Commas with Direct Address
Essential Question
How do commas help us know whether a writer is speaking TO someone or ABOUT someone?
Grammar in the World
What Do I Know?
What do you already know about how to let your reader know someone is being spoken to in a sentence? Use this interactive to find out.
Building Blocks
Grammar is a complex system and structure of language. Mizzou Academy Grammar Lab spotlights one skill (or block) at a time, but it’s often helpful to see how a skill works together with other, related blocks to build the language structure as a whole. You may find the following resource topics helpful as context for this lesson:
Learn About Commas with Direct Address
Direct address means speaking directly TO someone or something. When you use direct address in a sentence, comma(s) separate what you’re saying from the person to whom you’re speaking.
With direct address, the audience to whom you’re speaking is not actually part of the main clause in the sentence. It does not perform or receive the action of the sentence. Without the comma(s) to signal direct address, it can be easy to mistake the audience for the subject of the sentence or for the direct object of the verb, which can be confusing (and sometimes funny or embarrassing).
Whenever you address someone or something directly in a sentence, use a comma to signal that you’re speaking directly to that particular audience.
|
Use a comma after a noun of direct address |
|
|
Definition |
Example |
|
The subject of a sentence is what or whom the sentence is about. The subject is the noun that performs the action in the sentence.
|
The noun Coach is the subject of the following sentence: Coach put me in the game to take the penalty shots! This sentence describes a decision the Coach made during the game.
|
|
A noun of direct address is the person or thing to whom you’re speaking. It is separate from the complete idea presented in the main clause of the sentence that contains the subject and verb.
|
In this sentence, the noun Coach is the person being addressed: Coach, put me in the game to take the penalty shots! This sentence urges Coach to do as the speaker asks.
|
|
Use a comma before a noun of direct address |
|
|
Definition |
Example |
|
A direct object is a noun that receives the action of a transitive verb in a sentence. You can recognize a direct object by asking the question “--what?” after the verb. The answer to that question is the direct object. |
A noun of direct address is the person or thing to whom you’re speaking. It is separate from the complete idea presented in the main clause of the sentence that contains the subject and verb. |
Let’s celebrate goalies! This sentence invites the reader to join in a celebration and appreciation of all people who play the position of goalie. You can tell that goalies is the direct object because it answers the question, “celebrate what?” Do not place a comma between a verb and its direct object. |
Let’s celebrate, goalies! This sentence invites the goalies themselves to go celebrate. Do place a comma before a noun of direct address. |
|
Nouns of direct address can be any kind of noun. |
|
|
A person’s name |
Mr. Stillman, I hope that you place your players’ health and safety above your profit margin. |
|
Family title |
I don’t feel well enough today to go to hockey practice, Mom. |
|
Professional title |
With all due respect, Professor, I think my request for an extension until after the championship game is perfectly reasonable. |
|
Common noun |
Girls, we won’t be able to take the ice until the zamboni driver gives us the all-clear. |
|
Collective noun |
Let’s go, team! |
|
Pronoun |
Everyone, please direct your attention to the jumbotron for the kiss cam! |
|
Inanimate object |
Work, stupid TV, work! It’s the playoffs!! |
|
Concept or idea |
I wish, anxiety, that you would just leave me alone. |
|
Direct addresses can come at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. |
|
|
If it begins a sentence, place a comma after the noun of direct address. |
Mr. President, the players’ union comes to the table to negotiate in good faith. |
|
If it ends a sentence, place a comma before the noun of direct address. |
The players’ union comes to the table to negotiate in good faith, Mr. President. |
|
If it’s in the middle, place a comma both before and after the noun of direct address. |
The players’ union comes to the table, Mr. President, to negotiate in good faith. |
Do I Get It?
Check your understanding of how to punctuate direct address in sentences with the following interactive exercise.
Read each sentence and decide whether or not a comma is needed. If a comma is needed, choose the correct placement for it in the sentence.