In the last 10 days, I have repeatedly seen examples of a crazy comma use. Each one appeared at the end of an email. All these examples are real and wrong:
Thank you for your request,
I’ll see you then,
Thank you for your time and patience in this matter,
Let me know if you have any questions,
Please write if you have any questions,
Thank you again,
These are sentences! Sentences end with a period (full stop)–not a comma.
I attribute this creeping comma on the widespread use of “Thanks” as a complimentary close in emails. People have been following “Thanks” with a comma. I don’t recommend a comma after “Thanks” (I use a period), but its use is too popular to argue with. (In truth, I always offer specific thanks, as in “Thank you for your help” or “Thank you again for your order.”)
Despite the use of “Thanks” followed by a comma as a complimentary close, can we please stop using commas after closing sentences?
Are you with me on this one?
Lynn
P.S. Punctuation for Professionals, my online self-study course, will help you know exactly where punctuation goes–and why.