Using Commas with Like and Such As
Using Commas with Like and Such As
In this post we’ll address the often confusing issues of when to use “like” and when to use “such as” along with using commas with like and such as.
Like and “such as” are often used interchangeably and for good reason—they are extremely close in meaning and usage.
I’ll repeat this later, but “like” is often used in a comparative mode while “such as” is more inclusive. Let’s look at a few examples.
- Dogs such as Great Danes and poodles don’t bite.
You don’t use a comma before “such as” because it introduces a phrase that is a necessary part of the sentence. We can tell this by removing the phrase to see if the sentence still means the same thing.
- Dogs don’t bite.
We all know that’s not true. Some dogs do bite; therefore, the phrase “such as Great Danes and poodles” is needed. However, if you said, “Herding dogs, such as Australian shepherds and border collies, are very active,” you would need commas. Remove the phrase and see.
- Herding dogs are very active.
Not only does it make sense, it means the same thing. With the phrase intact, we’re only adding information, and it’s information that isn’t needed.
When you use like it tells us that what comes before it is to be used in a comparative manner to what comes after it. A few examples follow using both terms.
- She loves long-haired cats, such as the Persian and the ragdoll.
- Her husband loves short-haired dogs, such as the boxer and Dalmatian.
- Her husband loves dogs like the German and Anatolian shepherds, but he can’t tolerate the long hair.
Let’s look at the sentences above. In the first one, we said, “She loves long-haired cats, such as the Persian and the ragdoll.” By using “such as” we indicated that what followed was to be included as examples of long-haired cats; in other words, they were long-haired cats.
Example two was the same: the Dalmatian and boxer are short-haired dogs. However, in the third example, we said “her husband loves dogs like the German and Anatolian shepherds,” meaning he loves dogs that have something in common with them. Perhaps it is their size, traits, mannerisms, etc., however, he doesn’t love the shepherds (they are long-haired dogs) but dogs like them.
When to Use Like—for Comparison
We’ll go through this again.
While like and “such as” are frequently interchangeable, there are differences. Like is used to compare what follows, and “such as” includes what follows. Sometimes it may seem like splitting hairs, but if you analyze the sentences, there is a difference. Look at the examples below:
- My grandson loves fruits like strawberries and cantaloupe.
- My grandson loves fruits, such as strawberries, blackberries, cantaloupe, and honeydew.
In the first example, we used like to say he loves fruits that are similar to strawberries and cantaloupe. It doesn’t mean he likes those specific fruits; he may hate them but like fruits that are similar.
In the second example, we use “such as” to be specific—saying he loves strawberries, blackberries, cantaloupe, and honeydew.
🐗 Remember to use like for comparisons and “such as” when you want to cite examples.
Bottom Line
I don’t think anyone is going to misunderstand you if you use like instead of “such as” or vice versa, but it helps to know the difference.
When to Use Like and When to Use Such As
Now that I’ve touted all this nonsense, let me say that like and “such as” are as interchangeable as any words I know. I’ve cited some differences that the strictest grammarians adhere to, but in everyday life, writers can, and should, use whichever word they want. “Such as” comes across as more formal, and if that’s the style a writer is aiming for, they should use it.
If you have a situation where it seems natural to use “such as,” then use it. If you think like sounds better, use it. For other punctuation tips try this post.
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