For example: Exodus 23:21, "since my Name is in him." For example: Titles are capitalized when referred to in full. Thank you for doing this site! Your email address will not be published. Should Saved be capitalized? The names of seasons need not be capitalized. Notice that we do, however, capitalize ostre in the example above, even though we use a lower case g for goddess. This is because ostre is the name of a goddess, so it is a proper noun. However, if you are addressing your dad directly, such as when . And it may be acceptable to capitalize those terms in such circumstances, but it is difficult to say without seeing the document. This is true even when referring to the Christian concepts of heaven and hell. Take Matthew 5:18 from the NIV Bible, for instance: For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Ive been in Christian publishing for over 10 years, first as an editor at LifeWay Christian Resources, and now as a freelance contributor. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. But it isn't necessary, and you'll need to be careful to use the capitalized versions consistently. Just check any style guides you may need to use first, and then make sure that you apply the capitalization consistently throughout the document. However, some religious institutions do prefer to capitalize the words Heaven and Hell. And you should always capitalize Heaven when referring to the famous gay nightclub in London. Requiem is not strictly a religious word. Hi, Brandy. Most writers know the basics of capitalization: we should always capitalize the first word in a sentence, and we also capitalize personal names, place names, and other proper nouns. The official profile of the word faith . This is a matter of preference to some extent, but many people do capitalize significant religious events like "the Exodus" or "the Fall" to signify their importance and singularity (e.g., https://calvin.edu/offices-services/communications-marketing/tools-resources/editorial-style-guide/religious-terms.html). So, for instance, you would say "We are here only by His grace," since the "He" in "His" is God. . This is because when we use the word to refer to one supreme being, the word becomes a proper noun. Hope that helps! I don't believe that Father is okay with you and Joyce being together alone. I know the crash was serious, Dad, but Id really like to borrow your car. as the Word made flesh). if I could borrow his car the day after the crash. An easy way to remember this rule is to consider whether or not you can replace the word dad with an actual name. Even some versions of the Bible do not capitalize the pronouns for God. Perhaps if you were using it to refer to a piece of music used to honor the dead in a non-Christian context? What if I'm writing a Christian character who would usually capitalize heaven, and they refer to it while talking. For example would the event of the first sin be called "the fall" or "the Fall"? "Priest" is a common noun, so it does not need to be capitalized. Its also the subject of great curiosity for many believers. Looking online, both capitalized and non-capitalized versions are used, so its really down to your own, or a style guides, preference. If I were going to dwell in any place in this country, if I were going to make it my home, I would inquire about its climate, about the neighbors I would have about everything, in fact, that I could learn concerning it. I only promote those products and services I have personally investigated or used, and which I believe deliver value. If youre writing a speculative fiction story set in a society with only one male, then his mother might call him Son as he would be unique in that setting. Youre welcome! In the Book of Exodus it says. Its really personal choice as to which words you capitalize in this context, but as the adjectives youve listed relate to God, while its not necessary to capitalize them, you still can follow the reverential capitalization rule. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. (ESV), Isaiah 65:17, For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. (ESV), Isaiah 66:22, For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain. (ESV), 2 Peter 3:13, But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (ESV). Hi, Kellie. Were happy to answer questions any time. Your email address will not be published. If so, that will prevail. Thanks! 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. Sister Mary Eunice insisted she did not know the man. And you should only capitalize these words if you use them in a religious context, not when theyre used elsewhere. Hi, Quinn. One of these nuances has to do with when you capitalize the word "father.". "Christian" is still capitalized as an adjective (most adjectives based on proper nouns are capitalized in English). Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hi, Ken. Diane, When writing an academic paper, you may need to quote something youve read somewhere. Hi, Ishfaq. Please advise. ), Capitalize Adjectives That Are Part of Gods Name, Examples: Almighty God, Anointed One, Divine Savior, Good Shepherd, Great Physician, Heavenly Father, High Priest, Holy Father, Holy Spirit, Promised One, Sovereign Lord, Suffering Savior, Suffering Servant, Supreme Being, Wise Creator, Refer to the Holy Spirit as He, not It. I provide professional freelance manuscript assessment, copyediting and proofreading services for writers of Christian fiction and non-fiction books, stories and articles. God is the most prominent example of something we only capitalize in certain cases. The Word of the Lord, In Jesus' Name, etc. Here are a few rules you'll want to make sure you remember: When you remember to follow these capitalization rules you can rest assured that you won't slight or improperly identify anyone who's in your common noun family. CWMS seems to imply that it should not be capitalised, however CMOS states that important religious concepts should be capitalised and it seems that the kingdom of God would fall under this category. Hi, Alain. Make sure you know how a noun is specifically being used in a sentence so that youll know whether to capitalize the family member title or not. There are three things we need: a tent, a flashlight, and a map. These terms are therefore nicknames or sobriquets, as they refer to one specific person. You can view it at http://www.christimcguire.com/spiritual-style-updated/. And most people seem to write "the prophet Jeremiah." He, Him, His) referring to the Christian God (God, Yahweh, Father, Jesus Christ, Jesus,. Words such as lord only need to be capitalized if they are used as an official title with a name, but often reverential capitalization distinguishes a religious usage from a non-religious usage. 