From the course: Writing with Proper Punctuation

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How to use commas with names

How to use commas with names

From the course: Writing with Proper Punctuation

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How to use commas with names

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- Be careful when you write with people's names, because sometimes you need a comma to make the meaning clear. For example, if I write, call me, Susan. I'm telling Susan to call me. But if I forget the comma and right, call me Susan. I'm telling the reader to call me by the name Susan. You've probably seen the joke that is based on this comma rule that shows the sentence, let's eat grandma. And then says something like don't be a cannibal, use a comma. The right sentence would be, let's eat grandma, with a comma. This specific kind of comma is called the comma of direct address. And if you want to get really fancy, it's called the vocative case. Here's another instance where a comma or two can make a difference with names. If I write, I'm going to visit my brother, Charlie, with a comma, that means Charlie is my only brother. But if I write, I'm going to visit my brother Charlie, without a comma, that means I have…

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