Continue doing so. The rules for capitalizing the titles of family members are simple. Its also shorter and easier to read than CMOS! So thats one vote for not capitalizing deity pronouns but the author can decide. Why are there so many Bible translations, and which is the best? Privacy Policy. Write Tip | How to use Colons and Semicolons, Writing Tips | Tips for Writing Younger Characters, Book Review | Hook Your Readers by Tamar Sloan. Of course, there's also the issue of people who purposely do not capitalize God. Thats worth thinking aboutno one wants to their work to be considered dated or irrelevant. There was simply an alphabet, no capital letters at all. I agree, but its the publishers choice. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". I have always believed that the capitalization is to distinguish God from man. Capitalise names, don't capitalise nouns. Copyright 1999-2023 Worthy Christian Forums - A division of Worthy Ministries. What is the meaning of Christian worship. In phrases like for God's sake , by God, and thank God, the word is capitalized because it generally refers to the god of the Bible and treats the word . Jesus was quoting Asaph, who arguably was speaking on Gods behalf, in the 82nd Psalm, gods, here, is obviously plural. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. When God inspired the human authors of Scripture to write His Word, He did not lead them to give any special attention to pronouns that refer to Him. Again, this is not a right vs. wrong issue. How was circumcision practiced in Jesus' time? Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. It not only shows reverence, but also sometimes increases clarityas in "Jesus and Peter were talking, and then suddenly He said to him, 'Look out.'". This remains a common practice among people of faith, but it is by no means obligatory. Cite it. God is an important part of Western society. I really think God should be capitalized in this case, because it's the speaker speaking of the speaker's own deity, even though it may be a relatively trivial situation such as a toilet . Should the word God be capitalized? Would the reflected sun's radiation melt ice in LEO? In English, a capital letter is used for the first word of a sentence and for all proper nouns (words that name a specific person, place, organization, or thing).. The name is used every day in literature, prayer, and even pop culture. If youve been impacted by our resources, we invite you to make a year-end gift before December 31. I don't do that for anyone else. Write it. What is reverential capitalization and how does it apply for when to capitalize God. Only if the parakletos or helper were known to be a person could the use of a gender-inflected pronoun justifiably be used in English. 2023 Grammarist, a Found First Marketing company. 'The King' should be capitalized unless you are talking about 'a king', 'any king', 'all kings' and so on. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Capitalization Rules For Titles. How can I change a sentence based upon input to a command? It started feeling odd to capitalize the deity related pronouns in my latest work and I think your post and the comments have helped me. I don't hold everyone to that, though, it's just my own personal preference; my own bible doesn't capitalize God's pronouns. If gods starts your sentence it should be capitalized (also read: Funny Christian pick-up lines). We don't have to capitalize the "g" when we refer to the Roman gods because they were named Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, etc. Religious references, please capitalize God, Jesus, Lord, Father, Holy Spirit, Savior, Heaven, Hell, Bible and the Word (as in the Word of God) and all pronouns referring to God including Him and His. There was simply an alphabet, no capital letters at all. In my opinion, these words do not qualify for reverential capitalization because they arent directly describing God. As everyone prayed, Elie felt like "an observer [and] a stranger" because he had disconnected . He went on to say that He is Lord God Almighty, which means He is the one all-powerful God. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Join me in creating stronger families in faith. In Hebrew, there was no such thing as upper-case and lower-case letters. Language is dynamic, not static. The reverse is almost impossible without a careful proofread. in my books with publishers, I've gone with their policy. its title it is a proper noun. In Spanish, days of the week and months are not capitalized. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Acceptable comments policy for Christianity Stack Exchange. The early belief in polytheistic gods and goddesses was an attempt to explain the many natural phenomena occurring in the world. Frankly, the capitalization need not signify respect or honor in this case; rather it is a sign of uniqueness. You will find that at times, especially when you are likening other books to the Bible, you do not capitalize the word bible. I use capital H. Some versions of the bible use it. This is out of respect for God. Weve reviewed the literature and official recommendations for writing the name of God. Should section or chapter be capitalized? So if discussing the Bible, you will capitalise the word God. That may well the case, but the rule shouldnt hold true for all historical fiction. "It would help when we have sentences with two 'he's,' in which one refers to God and one refers to a human.". He's going to have a talk with Father.) One example of such a word is god, which is usually capitalized when referring to a (or rather, the) monotheistic God. It is neither right nor wrong to capitalize or not capitalize pronouns that refer to God. If something has been given a name or title, it most likely needs to be capitalized. