On request from a number of writers receiving or reading someone else's critique, all of them unsure about commas, I'll be doing a few lessons with examples which might make them easier to remember. If only my parents were alive to see me using that teaching degree at long last, huh?
If you don't need a refresher, great! How about hustling yourself over to Erotica SYW and helping someone who's struggling with punctuation or other issues? They'll thank you for correction and explanation of why.
When you talk to someone and use their name, it's called direct address. Simple examples are Good morning, sweet cheeks and Brian, you've got to use more lube. Whoever says those lines is directly addressing sweet cheeks and Brian.
Omitting the comma that ought to be there wouldn't be too tragic. The lines would mean the same thing. That's not always true, though. There’s a major difference between Let’s eat, Erica! and Let’s eat Erica!
Use commas to separate the name, title, or other words used in direct address--that’s calling the person by name, or a name substitute--when speaking to that person.
It doesn’t matter if the direct address is to a single person, a small group, a multitude, or even a non-physical concept. It doesn’t matter if you’re using full names, proper names, nicknames, job titles, terms of respect, derogatory terms, formal titles, phrases to describe or identify a group, etc.
So far, so good, right?
Use one comma if the direct address appears at the beginning of the sentence, separating it from the rest of the sentence.
Honey, you’re not frigid. You just haven’t been with a real man.
Mrs. Smith, please spread your legs and try to relax.
Babe, you said he wouldn’t be home for hours.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present my new sub? Stand up tall, Keenan.
Senator, we have photographs of your sexual encounters with the page.
Officer, she’s over eighteen. Show him your ID.
You flatterer, I’m old enough to be your mother, or at least do your mother.
Class, settle down. Miss Johnson has something to show you. Two somethings.
Use one comma if the direct address appears at the end of the sentence, separating it from the rest of the sentence.
You’ll do as you’re told and like it, slut.
I’ve never seen a cock as big as his, Mom.
Thank you, sir! May I have another?
Ooh, yes, just like that, both of you.
That’s not the beaver I’m referring to, Mrs. Cleaver.
Oh, you! That’s not what I meant.
Know what you are, Karen? Every man here does.
Let’s go here, people, there’s porn to make.
Use two commas if the direct address appears anywhere else in the sentence, separating it from both what comes before it and what comes after it.
Oh, darling, diamonds!
Congratulations, everyone, on the dildo sales record for this date.
If I were you, bitch, I would keep my mouth shut.
We all appear to be horny, my brothers of Sig Ep, so let’s fuck something.
When I want you to say anything, young lady, I’ll ask for your input.
Hey, Marlon, you want to take her in back?
Thanks to you, Master, I am free while in chains.
Since we were late, asshole, there’s no girls left. You gonna blow me?
It has to be a comma (or two commas if it’s in the middle). Not ellipses if the speaker is to pause. Not a period. Not a colon. Not a dash or a hyphen or extra blank space.
To test whether a name is used as a direct address, see if the sentence still makes sense--and the same sense--without it. If it does, then the use of the name is direct address.
I like Nicki, especially her boobs. (Not direct address.)
I like you, Nicki, especially your boobs. (Direct address.)
Agent Rogers of the FBI pays me for sex or information. (Not direct address.)
Agent Rogers, is the FBI paying me for sex or information? (Direct address.)
What happened to Jake? (Not direct address.)
What happened, Jake? (Direct address.)
Remember, for our next class I expect you to scan something you've written and correct any direct address comma omissions. Class dismissed!
Maryn, who's misplaced her hickory stick
If you don't need a refresher, great! How about hustling yourself over to Erotica SYW and helping someone who's struggling with punctuation or other issues? They'll thank you for correction and explanation of why.
DIRECT ADDRESS REQUIRES COMMAS
When you talk to someone and use their name, it's called direct address. Simple examples are Good morning, sweet cheeks and Brian, you've got to use more lube. Whoever says those lines is directly addressing sweet cheeks and Brian.
Omitting the comma that ought to be there wouldn't be too tragic. The lines would mean the same thing. That's not always true, though. There’s a major difference between Let’s eat, Erica! and Let’s eat Erica!
Use commas to separate the name, title, or other words used in direct address--that’s calling the person by name, or a name substitute--when speaking to that person.
It doesn’t matter if the direct address is to a single person, a small group, a multitude, or even a non-physical concept. It doesn’t matter if you’re using full names, proper names, nicknames, job titles, terms of respect, derogatory terms, formal titles, phrases to describe or identify a group, etc.
So far, so good, right?
Use one comma if the direct address appears at the beginning of the sentence, separating it from the rest of the sentence.
Honey, you’re not frigid. You just haven’t been with a real man.
Mrs. Smith, please spread your legs and try to relax.
Babe, you said he wouldn’t be home for hours.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present my new sub? Stand up tall, Keenan.
Senator, we have photographs of your sexual encounters with the page.
Officer, she’s over eighteen. Show him your ID.
You flatterer, I’m old enough to be your mother, or at least do your mother.
Class, settle down. Miss Johnson has something to show you. Two somethings.
Use one comma if the direct address appears at the end of the sentence, separating it from the rest of the sentence.
You’ll do as you’re told and like it, slut.
I’ve never seen a cock as big as his, Mom.
Thank you, sir! May I have another?
Ooh, yes, just like that, both of you.
That’s not the beaver I’m referring to, Mrs. Cleaver.
Oh, you! That’s not what I meant.
Know what you are, Karen? Every man here does.
Let’s go here, people, there’s porn to make.
Use two commas if the direct address appears anywhere else in the sentence, separating it from both what comes before it and what comes after it.
Oh, darling, diamonds!
Congratulations, everyone, on the dildo sales record for this date.
If I were you, bitch, I would keep my mouth shut.
We all appear to be horny, my brothers of Sig Ep, so let’s fuck something.
When I want you to say anything, young lady, I’ll ask for your input.
Hey, Marlon, you want to take her in back?
Thanks to you, Master, I am free while in chains.
Since we were late, asshole, there’s no girls left. You gonna blow me?
It has to be a comma (or two commas if it’s in the middle). Not ellipses if the speaker is to pause. Not a period. Not a colon. Not a dash or a hyphen or extra blank space.
To test whether a name is used as a direct address, see if the sentence still makes sense--and the same sense--without it. If it does, then the use of the name is direct address.
I like Nicki, especially her boobs. (Not direct address.)
I like you, Nicki, especially your boobs. (Direct address.)
Agent Rogers of the FBI pays me for sex or information. (Not direct address.)
Agent Rogers, is the FBI paying me for sex or information? (Direct address.)
What happened to Jake? (Not direct address.)
What happened, Jake? (Direct address.)
Remember, for our next class I expect you to scan something you've written and correct any direct address comma omissions. Class dismissed!
Maryn, who's misplaced her hickory stick
