adding text to variables

I'm using PHP, MySql, DreamweaverMX, and PHAkt 2. I want to add a comma ( , ) to the end of a variable, but only if it exists in the database. (Meaning I don't want a comma with no variable.) I seem to remember a format that didn't use an if/else statement that looked something like: <?php echo xxx( $variable, \,) ?> The elements were similiar to returning a date with formatting: <?php echo DoDateTime( $current, 'l, F Js Y') ?> Can anyone help, or was this a dream?