Direct Address

[ralphkern]

Hi,

When a character introduces themselves, are commas needed around their name?

Example:

'Please call me Bob,' he said.

or

'Please call me, Bob,' he said.

 

[Culhwch]

The first one. The second looks like he's imploring someone named Bob to call him.

 

[ralphkern]

Cheers, I figured as much, but just wanted to be sure.

I presume though, if someone is one of those irritants who refers to themselves in the third person, it is commas. (out of curiosity).

Eg,

'I said to myself, Bob, you need to stop referring to yourself in the third person.'

 

[Culhwch]

Yep, that works. I suppose you could consider using quotes within the quotes ('I said to myself, "Bob, you need to stop referring to yourself in the third person."') but it's probably not necessary in that context.

 

[ralphkern]

Thanks dude.

 

[chrispenycate]

Cheers, I figured as much, but just wanted to be sure.

I presume though, if someone is one of those irritants who refers to themselves in the third person, it is commas. (out of curiosity).

Eg,

'I said to myself, Bob, you need to stop referring to yourself in the third person.'

Now that could get convoluted. How about a colon?

'I said to myself: Bob, you need to stop referring to yourself in the third person, and was surprised when the answer came: We do seem to have that problem indeed, Bob.'

 

[HareBrain]

I'd definitely go with Chrispy's colon in that example.

Re the initial question, there might be cases (though probably not this one) where you'd have a pause after "me" and before the name, perhaps for dramatic effect, as in

Please call me Lord High Wombat and Chief Bandicoot Alan.

But I'd probably use a colon there as well to avoid Cul's point about telephonic instruction.

 

[Bowler1]

'I said to myself, Bob, you need to stop referring to yourself in the third person.'

I have to admit, this question would never have crossed my mind.

 

[Dean F. Wilson]

If the character is talking to himself and quoting himself, then I would either use quotation marks within the dialogue or italics to differentiate it from the rest of what the character is saying.

"I said to myself, 'Bob, you need to stop referring to yourself in the third person.'"

"I said to myself, Bob, you need to stop referring to yourself in the third person."

-D

 

[jastius]

you would only need quotation marks around what was actually said aloud, not the narration. if he is talking to someone else then he would use both quotes .. if he is narrating it is only necessary to have one set.