Comma to Separate a Statement from an Echo/Tag Question
The Comma
Rulebase Summary
Use a comma to separate a statement from an echo (tag) question when the subjects and verbs are the same in both clauses. The whole sentence ends with a question mark.
Morson's Rule 78 · p.47 BGGP Separating Comma.31 · p.197 BGGP Setting-Off Comma.14 · p.225 BGGP Tag Clause.2 · p.385 BGGP Tag Clause.3 · p.385 BGGP Tag Clause.7 · p.389
Examples
✗
Q. You were driving. weren't you?
✓
Q. You were driving, weren't you?
Comma joins statement to echo tag with same subject/verb.
✗
A. She was there. wasn't she?
✓
A. She was there, wasn't she?
Tag echoes the subject and verb — comma, not period.
Transcript Notes
If the sentence continues after the tag clause, the tag clause is surrounded with commas. Note that tag clauses using words like 'right,' 'true,' or 'correct' do not fall under this separating comma rule.
Style Guide References (6)
Morson's
Rule 78
Page 47
BGGP
Separating Comma.31
Page 197
BGGP
Setting-Off Comma.14
Page 225
BGGP
Tag Clause.2
Page 385
BGGP
Tag Clause.3
Page 385
BGGP
Tag Clause.7
Page 389
See also (5)
See Question Mark with Tag Questions (Isn't It, Didn't He) Compare Statement Followed by a Related Question (Different Subject/Verb) Compare Period After Okay, All Right, Fine, Very Well at End of Sentence Compare Comma with Throwaway Words (Like, You Know, Now, Then) Related Comma with Nouns of Direct Address