a comma after "also" at the beginning of a sentence

[herbivorie]

Is it always necessary to put a comma after "also" at the beginning of a sentence?
For example, how about the following sentence?

You need to bring A, B and C. Also, you might need D.

(I'm assuming that this "also" can be used in a formal document. Please tell me if it's better to use "furthermore", "moreover", etc.)

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes, the comma is required when "also" appears at the beginning of the sentence. However, if you wrote "You might also need D" or "You might need D also" then no comma is required.

 

[herbivorie]

Thank you.
Does the same go for "therefore"?
Is it necessary to put a comma after "therefore" at the beginning of a sentence?

For example,
All orders placed after 3pm EST will ship the next business day. Therefore,your "Order Date" and "Ship Date" may not be the same.

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you.
Does the same go for "therefore"?
Is it necessary to put a comma after "therefore" at the beginning of a sentence?

For example,
All orders placed after 3pm EST will ship the next business day. Therefore, your "Order Date" and "Ship Date" may not be the same.

I would use the comma after "Therefore". Remember to put a space after a comma.

 

[Raymott]

There are cases where a comma is wrong after these words.
A story of a Senator who intends to contest the presidency may be following by: "Also vying for the top job is John Kerry, who threw his hat into the ring yesterday."
A discussion about the onerous duties of responsiblity may be followed by: "Therefore lies uneasy the head that wears the crown."

 

[herbivorie]

There are cases where a comma is wrong after these words.
A story of a Senator who intends to contest the presidency maybe be following by: "Also vying for the top job is John Kerry, who threw his hat into the ring yesterday."
A discussion about the onerous duties of responsiblity maybe be followed by: "Therefore lies uneasy the head that wears the crown."

Could you (or someone) tell me what the rule is regarding when to use a comma and when not to use a comma after "therefore" at the beginning of a sentence? I understand about "also", but I'm not sure about "therefore".

 

[Raymott]

Could you (or someone) tell me what the rule is regarding when to use a comma and when not to use a comma after "therefore" at the beginning of a sentence? I understand about "also", but I'm not sure about "therefore".

If you understand about 'also', you should also get 'therefore'.
Anyway, if the sentence doesn't make sense if you remove 'therefore', (as in my example), you probably shouldn't have a comma. The same applies to a lot of words, like 'Anyhow', 'Anyway', 'However'. They take a comma if they are simply linking words, as in my previous sentence. But they don't take a comma if they are integral parts of the sentence as in:
"Anyway you make it, I'm sure it will taste fine".
"However you make it, don't put too much salt in it."

 

[5jj]

"Anyway you make it, I'm sure it will taste fine".

I'd make 'Any way' two words in that sentence.

 

[Raymott]

I'd make 'Any way' two words in that sentence.

Yes, you are right. But the principle stands.