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In a dialogue, a pause can be used for effect, putting emphasis on the greeting, eg: Hello, Mr. Black. "Hello" is said first, then a pause, then the name. Normally, people would say: Hello Mr. Black. Without any pauses in their speech. When writing a letter or email, it is quite common to do this: Hello Mr. Black, Bla bla bla...
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The salutation "hi, Joe," often does not have a comma after...
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Feb 25, 2022 · Commas can often be misused when writing cards, letters, or emails. Learn more about comma placements for greetings and closings.
The word "Dear" is an adjective. It describes the noun it precedes. Putting a comma after "Dear" would be as bad as putting one after "red" in "red bus." A Comma with "Hi" or "Hello" When the salutation in your letter or email starts with "Hello" or "Hi," then you should put a comma before the name of the person you're addressing.
- Formal Salutations
- Informal Salutations with Adjectives
- Informal Salutations with Interjections
- Casual Salutations Between Friends and Family
- References
Salutations (or greetings) in formal letters and emails are followed by a colon:1 Dear Mr. Periwinkle: Please accept my resignation from my position as lead bank teller. I am leaving to pursue my career as a trapeze artist. To Whom It May Concern: I have attached my application for stamp collector of the year.
There is a common misconception that commas should never be used after salutations. That’s just not true. Commas can be used after informal salutations that include an adjective such as “Dear.”2The trick is that you have to decide if your message is formal or informal. Letters and emails to family are pretty much always informal; however, the level...
Realistically, most of us will use an interjection such as “Hi” or “Hello” instead of “Dear” when inviting a coworker for coffee. In this situation, a comma follows the interjection and a period or exclamation point follows the recipient’s name: Good morning, Sam. Hello, Sam. Hi, Sam!
Let’s be honest: the comma and period format can look too fussy for messages to family and friends. Even the online Q&A section for The Chicago Manual of Style conceded that efficiency trumps formality in casual communication; so don’t worry too much about starting that next email to your grandparents with “Hi Grandma and Grandpa,” rather than “Hi,...
1. Bryan A. Garner,Garner’s Modern English Usage, 4th ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016), 748; The Chicago Manual of Style,17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 6.66. 2. The Chicago Manual of Style,17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 6.53.
May 20, 2019 · Openers and names: comma use. A salutation usually has two components: a greeting or an adjective and the name or title of the person you’re addressing. In the previous example, the salutation is composed of an adjective and a name, and there’s no comma between the two. However, a comma should separate a direct greeting and a person’s name.
Formal application of punctuation with a salutation that doesn’t include an opening adjective (e.g., Dear Sir) would call for a comma preceding the person’s name as a proper form of address (e.g., Good afternoon, George). Whether to follow the name with a comma or a colon would be determined by the relationship’s context:
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May 12, 2023 · Punctuation in a salutation is omitted more often in British than in American usage. In formal communication, prefer to use a colon (American) or a comma (British). Comma after Hi or Hello. The comma of direct address between a greeting like Hi or Hello and the person’s name is usually omitted in informal messages, where it can seem unduly ...