1 0 Let me tell you how it seems to me that we come to know about our heavenly Father. Hi, Jeannie. "Christened" is a verb, so it would only be capitalized at the start of a sentence. Write Tip | How to use Colons and Semicolons, Writing Tips | Tips for Writing Younger Characters, Book Review | Hook Your Readers by Tamar Sloan. capitalize bible. ): "The names of books of the Bible are not italicized. Very insightful article! When using the terms "Sister", "Postulants", and "Novices" as an Eligible Individual in a Health Plan Document, are they considered proper nouns? If soon you were going to emigrate, that is the way you would feel. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Get grammar tips, writing tricks, and more from Thesaurus.com right in your inbox! Go ask your father if you can go out with Joyce Saturday night. Today, Im looking at some other common questions around capitalization: Capitalize brand names to be consistent with the brand trademark, i.e. If you come across a family title such as mom or dad in your writing, ask yourself: Is this title being used as if it were a persons name? Examples given include "Genesis; the book of Genesis" and "Job; the book of Job.". Thanks for your question theres no time limit! Hopefully when you stop to think about this this small nuance now makes a whole lot of sense to you so you can use the word "father" correctly in your writing from now on. The word "father" should be capitalized whenever you're using it instead of a person's proper name. The answer is neither. Only apply it to pronouns that refer to deities and divine beings. Were Vs. Were: Were Here To Explain The Difference, Freshmen Or Freshman: When To Use Each One. The Bible teaches believers to anticipate heaven with hope and joy. After school on Monday, Father took me to my karate class. "Requiem" is mostly used in a religious context (i.e. Hi, Melody. Wondering about the sentence, We glorify your name, Most Holy!. Hi, Gigi. Is the person being directly addressed? Leaving it uncapitalised when using it by itself looks like it would be confusing. I looked up the word Requiem in the Webster dictionary and it was capitalized. Thanks! #WriteTip #Grammar, Book Review | Blogging for Gods Glory by Benjamin Vrbicek and John Beeson, Is Aunt capitalized in a sentence? LOLOL! For example, Heaven is an eternal state of blessing, sinlessness, and salvation. Family member titles are capitalized when used as a title immediately before a persons name (I adore Aunt Lisa) or when the title is used in place of their name (Wheres the milk, Mom?). Among your examples, I'd suggest the only definite candidate is "Gospel of John," since that refers to a particular book of the Bible. You probably would never think to capitalize the common noun because you realize it isn't a name and only names are capitalized. Should we Capitalize Pronouns Referring to God or Jesus? This is spot on (and I use the same style book). Proper noun: I went to the mall with Cousin Jenny. Capitalize the names of major events in the life of Jesus Christ in references that do not use his name. This would fall under the general category of reverential capitalization, but there are no universal rules for this. Your example comes under what is known as reverential capitalization, so whether you capitalize "the one" is a matter of personal preference, or, if you are following a style guide, it may be best to check what the preference is there. Whether you are a writer, editor, or you merely refer to religious and spiritual terms as a Christian, these following tips can serve as a helpful guide. Meeting the author of CWMS was like meeting a celebrity for us editors! I am an affiliate for many of the products and services I recommend on this site. I am wondering about capitalization when referring to significant theological concepts or events. What do you think of this? We can receive a sure testimony of . They believe its not a place, like Vancouver, British Columbia, or the Mediterranean Sea, but a utopian mental state. Knowing when to capitalize religious terms can be hell. Instead, we should simply choose to step back and take a look at how the word is functioning in the sentence. Would you spell out Second Corinthians if it is at the start of a sentence? Revelation 21:1-4, Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. Hi, Betty Lou. Jesus also made clear in the Gospels that Heaven is an actual place as well. Capitalize Adjectives That Are Part of God's Name Examples: Almighty God, Anointed One, Divine Savior, Good Shepherd, Great Physician, Heavenly Father, High Priest, Holy Father, Holy Spirit, Promised One, Sovereign Lord, Suffering Savior, Suffering Servant, Supreme Being, Wise Creator ANY CHARACTER HERE Refer to the Holy Spirit as "He," not "It" Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox. In the examples above, Mom, Dad, and Grandma are capitalized because they are being used like names. Why Is He Making Me Redo It? By James Taiwo. So go ahead and capitalize the names of those important family members in your life, but remember not to capitalize when using a possessive pronounor talking about family in general. However, when the terms are used as common nouns (not as names), they're not capitalized. And if you really want to capitalize those terms as a mark of respect for their liturgical significance (and there's no chance capitalization could lead to a lack of clarity for whatever reason), then feel free to do so. I often refer to Spirit. Capitalize the title before a name. