Punctuation Point: The Direct Address Comma

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Erin Brenner of Right Touch Editing provides "bite-sized lessons to improve your writing" on her engaging blog The Writing Resource. We previously heard from Erin about the serial comma, and now she offers tips for using commas for direct address.

Recently, this cartoon made the rounds of language mavens:

The comma rule depicted here is simple: use a comma with the name of a person you are directly addressing. If the name comes first, it is followed by a comma:

Children, please stop jumping on the beds.

If the name comes at the end of the sentence, the comma precedes the name:

Stop jumping on the beds, boys.

And if the name (or names) comes in the middle of the sentence, surround it with commas:

What I said, Sean and Duncan, was to stop jumping on the beds!

As you can see from my example sentences (other than my children's habit of jumping on the beds), you don't have to use a proper name to address someone. A title works, even an informal one like boys.

In the cartoon, the comma changes the sentence from a bothersome one about cannibalism to a friendlier one about a grandchild encouraging Grandpa to have something to eat (as long as it's not Grandma). Got it? Good. Let's try a quick quiz.

Arthur you really should consider running for office again.
When Arthur ran last time, he lost by just a few votes.
Don't you want to go the distance Arthur?
Right now Arthur is the best time to campaign.
Just because the election is two years away is no reason for Arthur not to start knocking on doors.

Give it a whirl, and check back in the comments below for the correct answers. In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments, post them below!

Erin Brenner is the founder of Right Touch Editing, a customizable editing service. She has been an editing professional for over 15 years and is sought after for her expertise in language mechanics. She works on a variety of media in all levels of editing. In addition, she provides bite-sized lessons to improve your writing on her blog The Writing Resource and is the editor of Copyediting.com, which offers advice and training for those who edit copy. Follow her on Twitter at @ebrenner or on Facebook.

Click here to read other articles by Erin Brenner

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