Choose the correctly punctuated sentence with an introductory phrase: 

1. Before eating she washed her hands
2. Before eating, she washed her hands
3. Before, eating she washed her hands
4. Before eating; she washed her hands

Introductory phrases (≥4 words) require following commas (APA 4.03). Option a omits it; option c misplaces the comma; option d misuses a semicolon. Shorter phrases may omit commas unless misreading occurs (e.g., “After all, we tried”).