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. The word book is usually lowercased, and the words gospel and epistle are usually capitalized.". 1 0 For example, how do you know whether to capitalize godly since it refers to God? Heaven and Hell Finally, we have heaven and hell. Heavenly Father is the Supreme Creator. Hi, Beau. There is room for flexibility here in some cases, though. Get the Facts, link to Is There Sex in Heaven? It is a matter of personal conviction, preference, and context. For example, my background is Welsh and English, and Im a New Zealander (colloquially, a Kiwi). Some Bible translations capitalize pronouns referring to God, while others do not. Christian Editing participates in a range of affiliate advertising programs, includingthe Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The main thing is to make sure this is done consistently throughout the document. We are created in His image. He was not Saved, until he read the Bible. Even if a title isnt being used to directly address someone, it is always acting as a proper nounand should be capitalizedif it replaces a persons name. We will look at a few of these below. After all, it's the same one that we use when we write "my school" (a common noun) vs. "Canevin High School" (a proper noun). The devil is usually lowercase, but his name is capitalized. But we would not usually capitalize the same word when using it as an adjective in mass market or mass transit. It pays, then, to double check whether religious terms have other uses. or the common noun is being used as a title (e.g. Or how about the flood that was not just any flood but THEE flood (sometimes referred to as the Great Flood) with Noah's family, his ark, & all the animals? You could replace them with proper names without changing the rest of the sentence. A utopian mental state, for example, isn't an actual place, so there is no place-name to capitalize. There's typically no need to capitalize those types of terms unless they're proper nouns in themselves. When writing about the Prophet Jeremiah or the Apostle John, should these titles before their names be capitalized? In a religious context, proper nouns may include: However, there are some cases where the correct capitalization depends on how youre using a term. Do not capitalize names that refer to common nouns: Those two men are fathers or This class is for expectant mothers. It can also be traced back to other languages as well. But we'd suggest only capitalizing such words if it serves a specific purpose, like with the "Word of God" referring to Logos rather than our everyday definition of "word.". Writing, grammar, and communication tips for your inbox. But unless you're referring to the part of the church in question by a specific proper name (i.e., perhaps a church community has assigned a unique name to part of their church), there wouldn't usually be any need to capitalize any of those terms as they're all common nouns. Family member titles are also capitalized when used immediatelybefore a family members name: I invited Uncle Chet to the baseball game. Hi, Sharon. In English, reciting such a prayer is sometimes referred to as "saying grace".The term comes from the Ecclesiastical Latin phrase gratiarum actio, "act of thanks." @ 2021-2023 Copyright | All Right Reserved, link to How Soon After Death Do You Go To Heaven? If "The Order" is the name (or part of the name) of the religious organization in question, then it is a proper noun and probably needs capitalizing. The challenge is therefore to decide whether the term youre using is a nickname or a term of affection. Though it seems that all the style-guides and capitalisation advice available on the Internet agree that the word kingdom in the phrase kingdom of God should be lowercased, I can find no clear information on whether it should still be lowercased when used by itself as a shortened way to refer to the kingdom of God (e.g. I know a lot of the larger houses are own by secular companies so I was curious how you see current changes. When writing about religious sisters and referring to them indirectly, should 'sisters' be written with an upper or lower case letter? . Capitalize other words in line with dictionary usage. Everyone remembers her. If there is a style guide that, for example, your publisher has asked you to follow, then its best to check there first. Hi, Mary. This is known as reverential capitalization. Most style guides recommend the lowercase "godly," although some prefer to capitalize all words that start with "God," so either should be fine as long as you're consistent (and you're not using a style guide that specifies using "godly"). It's hard to write "Earth and spirit." So unless you're following a specific style guide, you may choose to capitalize certain terms as a mark of reverence (like we discuss in relation to pronouns in the post), especially if it helps to distinguish a religious usage from a non-religious one. And you'd always capitalize "Exodus" when referring to the book from the Bible. Avoid unnecessary capitalization. If your religion tells you to capitalize a certain word (or not to), then there's no need to consult the opinion of mortals! He is the Author of the plan for our happiness. Capitalize titles like mom and dad when using them to address someone or as a name. When not to capitalize family member titles If used as common nouns, don't capitalize, as in: We honor all mothers in May. I asked my dad All men and women are literally the sons and daughters of