “Citrus fruits such as lemons are cheaper in winter” when you mean those particular fruits and no others.
That single distinction, essential versus extra, decides the comma before or after such as in every sentence you will ever write. There is a five-second test for it, and one more comma that most writers forget.
Essential or Extra: The Rule Behind the Comma
A “such as” phrase either narrows what you are talking about or simply illustrates it. Narrowing means no comma; illustrating means commas.
- No comma (essential): “Employees such as contractors are paid monthly.” Only the contractors are, so the phrase limits the group.
- Commas (extra): “Employees, such as the two you met yesterday, are paid monthly.” All employees are; the examples just help you picture them.
This is the essential-versus-nonessential distinction that Purdue OWL’s comma rules apply to every interrupting phrase, not just this one. Notice that the punctuation changes the meaning rather than the style. The first sentence excludes most employees; the second includes them all. Getting the comma wrong sends a different fact than you intended, which is why this rule is worth the thirty seconds it takes to learn.
Never Put a Comma After “Such As”
A comma directly after “such as” is always wrong, no matter how long the list that follows. “We visited several cities, such as, Rome and Athens” is an error in every style guide.
The reason is simple: “such as” introduces its examples, so nothing should separate it from them. The phrase behaves like a colon that has been folded into the sentence, and you would not write a comma after a colon either.
This is where “such as” parts company with its closest relative. Transitional phrases like “for example” and “that is” do take a comma after them, which is why our guide to commas with “for example” gives the opposite advice on that half of the question.
The Delete Test
Cover the whole “such as” phrase with your finger and read the sentence without it. If the sentence still means what you intended, the phrase is extra and takes commas. If the meaning widens or turns vague, the phrase is essential and takes none.
- “Citrus fruits [such as lemons and limes] are high in vitamin C.” Without the phrase: “Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C.” Same meaning, so use commas.
- “Documents [such as passports] must be certified.” Without the phrase: “Documents must be certified.” Now it claims every document needs certifying, which is broader than intended, so no commas.
The test works because it asks the only question that matters: is the sentence still true and specific without those examples?
The Comma Everyone Forgets
When a “such as” phrase is extra and the sentence continues after it, the phrase needs a comma at both ends. Opening the phrase with a comma and never closing it is the most common punctuation error in this pattern.
- ✗ “Soft cheeses, such as brie and camembert are best served warm.”
- ✓ “Soft cheeses, such as brie and camembert, are best served warm.”
The pair of commas works like brackets, and brackets always come in twos. The exception is when the phrase lands at the very end of the sentence, where the full stop does the closing: “She collects vintage cameras, such as Leicas and Rolleiflexes.”
“Such As” vs “Like,” “Including,” and “For Example”
These four introduce examples in slightly different ways, and only one of them takes a following comma.
| Phrase | Comma before? | Comma after? | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| such as | Only if the examples are extra | Never | Introduces genuine members of the group |
| including | Same rule as “such as” | Never | Implies the list is partial |
| like | Same rule as “such as” | Never | Traditionally means “similar to,” now widely used for examples |
| for example | Yes | Yes | A transitional phrase, punctuated on both sides |
The traditional distinction between “such as” and “like” is worth knowing even though few readers enforce it: “poets such as Keats” means Keats is one of the poets, while “poets like Keats” once meant poets resembling Keats. In everyday writing the two now overlap, but formal editors still prefer “such as” when the examples belong to the group.
Using “Such As” With a List
The examples after “such as” follow ordinary list punctuation. Separate three or more with commas, and decide on the serial comma the same way you would anywhere else: “tools such as hammers, chisels, and planes.”
Keep the list short. “Such as” signals a sample rather than a complete inventory, so three or four items is plenty; if you need the full set, “namely” or a colon suits better. And never let the list run so long that the reader loses the closing comma at the far end of it.
FAQ: Comma Before or After Such As
Do you put a comma after “such as”?
No. A comma never follows “such as,” because the phrase introduces its examples directly. “Cities such as, Rome” is incorrect in every style guide, no matter how many examples come next.
Do you use a comma before “such as”?
Only when the examples are extra information that could be deleted without changing the meaning. If the phrase narrows which people or things you mean, leave the comma out.
How do you use “such as” in a sentence?
Place it directly before two or three representative examples: “Sports such as rowing demand early mornings.” Add commas around the phrase if the sentence would still mean the same thing with the examples removed.
Should you use a comma before “as”?
Usually not. When “as” means “because” or “while,” it introduces a subordinate clause that normally attaches without a comma, though writers add one to prevent misreading in long sentences.
If you remember one thing: the comma leans in front of “such as,” never behind it, and when it does appear in front, look for its partner at the other end of the phrase.
