Comma when a character is addressed?

DeneBebbo

If you have a character being addressed in dialogue do you always need a comma? For example, should I write this:

"So what's all this about, Rashmi?"

or is this acceptable:

"So what's all this about Rashmi?"

Rosalie

Needs a comma in almost all cases. Definitely needs one in the example you give, DB.

I think you can get away without one when you have 'Hello Fred.' But even then I'd tend to say 'Hello, Fred.'

Eddisbury

You should use the comma.
In the first sentence are asking Rashmi what all this is about.
In the second sentence you are asking what is all this gossip concerning Rashmi.

Like the difference between:
Let's eat Grandma, and, Let's eat, Grandma.

Carol

If you're addressing the comment to the person then yes a comma is needed.
We had a thread on this type of comma a couple of months ago- a vocative comma...

ceka

All said!
Comma!

Baggy Books

...ah yes, the vocative comma and those pesky little ellipsisisi.

Carol

:D

Phots Moll

What Eddisbury said, but never mind that - what is all this about Rashmi? I think we should be told.

Lolli

so do I!! :D
and who ate grandma?

Eddisbury

who ate Grandma?
or, who ate, Grandma?
:)

Lo*

I would like to ask,

When writing a characters thought/s do you use punctuation

eg;" I dont know how he does it," she thought. or. I dont know how he does it, she thought.

Eddisbury

The usual convention is not to use the quotation marks.

Marc.B

Agree, no need for speech marks when the character is thinking. Some writers put the thoughts in italics though personally, I don't.

Mrs Bear

I rarely put my thoughts in italics: people only talk about you when you leave the room.