Learn English – Vocative comma before “all”

vocatives

When using the vocative comma, would it go before "all"?

"Thank you, all, again!"

Or would it be without the comma?

"Thank you all again!"

Is this different from "everybody"?

Best Answer

No, you cannot put a comma between you and all because they’re a fused set. All works like both when modifying you. So imagine this:

1 You for just one person. 2. You both or you two for a pair of people. 3. Things like you all, you guys, you folks, you people for more than two people. (But careful with the last one; it doesn’t sound good.)

So yes, you all is different from everybody. There is no *you everybody, so that one is an appositive use and takes a comma.

  • Thank you, everybody.
  • Thanks, you all.
  • Thanks, you two.
  • I’d like to thank you guys for this.
  • I’d like to thank you both for this.
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