Commas with Introductory Elements

Use a comma after introductory phrases of more than three or four words, as in the following example:

To experience the delights of high-altitude meadows, we drove a Jeep through mountain roads.

Use a comma following introductory subordinate clauses, as in the following examples:

Although temperatures were freezing, we stayed warm in front of the fireplace.
Before the ambulance arrived, I performed CPR on the unconscious victim.

Subordinate clauses in the middle or at the end of a sentence are usually not set off by commas. Consider this example:

I performed CPR on the unconscious victim before the ambulance arrived.

Use a comma after an introductory conjunctive adverb, as in the following sentence:

Consequently, the victim was still alive when she reached the hospital.

Which sentence is correct? They settled in for the night, after they had mapped out their route for the next day. On our last visit back home, we collected recipes and stories for a family cookbook.