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About Martha Beth Lewis
Expertise
I will answer questions having to do with grammar, plurals, punctuation, capitalization, mood, person, tense, and so on, as well as word usage and word choice. If you want a quick answer to a specific question, particularly if you wish to use formal American English for business or academic purposes (MLA), I can give you a timely response. I also can address word choice, clarity, structure, and similar concerns involving English as a second language. If you want advice of a deeper editorial nature (e.g., substantive [line] editing), please consult an Expert who offers this sort of assistance.
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I was employed as an editor for the graduate school at a major U.S. university and specialized in dissertations. I have over 200 publications in professional journals, consumer magazines, and newspapers. I am the author of five books and numerous syllabi in an arts field. I also am a freelance line editor, copyeditor, and proofreader (over 40 years), and I have written or edited countless community organizations' newsletters and promotional materials.
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Note: When using a word as a word in a sentence, such as:
Put a period after the word dog,
=dog= should be set in italics.
Since I do not have access to italics here, I shall use = on either side of the word or phrase that properly should appear in italics. For the above example:
Put a period after the word =dog=.
Also, ~~please do not mark your questions as private~~. I will change them to public because I don't want to type the same answer twice! Thanks for your understanding.
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B.A., summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Ph.D.
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I ask that you ~~come back to read my answer~~. I've taken time to write the best response I can, so you should come back to read it! It's disheartening to respond to a question, only to see later that the person has not bothered to come back. Remember: I'm a volunteer!
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I am happy to help you - that's why I volunteered - but please remember I *am* a volunteer and extend me normal courtesies such as no multiple submissions and not bothering to come back for your answer.
mb
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You are here: Experts > Arts/Humanities > Writing > General Writing and Grammar Help > Punctuating "Hello Martha"
Expert: Martha Beth Lewis - 11/4/2009
Question
Hello Martha,
How does one punctuate the salutation I used for this e-mail? In this situation is "Hello" a declarative sentence that requires a period?
Thank you for making yourself available to answer questions about grammar and punctuation.
Jan E.
Answer
You need a comma before =Martha=.
Hello, [add comma] Martha
~~
=hello= isn't a verb so it can't be a sentence by itself, but several words are assumed to join it, and these make a sentence. For example:
[I bid you] hello.
[I say] hello.
~~
As for punctuation, you need a comma after =hello=. Follow =Martha= with a comma or a colon (a comma is most common) and then continue with the text of your e-mail or letter. As in:
Hello, Martha,
Hello, Martha:
mb
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