God. Your email address will not be published. Should confirmation be capitalised such as "there was a confirmation service" ? generous nature., I feel for Melindas loss, said the neighbor. Also see Do Short People Go To Heaven? When terms denoting family relationships are used as proper nouns (as names), they are capitalized. Hope that helps! The key will be making sure to apply the capitalization consistently. A man came asking for Sister Mary Eunice. (Publishing a playbill for a play on the Passion of Christ.) Keep reading to learn the answers to these questions and others. This is why the word "dad" or "father" is only capitalized when they're used to replace someone's name (proper nouns). On the other hand, "dad" is a common noun meaning "father" (anybody's). My father went shopping. As mentioned above, you should always capitalize the first letter in a proper noun. Heres a tip: Want to make sure your writing shines? Note that individual publishers will have their own style guide. Is It St. When Should You Capitalize Dad, Mom, And Other Family Titles. What is the rule used when icapitalisating in such cases? But when referring to the "heaven about us" or the "heavens" as the atmosphere, it should not. Hoping I'm making sense on some level. I was wondering if when referring to a book of the Bible, should the word book be capitalized along with the name of the book? She lives in the western part of the Old South. For priests, use the Rev. "Please lord, he begged" or I would suggest not capitalizing am one if this is not related to God directly (and later let go and open myself arent capitalized, so this would be more consistent), but this is entirely up to you. Hi, Jared. There seems to be a strong secularization of the Gospel in Christian publishing & I would love to know what changes you have seen. This falls under the "Holy Pronouns" section of the post: i.e., you can use reverential capitalization if you like (or if you're using a style guide that recommends doing so), but it isn't compulsory. 12 Expressive Quotes From LGBTQIA Authors On Their Experiences, when used as a title immediately before a persons name (, Instead, the title is being used as a proper noun similar to other respectful titles such as. Examples: Lord, Almighty, Baby Jesus, Christ, Comforter, Counselor, Creator, Father, Godhead, Judge, King, Providence, Redeemer, Savior, Servant, Son, Sovereign, Trinity, Examples: friend, person, baby, child, boy, and man (Jesus is my friend. Would you capitalize the word our when it is written with Our Savior? The answer to this question is actually quite simple: Proper nouns (a name used for an individual person, place, or organization) are always capitalized while common nouns (a noun denoting a class of objects) is never capitalized. However, that is where personal preference and context come in: e.g., you might want to capitalize "Gospels" if you're using the term as a unique collective name for the canonical gospels of the Bible, but it is also a common noun so you could just use it descriptively to refer to "the gospels of the Bible." Not to do so would imply that Heaven and Hell and the New Earth arent real places. I expect that you'll find many people who do capitalize "End Times" on this basis, but you may want to check your style guide if you're using one. Can I go to the mall once I finish my homework, Mom? These are all capitalized: a kiwi (lowercase) is a brown flightless bird. Grammarly helps you communicate confidently You should capitalize family member titles when addressing your own relatives: hello, Mother. People will live forever with God and other believers because of the redemption that Jesus earned for them through his death and God created sex. So if you were referring to gods and goddesses in general, or any god or goddess where god is not part of their name, you would need to use a lower case g instead: Prior to Christianization, the Anglo Saxons worshipped the Germanic gods and goddesses, including ostre, the goddess of the dawn and spring. Some Christian theologians and teachers capitalize Heaven because that is normal when referring to a specific location when writing. Does capitalizing Heaven have theological implications? As a rule, you do not need to capitalize these terms. The word "father" should be capitalized whenever you're using it instead of a person's proper name. Do you capitalize department names? Do I capitalize Heavenly Father? *. The Scriptures are Gods truth to His people. Is this overkill or respectful? Nouns that are not proper names can also be capitalized out of reverence to the entity they refer to. This makes good sense. God is the Supreme Being in whom we believe and whom we worship. Many people capitalize the "Holy" in terms like "the Holy Spirit" and "the Holy Bible," and while "Holy God" seems less common, this is ultimately a matter of preference (unless you or your organisation has a style guide you're following, in which case it might have guidelines on capitalization you can use). Quotations and Block Quotes in Chicago Referencing, 5 Grammar Rules That Can be Broken in English. Heaven is the great desire of all Christians. Gospel meaning good news is not capitalized. as names of specific places). The Christian Writers Manual of Styleconsiders such names to be terms of affection: So when might a term of endearment become a nickname? He "witnesses of the Father and the Son" ( 2 Nephi 31:18) and reveals and teaches "the truth of all things" ( Moroni 10:5 ). we should all be ready for the coming of the Kingdom the Kingdom is at hand). A nickname, epithet, sobriquet, or soubriquet is a descriptive word or phrase used instead of or as part of a persons name. Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. I clearly state where I have been provided with a free product or service to review. My query is what about the term everlasting gospel? I have seen a niche Christian publisher with the same policy.