Is a comma optional here?

Question

Is a comma before "which" in the following bolded sentence optional? Could it be reworded for clarity?

I don't think exaggerated political films are harmful to the democratic process. If anything, I think they encourage people to hold politicians accountable for their actions, which instead benefits the process.

Answer 1

Hi Jordan,

Another thought for your consideration is this:

Should you be able to write the statement, as you see fit for the project, consider something like this as your sentence;

Exaggerated political films are a tool which encourages people to hold politicians accountable for their actions; thereby benefiting the democratic process.

As the author, it is know the thoughts being shared are yours. A sentence containing more active words will do a better job keeping your reader's attention.

Just a thought. Have a great day!

Answer 2

Hi Jordan,

As is, the sentence is better off with a comma in that spot. You could also reword the sentence like this if you chose:

If anything, they benefit the process by encouraging people to hold politicians accountable for their actions.

If you're ever wondering whether a comma belongs in a certain spot, reading the sentence aloud can be helpful. That way, you can get a feel for how the comma (or lack of a comma) would affect the way the sentence is read. Often (like here) it's a question of grammatical right and wrong, but there is also sometimes a bit of your own subjective preference involved.

Hope this helps!

Milton :)