Using ”as” after dialogue tags

Question

Should a comma be used after a dialogue tag and before the word ”as”.

For example:

”I don’t like this at all, ” he said, as the door closed behind them.
Or
”I don’t like this at all, ” he said as the door closed behind them.

Is the comma required? Is this proper to extend a sentence after a dialogue tag?

Thank you!

Not an answer but a side note on concurrency. We humans are rarely that concurrent. What works for me is breaking it out so it is implied as often as possible. Thus: [The door closed behind them. "I don’t like this at all," he said.] YMMV. — Matthew Brown aka Lord Matt, Jul 13 at 10:21
This could be a matter of editorial preference. On the other hand, I might infer a slight difference between he two: without the comma, the door closing is lightly implied to be the thing he doesn't like; with the comma, the door closing is just coincidental with his observation. — chepner, Jul 13 at 16:17

Amadeus-Reinstate-Monica · Accepted Answer · 2019-07-12 19:36:37Z

8

It is fine to extend a sentence after a tag, and the first form is correct: "he said" should also be followed by a comma.

"I don't like this at all," he said, as the door closed behind them.

answered Jul 12 at 19:36

81.9k7 gold badges111 silver badges266 bronze badges

1

It can be the same, though thoughts are seldom expressed in quotes. I can't believe he said that, Josh thought, as he sipped his tea. – Amadeus-Reinstate-Monica Jul 12 at 19:45
Got it. Thanks so much, Amadeus!! – Vh123 Jul 12 at 19:50
This doesn't answer whether the comma is required, though. (I suspect it's not, and that the second example is also correct, though I don't have any evidence to hand.) – gidds Jul 13 at 13:36

add a comment |

Cyn says make Monica whole · Accepted Answer · 2019-07-13 01:13:24Z

Commas tell you when to breathe.

They can be for actual pauses (as when you read it out loud and take a brief pause) or they can be to tell your brain how to break down the sentence.

Either way, add a comma in both places.