Is a comma in this sentence required?

Question

In the sentence below, is the comma optional or should it (not) be there? I can hear it there when this is spoken, but I am not convinced it needs to be there in written form. > In order to pass [...] data protection, the customer must correctly answer [...] As one could simply reorder the elements of the sentence: > The customer must correctly answer [...] in order to pass [...] data protection. and no comma would be needed.

Answer 1

There are many examples of sentences where rearranging the words no longer necessitates a comma, but this applies only to that particular arrangement. In each case, there are specific rules which call for a comma to be used.

In the case of the sentence:

In order to pass [...] data protection, the customer must correctly answer [...]

...the comma is necessary because the sentence begins with a prepositional phrase which is a dependent clause. Any sentence which begins with a prepositional phrase cannot stand on its own and, therefore, necessitates a comma to separate it from the main clause.

When I went to the park, I was chased by some ducks.

If the dependent clause comes at the end, there are no rules which call for a comma, so you don't need one.

For more info, check: https://www.grammarly.com/blog/comma/