Comma or no comma?

[LowLevelBahHumbug]

Help settle an argument please.

In the sentence, "go to bed girls!" there doesn't need to be a comma does there? DP thinks there should be a comma before girls. He's wrong isn't he?

The exclamation mark is intentional btw.

Well, the argument rages on here...

Hate to say it, but I think you need a comma. No idea why though. Maybe I learned something at school after all?!

Aaagh, nooooo!

Maybe it's a matter of taste?

i'd go with comma too... but i'm not sure why either.

No no no lalala can't hear you...

You do need that comma I'm afraid. The comma separates the command (or statement or question or whatever else) from the person being addressed. That's the correct way of writing it.

Sorry!

Yup. You need the comma, LowLevel.

Yes, comma. Sorry.

No I don't, bof.

No I don't bof.

Go to hell DP.

Go to hell, DP.

See I think the comma slows it down. But it appears it's just me.

Balls.

No, Bof, I don't.

It's the same, see?

I want to know why you were writing this down in the first place.

Yes, bof, I see.

Yes I see, bof. (I'll stop doing this now)

Pru, it's difficult to explain, but it wasn't that exact sentence, just the same structure. Something dp is working on.

Thanks for your wisdom, all.

If you don't have the comma, this sentence might be about some "go to bed girls", and we all know what they are. Put the comma in, and it's clear that it's an instruction; to the girls.

IMHO

Definitely a comma after bed.

gavel

Didn't mean to bold the gavel part.

Aah, prism, yes that makes sense. Damn.