LAURA FINEBERG COOPER
  • Home
  • EDITING
  • College Essays
  • Tutoring
    • Overview
    • Grades 6-8
    • Grades 9-12
    • Adults
  • Grammar Blog
  • Resume
SIGN UP HERE to receive A SPOONFUL OF GRAMMAR in your inbox!

Spoonful#15: DON'T EAT GRANDMA!

5/12/2019

3 Comments

 
Picture
Trust me when I tell you that COMMAS CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH...AND ALSO PREVENT EMBARASSMENT! You don't really want to eat your beloved grandma, do you? That's why we need COMMA RULE #6: COMMAS WITH DIRECT ADDRESSES.

What is a DIRECT ADDRESS? A name or anything at all that one person uses to address another person, anything from nice and polite to informal and snarky.

​This comma rule comes into play when you're writing dialogue. If you start an address or greeting with a person's name, follow it with a comma. If the greeting or comment comes first, precede the name with a comma. After looking at these examples, I hope all will become crystal clear.

"What's up, Sally?"
"Hey, don't walk away from me!"
"Derek, is it your turn to bring in snacks?"
"Hi there, Adam."
"Sir, may I have your assistance?"
"The answer is still no, Sam."
"Good morning, class."
"Let's go outside, Tiger."
"Howdy, Ma'am."
"Yes, Mary, you're definitely invited to my party."
"Sweetie, dinner is ready."

Don't confuse DIRECT ADDRESSES with SALUTATIONS in letters, which start with DEAR, like Dear Grandma or Dear Editor. 

That's it for today's spoonful. I hope you found it delightfully short and easy to understand. 

Sincerely,
​Laura Fineberg Cooper

3 Comments
Gerald Gould
5/12/2019 01:17:21 pm

Reminds me of a restaurant that advertised on billboards,
Eat kids free.

Reply
Laura Fineberg Cooper link
5/12/2019 06:25:08 pm

Gerald,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I've seen some awkwardly worded advertisements over the years, but that one is pretty awful!

Reply
Marcia Strykowski link
5/21/2019 07:57:56 am

So glad Grandma is safe, thanks to a simple comma!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Welcome to
    ​A Spoonful of Grammar!

    Swallowing too many grammar rules at once can be hazardous to one's health. That's why my goal is to deliver one spoonful at a time - in the most delightful way.
    ​

    Sincerely,
    Laura Fineberg Cooper

    Archives

    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019

    Categories

    All
    All Summaries
    Grammar
    Punctuation
    Recipes
    Story Elements
    Vocabulary

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • EDITING
  • College Essays
  • Tutoring
    • Overview
    • Grades 6-8
    • Grades 9-12
    • Adults
  • Grammar Blog
  • Resume