I cant get the syntax correct

[mcco]

I am composing my body to an email and I cant seem to get the syntax correct. I am trying to start the email with Dear firstname lastname, here is what I have

$body = "Dear ".$fn." "." ".$ln." ","\r\n Thank you for your purchase of Strategies for Stretching Your Income. Use the code below to download your e-book:\r\n 

If someone could help me out that would be great.

[Dasher]

$body = "Dear ".$fn." ".$ln.",\r\n Thank you for your purchase of Strategies for Stretching Your Income. Use the code below to download your e-book:\r\n"; 

[ScottyBoy]

I'm gonna play Grammar Nazi for a second. You should always add a comma before someone's name when addressing them. For example "Dear, John" or "Hello, Sarah."

 $body = "Dear, " . $fn . " " . $ln . ",\r\n Thank you for your purchase of Strategies for Stretching Your Income. Use the code below to download your e-book:\r\n"; 

[Dasher]

My fifth edition of the The Little, Brown Handbook shows a business salutation in this manner;

Dear Mr. English:

As does the 9th edition.

[mcco]

Sorry ScottyBoy but I think you need to refresh your grammer skills if you think you that a comma goes after the Dear when starting a letter or email. The punctuation always goes after the name of the person you are addressing. The punctuation may change based on being formal or informal but it goes after the name of the person.

[ScottyBoy]

Sorry ScottyBoy but I think you need to refresh your grammer skills if you think you that a comma goes after the Dear when starting a letter or email. The punctuation always goes after the name of the person you are addressing. The punctuation may change based on being formal or informal but it goes after the name of the person.

* Some random English forum
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ge...html#post17265

* Rule 4
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.asp

* Best Answer
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...9110744AAKI1tr

* First Answer
http://sallyhanan.wordpress.com/2009...mes-or-titles/

Finally, here's a small paragraph from one of the most famous books ever written, Gone With the Wind. This is my favorite example.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/47114379/gonewiththewind.png

[mcco]

* Some random English forum
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ge...html#post17265

* Rule 4
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.asp

* Best Answer
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...9110744AAKI1tr

* First Answer
http://sallyhanan.wordpress.com/2009...mes-or-titles/

Finally, here's a small paragraph from one of the most famous books ever written, Gone With the Wind. This is my favorite example.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/47114379/gonewiththewind.png

None of your links are part of the subject matter we are discussing. Check out this link which discusses the exact subject we are talking about:

http://www.businesswritingblog.com/b...commas_wi.html

Read the part called "Exception" this is the exact subject we are talking about that you dont seem to fully grasp.

[ScottyBoy]

I see. Well in that case, I withdraw my correction. Thank you for pointing that out to me, as I didn't know that there was an exception for "Dear someone"

[NogDog]

I don't even think of it as an exception: in this case "Dear" is an adjective applied to following (proper) noun, which never calls for a comma; e.g.: it's not "Sweet, Georgia Brown".