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. The name or title of any specific deity is capitalized just like any other name, so when "God" is used to refer to "the one God" (in other words, in any monotheistic religion), it is capitalized. With that in mind, it follows that God is not offended if we do not capitalize pronouns that refer to Him. The number of distinct words in a sentence. They are not capitalized in the Greek text of the Scriptures. Also, using capitals could imply emphasis where none was intended. I can't say I have given the capital C used in creation . SavedByGrace. Does Cast a Spell make you a spellcaster? Pronouns that refer to God (He, Him, His, etc.) Reverential Capitalization. Religions and religious movements (e.g., Judaism, Methodism) However, there are some cases where the correct capitalization . I understand that it is done out of some idea of respect, but personally, I think that for pronouns it is just bad grammar. Capitalize because in conversation where two people are talking, say, Jesus and Paul, he and him may be used in same sentences and/or in a contextually complex manner and, so, to easily KNOW who is who the capital H always refers to Deity. Learn to revise your novel in two weeks (even if you dont know where to start) so you can stop procrastinating, start revising, and reduce your editing costs. in my books with other publishers, I've gone with their policy. The inconsistency stood out. But rules are rules. Hall7 . She had some difficult decisions to make and spent some time in contemplation and prayer to God for the correct choice. @hammar: That's what I had in mind, but not what I wrote. the Almighty author of our faith bread of life Christ, the Christ the comforter the Creator the Divinity eternal God the Father God, God the Father the great shepherd the Holy Spirit. If discussing gods like the Roman or Greek gods, there is no need. 1999 - 2023 Worthy Christian Forums - A Division of Worthy Ministries. Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek were all written in what we would call uppercase. 10 capitalization rules everyone should know Capitalize the first word in a sentence. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Christians are supposed to follow what God wants them to do. Common questions are when is God capitalized and should godly be capitalized? Thats probably a question for Grammar Girl. If this ever confuses you, ask yourself if the noun takes a definite or indefinite article. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I capitalize when referencing God (I.e, He, His, Maker, etc.) With degrees in science, English, and literacy, she has worked to create cross-curricular materials to bridge learning gaps and help students focus on effective writing and speech techniques. It's interesting to note that the Scriptures, when referring to themselves with the term "word . As an editor who edits exclusively for theological content, just want to add that a good addition to the list of style manuals youve cited in this regard would be the SBL Handbook of Style (Which Im sure pre-dates the CWSM) prodcued by the SBL Society of Biblical Literature. Some Bibles do not capitalize certain pronouns because their translators felt that doing so was not an accurate translation of the original language. Atheists don't believe in the existence of. Its always changing, and thats why applying old rules to contemporary writing sometimes just doesnt resonate. Im probably not going to capitalize. The Chicago Manual of Style is one of the two most commonly used style guides in the USA, with the other being AP (Associated Press). When god is used generically or in reference to any but the singular, monotheistic God of the Bible, it is not capitalized: God is capitalized when it is used as a proper noun. The inconsistency stood out. We want to know whats right! This rule of thumb applies fairly broadly in Christian publishing. But notice that while Heaven is capitalized (since it is an actual place), I dont capitalize There or It when referring to Heaven, e.g. Thank you for your comment. I'm the same as you, I feel it's a mark of honor. May 09, 2019 18:06. The Holy Bible is a proper title of a book and the word bible in this case must always be capitalized. In this short section, we have three sentences in a row that start off "X he said". Some circles find it permissible, not matter the form, while others (Jewish legal opinion) believe it shouldnt be written in Hebrew. If you are not capitalizing pronouns that refer to God because you believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should be followed, wonderful! The NASB and NKJV do capitalize pronouns relating to deity (introducing something which is not in the Greek or Hebrew, I might add). Hope this is a helpful addition. So, who is right? 16 related questions found. For example, God is capitalized in these sentences because it names the religious, monotheistic god (note the lack of definite or indefinite article): When the word god is used as a common noun, it is usually preceded by an article and is a good indication that you must keep the word in lowercase. I asked my teens if this was something they were taught in school, and they said no God isnt mentioned in their state schools. Score: 4.8/5 (7 votes) . When you use the name of God in vain, it is also capitalized. He was with God in the beginning" ( John 1:1-2 ). Thats another vote for lowercasing deity pronouns unless the author prefers capitalization. The only alternative would be to quote from NASB or NKJV, both of which capitalize pronouns of deity, but neither of which is my preference for purposes of clarity. This is a formal name, and thus a proper noun, and it deserves to be capitalized. Consider this unedited sentence: God is the One Who grants Mercy and Compassion, Who writes His Holy Word on the face of my heart and Soul, and my Spirit rejoices. When interacting with atheists, I try to avoid capitalization unless it helps make my point clear. In Greek, there were capital (upper-case) letters and lower-case letters. Of course, I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized. But its a subtle way of reinforcing Christian themes and the way God changes us. Those are hardworking, but godless people. Why do you sometimes see god capitalized in some references but written in lowercase in others? Of course, I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized. So is . We dont want to know whats common or uncommon. Usually you don't capitalize after a colon, but there are exceptions. For example, "Simeon The . The same rule applies to the name of a music group. CATHOLIC PRAYER: DO YOU BELIEVE? Your email address will not be published. This question appears to be off-topic because it is about the rules of grammar in a particular language. Other references or alternative names of God are also capitalized. Im thinking about this because the use of whom has come up several times recently in the editing of my blog posts and book manuscripts. 