Hello, my dear friends.I have been on many English language websites since 2009, so I have seen some of them use a comma, or a full stop, or an exclamation mark after a salutation in their writing.For example:Hello, Tom. (full stop)Hello, Merry, (comma)Hello, Bijan! (exclamation mark)Here (on English Club), I can often see that some members use the "Exclamation Mark" after their salutations.For example:Hello, Tom! (exclamation mark)Hi, my dear friends! (exclamation mark).Once, I myself used an exclamation mark after my salutation on an English language website that taught American English, manager of the website told me that it was wrong. I was surprised.Here are my questions, please:1. Which of them should we use after a salutation (full stop, comma, or exclamation mark)?2. If I myself use a exclamation mark after my salutation with each my reply on English Club, is it incorrect, or is it a bad thing?3. Is there any difference in the above subject between American English and Britain English, please?4. Is there any difference in the subject between formal and informal writing, please?In a nutshell, which should we use after a salutation (full stop, comma, exclamation mark)? And why, please?Thanks in advance,
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Well, let me make myself clear. If the form of address is only a person's name (or such words like: my friend, mother, sister, etc), we separate it with a comma. If we add some greeting like: Hi, Hello, we use an exclamation mark after it.
Dear friend,
Let me....
Dear friend, hi! (or Hi, dear friend!)
Let me...
It is incorrect to use a period (it is American for a "full stop") after a form of address.
As to HEY, yes, it is incorrect, but it is widely used, especially to attract attention, to express surprise, interest, or annoyance, or to elicit agreement. It is very informal so, you shouldn't use it talking to strangers, older people or those who occupy higher positions. HEY is also used as a greeting but only among friends, close people. This word doesn't mean anything bad, but it sounds almost the same as HAY. So, some too humorous or too traditional Americans and Canadias may reply "Hey is for horses". Some people think Hey sounds somehow rough, but, in fact, it is a part of modern English.
Bijan said:
Dear Danny,
Thank you very much.
I read your explanation, and als looked at your above sentences carefully. I saw you haven't used a "full stop" after salutations.
Here are my questions, please:
1. If we use a "full stop" after the salutation, is it incorrect, please? Example: Hello Bijan. 2. Can we use a comma after "Hello, Hi" or not? Example: Hello, Bijan. 3. If we say "hey" is it incorrect? Someone told me that "Hey" has a bad meaning in American English. I asked you this question because you are an American native speaker.
Thanks for spending your time for students,
Using An Exclamation Mark After A Salutation.
Hello, my dear friends.
I have been on many English language websites since 2009, so I have seen some of them use a comma, or a full stop, or an exc…
I read your explanation, and als looked at your above sentences carefully. I saw you haven't used a "full stop" after salutations.
Here are my questions, please:
1. If we use a "full stop" after the salutation, is it incorrect, please?
Example:
Hello Bijan.
2. Can we use a comma after "Hello, Hi" or not?
Example:
Hello, Bijan.
3. If we say "hey" is it incorrect?
Someone told me that "Hey" has a bad meaning in American English. I asked you this question because you are an American native speaker.
Hi, dear Bijan! First, I'd like to say there is nothing bad in using an exclamation mark after salutation. So, here you can use it without ant hesitation. However, if you write a letter, it depends on how you start it. If you write a business letter, you start it like:
Dear Mr. Smith,
I'd like to ask...... (You start the first sentence from the new line and from the capital letter. It is really strange!).
If you write an informal letter, again, it depends on the first word. If you start like:
Dear friend,
Let me tell you... (Same as in a business letter).
However, you can start an informal letter like:
Hi, there!
Hi, my friend!
Hi, John!
Let me.....
I can't tell you if it is the same in British and in American. I know it is the same in formal letters. As to informal, it makes no difference anyway. I will tell you more. If you use an exclamation mark in a formal letter, nobody will ever pay any attention to that. So, take it easy!
Replies
Thank you for beautiful explanation.
Best wishes,
Well, let me make myself clear. If the form of address is only a person's name (or such words like: my friend, mother, sister, etc), we separate it with a comma. If we add some greeting like: Hi, Hello, we use an exclamation mark after it.
Dear friend,
Let me....
Dear friend, hi! (or Hi, dear friend!)
Let me...
It is incorrect to use a period (it is American for a "full stop") after a form of address.
As to HEY, yes, it is incorrect, but it is widely used, especially to attract attention, to express surprise, interest, or annoyance, or to elicit agreement. It is very informal so, you shouldn't use it talking to strangers, older people or those who occupy higher positions. HEY is also used as a greeting but only among friends, close people. This word doesn't mean anything bad, but it sounds almost the same as HAY. So, some too humorous or too traditional Americans and Canadias may reply "Hey is for horses". Some people think Hey sounds somehow rough, but, in fact, it is a part of modern English.
Bijan said:
Thank you very much.
I read your explanation, and als looked at your above sentences carefully. I saw you haven't used a "full stop" after salutations.
Here are my questions, please:
1. If we use a "full stop" after the salutation, is it incorrect, please?
Example:
Hello Bijan.
2. Can we use a comma after "Hello, Hi" or not?
Example:
Hello, Bijan.
3. If we say "hey" is it incorrect?
Someone told me that "Hey" has a bad meaning in American English. I asked you this question because you are an American native speaker.
Thanks for spending your time for students,
Hi, dear Bijan! First, I'd like to say there is nothing bad in using an exclamation mark after salutation. So, here you can use it without ant hesitation. However, if you write a letter, it depends on how you start it. If you write a business letter, you start it like:
Dear Mr. Smith,
I'd like to ask...... (You start the first sentence from the new line and from the capital letter. It is really strange!).
If you write an informal letter, again, it depends on the first word. If you start like:
Dear friend,
Let me tell you... (Same as in a business letter).
However, you can start an informal letter like:
Hi, there!
Hi, my friend!
Hi, John!
Let me.....
I can't tell you if it is the same in British and in American. I know it is the same in formal letters. As to informal, it makes no difference anyway. I will tell you more. If you use an exclamation mark in a formal letter, nobody will ever pay any attention to that. So, take it easy!