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Let's say you're talking to Sarah and you make her upset so you say to her

  • "I would hate to make Sarah upset."

Is there a term for using 'Sarah' instead of the usual 'you' here?

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    You're talking to Sarah! I don't know why you would do this, but it doesn't have a name other than 'addressing her in the third person'.
    – Kate Bunting
    Commented Jun 10, 2022 at 7:36
  • For faux formality and distancing: Mommy will not like this. It's also patronizing - As a three-year-old, you can understand me only if I prepare your mind for thinking about your mother as you do, third person.
    – Yosef Baskin
    Commented Jun 10, 2022 at 12:31
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    It can be patronising, but the third person is also sometimes used to address royalty. So the only thing that's certain is that it's not used in normal situations.
    – Stuart F
    Commented Jun 10, 2022 at 12:48
  • And there’s Bob Dole…
    – Jim
    Commented Jun 10, 2022 at 14:17
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    It's often used when mocking someone. If Sarah is complaining to you and you think she's going overboard, you might say "I would hate to make Sarah upset" with a sarcastic tone of voice. I'm also not aware of a specific term for it.
    – Barmar
    Commented Jun 14, 2022 at 1:00

1 Answer 1

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The verb would be "naming" (Merriam-Webster):

  • 2a. To mention or identify by name ("refused to name a suspect")
  • 2b. To accuse by name

"'I would hate to inconvenience the world-renowned pianist Sarah Smith,' I said to Sarah, rolling my eyes. She didn't get it, though: she thought my naming her was a sincere compliment."

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    It's not specific enough to be clear in most contexts. You can "name" someone just as easily when they're not in your presence.
    – Laurel ♦
    Commented Mar 1, 2023 at 22:21

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