1. Its the generous support of our ministry partners that enables us to continue our eternity-shaping work. But where it's not possible, i.e. Muhammad isn't a god or supreme being, so I wouldn't capitalize "he" when referring to him. It appears this isn't a formal requirement, but I am not the only one to do it. But, God, which conveys an idea, not a thing, is strictly singular. William Tyndale (translator of one of the earliest English Bibles) didnt consistently capitalize God, let alone He or Him (or he or him), and neither Hebrew nor Greek distinguishes between lowercase and capital letters the way English does, so the original Scriptures provide no guidance. The monotheistic god of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam is the same and is referred to as God, the name. I knew that editor well. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Others do not. I also do this as a sign of respect. or the common noun is being used as a title (e.g. I do find those who call my Lord with a small g a bit offensive. W e also capitalize the first letter . Thank you for your comment. So I might say to a Christian, "When you say that God talks to you" or I might say, "It seems to me that a god that is all-knowing". Elie felt "terribly alone in a world without God, without man" and "without love or mercy". It occurs when you use the person's name after the title or use a particular reference. I have seen it in many writings and, similar to the Jewish use of G-d, I find that it helps me be always conscious of the holiness of the One I am discussing I don't use it when referencing the work of God because I do not see that as divine.. But they also allow for author (or publisher) preference. Of course, I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized. (But watch me!) *. He's going to have a talk with his father.). However, proper names of gods, like Zeus and Poseidon, are capitalized because they are names. In fact, these pronouns are never capitalized in the source documents. Why does Jesus turn to the Father to forgive in Luke 23:34? In addition, there is no true historical precedent for capitalizing. Thanks for the great post lola! On our website and blog, and on social media, we usually capitalize pronouns referring to deity. I also review Christian novels at www.christianreads.blogspot.com. For example, the group of people, the classroom, or the girl are all common nouns. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! That includes Angels since we are a little bit lower than they. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. this other does. well most of the time. Zondervan (publishers of the New International Version of the Bible) recognize that the major style guides dont address many of the style issues raised by those writing for a Christian audience, so they publish their own style guide (written by Robert Hudson). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Grammarist is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. At first glance, the rules of English capitalization seem simple. The Eight Capitalization Rules 1. Do I Hire an Editor before Submitting to an Agent or Publisher? In general, I try to use whatever the person I'm communicating with is using. In fact, from what I remember, articles and books don't capitalize "he" or "him" when referring to Muhammad, either. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The word my and other possessive pronouns (your, his, her, our, their) often indicate that you should lowercase the title. All Rights Reserved. Capitalize titles that refer to Him, like Holy Father, Most Holy One, Bread of Life, and The Almighty. Style manuals refer to pronouns such as He, His, Him, and Your when referring to God as deity pronouns. and He said unto Adam. 2012-04-24 22:21:44. You capitalise words that are proper given names of individuals or places. The debate over whether we capitalize He/Him when talking about a member of the Trinity isn't without merit. Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. To mock another especially for a typo is very immature and childish. I picked up the habit years ago of capitalizing "Him" and "His" when referring to any person of the Trinity. No, I havent heard of that before. I insisted that all these words referring to God should have a . 3 eternal God Eucharist Exile (biblical event) So you can either capitalise deity pronouns or not capitalise deity pronouns, but choosing to capitalise some and not others isnt consistent and could confuse readers. when they are referring to Jesus Christ as a form of respect. I personally like to use it but I dont get huffy to those who do not. Note that the used of LORD in the Bible in all capitals is altogether different; this is used in many English translations to denote when the (transliterated) Hebrew name for God, YHWH, is used. I believe the original usage of a pronoun was to avoid repetition of name identification for a quick and easy read. My concern would be in two areas: intent and effect. Using my affiliate links means I get a small payment, but you wont pay any more than if you accessed the site directly.

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