greetings and closings: comma use
The punctuation after the salutation and the complimentary closing of a letter or email.
Dear Aunt Carol, shows the comma that follows the salutation of a personal letter or an email. Dear Ms. Patel: shows the colon that follows the salutation of a business letter.
Dear Jordan, takes no comma after Dear, because dear modifies the name. Hello, Jordan, takes a comma after Hello, because in a salutation that begins with hi or hello, the name is a direct address.
Sincerely, and Best regards, show the comma that follows the complimentary closing of a letter or email. The sender’s name goes on the next line.
See also direct address: commas around a name or title; opening interjections: comma after yes, no, oh, and well; comma.
Examples
UseDear Dr. Whitman: (A colon follows the salutation of a business letter.)
UseHi, Marcus, (A comma separates hi or hello from a name used in direct address.)
UseWarm regards, (A comma follows the complimentary closing of a letter or email.)
AvoidDear, Marcus, (The comma after Dear is incorrect, because dear modifies the name, and no comma separates a modifier from the noun it modifies. Write Dear Marcus, with no comma after Dear.)
AvoidHi Marcus, (A comma must follow Hi, because a comma separates hi or hello from a name used in direct address. Write Hi, Marcus, with a comma after Hi.)