Compulsory Comma in Direct Address -By Azuka Onwuka

What is the difference between the two sentences in each set below?

We thank God, my brother.
We thank God my brother.

We thank John, my brother.
We thank John my brother.

How are you, my brother?
How are you my brother?

Answer:
We thank God, my brother.
Meaning: My brother, we thank God.

We thank God my brother.
Meaning: We thank God who is my brother. (That is blasphemous!)

We thank John, my brother.
Meaning: My brother, we thank John.

We thank John my brother.
Meaning: We thank John who is my brother.

How are you, my brother?
Meaning: My brother, how are you?

How are you my brother?
Meaning: Could you show me how we are related?

Can you see how a comma can totally change the meaning of a sentence? Can you see how important the comma is?

Now please look at these statements:

Good evening, sir.
Good evening sir.

Thank you, Jane.
Thank you Jane.

Hello, John.
Hello John.

Musa, how are you?
Musa how are you?

What is the difference in them?

One set has a comma marking off the person being addressed, while the other set does not have the comma.

Which set do you think is correct and why?

Let us explain this.

Any time you address someone directly, you MUST use a comma to set off that person. It is not optional.

This means that you MUST use a comma in every DIRECT ADDRESS.

“John came here” is not a direct address.

But “John, come here” or “Come here, John” is a direct address.

You are talking DIRECTLY to John.

“Children come here.” – This means that children usually come here.

“Children, come here.” – This means that you are asking the children to come to you. It is a direct address. It MUST have a comma. If it does not have the comma, it is not a direct address.

These are the correct options:

Good evening, sir.
Thank you, Jane.
Hello, John.
Musa, how are you?

When the person you are addressing is in the middle of the sentence, then you need two commas to mark off that person on both sides:

1. Thank you, sir, for all your kindness.
2. I want you to know, Jane, that you are a wonderful friend.
3. Why, Lord, do you love me so much?
4. Hear me, o ye waves, and be still!

Note that even when you are directly addressing the Almighty, who you can’t see physically, or waves or mountains or rivers, which cannot hear you or talk back, you MUST mark them off with a comma, if they are at the beginning or end of the sentence but with two commas, if they are in the middle of the sentence.

“I thank my Lord every day” is a statement.

“I thank you, Lord, every day” is a direct address.

Any place you see a direct address, you should never fail it again. You should look out for the comma or commas.

Note that in greetings like “Hello, Jane” or “Hi, Jane”, some people argue that the comma is not necessary because the sentence is short and there is no noticeable pause. Yet language purists insist that since it is a direct address, it must have a comma. I am a language purist. I believe that whether it is English or Igbo or Yoruba or French or Hausa or Swahili, we need to pay attention to details and pursue excellence. If you don’t mind, you can also be a language purist and make yourself different in a world where people prefer shortcuts and flowing with the crowd.

Stand out. Be different. Be unique.

Once you learn it, start putting it into practice. Don’t be shy or afraid to use it.

Research it and know it fully. Defend it and explain it to those who may think you are wrong. Show them evidence from different sources online, and make them keep quiet.

When you consistently prove that you are right, you will be seen as an authority to be believed and consulted. But never depend on your knowledge. Always back up your claims with materials from different trusted sources. They are many on the Internet. Just use Google.

===
There is much more to get from my three books: English Incorporated, Two plus One, and Secret of the Egret.

The three books are available at the discounted price of N6,000 for those who love purity of language and unputdownable stories.

There is a delivery cost of between N1,000 and N3,000 within Nigeria, depending on the exact location.

If you want to donate copies to schools and other groups, there is a special discount for you.

If you need copies, please send a message to me (inbox).