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For business writing (mail and letters) which one is more preferred annotation?

Open annotation:- Hi James ...... Thanks Vikas

Closed annotation:- Hi James, ...... Thanks, Vikas

Vikas Vaidya
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  • I prefer leaving the commas in. – Lawrence Jun 20 '18 at 01:41
  • Yes, I tend to agree. – Oliver Mason Jun 20 '18 at 07:55
  • I remember having read somewhere very recently "strictly no comma at the end of the salutation" -- why, I never asked. Google "no comma after salutation" – Kris Jun 20 '18 at 07:58
  • This question belongs on [writers.se] – Kris Jun 20 '18 at 08:02
  • http://www.sussex.ac.uk/informatics/punctuation/essaysandletters/letters – Kris Jun 20 '18 at 08:06
  • "The Chicago Manual of Style has basically thrown up its hands: ... In e-mail greetings, do as you please. ... How to punctuate an email salutation is a nicety that only grammar geeks would fret over. But fret we do. At least some of us. What about you?” http://blog.editors.ca/?p=3605 – Kris Jun 20 '18 at 08:08

1 Answers1

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There isn't necessarily a "preferred" style. It's a matter of choice and which style guide you follow.

For instance, the Purdue Online Writing Lab suggests using a colon rather than a comma:

Dear James:
. . .

Or, if you put a comma after hello:

Hello, James:
. . .

On the other hand, an editing mentor of mine used a comma when addressing me:

Hello, Jason,
 . . .

My own style has historically been to use just a name and a comma:

James,
 . . .

But, from my personal experience, whether you use a comma or a colon (and whether you put a comma after hello or not, or you use more than just a name), the use of either a comma or a colon is much more common than not using anything at all.

Jason Bassford
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