Comma use with such as

Such as—just two innocent-looking little words, but they're a source of comma trauma for many. As you type them, do your fingers hesitate on the keyboard while you debate where—or whether—you need a comma?

The following guidelines will help you decide when and where to use a comma with such as.

No comma before—Don't put a comma before such as if it introduces an essential phrase (one that defines or identifies the word it modifies):

• Hockey players such as Sidney Crosby are superstars.

Without the phrase such as Sidney Crosby, the sentence Hockey players are superstars doesn't make much sense. Not all hockey players are superstars. The phrase beginning with such as defines what kind of hockey players we mean.

Comma needed before—Put a comma before such as if it introduces a phrase that is giving additional, secondary information:

• A number of legendary Canadian players, such as Maurice Richard, Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky, have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Even without the phrase such as Maurice Richard, Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky, the sentence still makes sense: A number of legendary Canadian players have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The word legendary defines the players, so the phrase beginning with such as is merely additional information.

No comma after—Do not put a comma between such as and the example(s) it introduces:

Incorrect: Hockey teams often owe a large part of their success to their talented goaltenders, such as, Vancouver's Roberto Luongo and Montréal's Carey Price.

Correct: Hockey teams often owe a large part of their success to their talented goaltenders, such as Vancouver's Roberto Luongo and Montréal's Carey Price.