direct address: commas around a name or title

Set off a term of direct address with commas. A term of direct address is a name, a title, or another word that identifies the person or group spoken to, such as Maria, Doctor, sir, or everyone. The term of direct address is neither the subject nor an object of the sentence, so commas separate the term from the words around it. A term of direct address is also called a vocative.

The position of a term of direct address determines where its commas go. A term at the start of a sentence takes one comma after it: Marcus, the last train leaves at six. A term at the end takes one comma before it: The last train leaves at six, Marcus. A term in the middle takes a comma on each side: The last train, Marcus, leaves at six.

Distinguish addressing someone from mentioning that person. A name that addresses someone takes commas; a name that mentions someone does not. The question Do you know Sam? mentions Sam as the object of know and asks whether the person spoken to has met Sam. The question Do you know, Sam? addresses Sam and asks whether Sam knows the answer.

Short greetings and acknowledgments take a comma before the name: Hi, Juan. Thank you, Ms. Lopez. The salutation Dear Mr. Carter takes no comma after Dear, because Dear is an adjective that forms one phrase with the name.

See also comma; greetings and closings: comma use; comma with introductory elements; opening interjections: comma after yes, no, oh, and well.