Capitalization Question

SeanDSchaffer · Feb 15, 2006

When I write sentences concerning certain characters, I find I do not know when to capitalize words like 'king' or 'knight.' I was taught that in some cases these words should be capitalized and in some cases they should not be, but I cannot remember, any more, the differences in which these words are capitalized.

An example of this is the word 'captain.' Let's say I have a character who is the captain of a ship. The sentences that follow are the way I normally capitalize (or not) the word in question:

He is the captain of this ship.

Suddenly, Captain So-and-so ordered a hard to port.

How does a Captain command his ship?

The problem is, I don't know if any of these sentences are correct or not. I worry that this will keep an agent from considering any manuscript I might present them with. What are the correct uses and why?

Thank you in advance for any and all answers you might give.

Sharon Mock · Feb 16, 2006

SeanDSchaffer said:
He is the captain of this ship.

Suddenly, Captain So-and-so ordered a hard to port.

Both of these are correct.

SeanDSchaffer said:
How does a Captain command his ship?

I wouldn't capitalize captain here. However, "How does the Captain keep his ship?" works.

Rule of thumb: If it's attached to a proper name, or can be replaced by a proper name, it should be capitalized. Otherwise, it should be lower-case.

reph · Feb 16, 2006

Sharon Mock said:
Both of these are correct.

I agree.

"How does the Captain keep his ship?" works.

I was taught that a word like "captain" should be lower-case there.

Chicago, 12th ed., says:

Civil, military, religious, and professional titles and titles of nobility are capitalized when they immediately precede a personal name, as part of the name:

President Johnson
General Eisenhower
John Cardinal Cody
Emperor Maximilian...

A title used alone, in place of a personal name, is capitalized only in such contexts as toasts or in formal introductions...

In text matter, titles following a personal name or used alone in place of a name are, with few exceptions, lowercased....

Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States; President Lincoln; the president...; the presidency; presidential
Chester W. Nimitz, Fleet Admiral; Admiral Nimitz, commander of the Pacific Fleet; the admiral

dragonjax · Feb 16, 2006

What reph said.

Suddenly, Captain Bluebeard ordered a hard to port.

Suddenly, the captain ordered a hard to port.

He is the captain of this ship.

Bluebeard is the captain of this ship.

Shwebb · Feb 16, 2006

Okay, here's a related question--

What about in reference to ethnicity or race?

For example, "The White man walked his wife down the street."

I've seen some people not capitalize it, and to me, if it isn't capitalized, the writier is referring to his color, not his race.

I realize that using the terms "Caucasian" and "African-American" might not muddy the waters so much, but those words aren't so much in the vernacular at the moment.

dragonjax · Feb 16, 2006

A sidestep: is it necessary to mention race at all? Perhaps description would allow you to avoid an easy label (and, thus, the capitalization question).

Shwebb · Feb 16, 2006

Yes, I do consider that a sidestep, actually. Sometimes it is necessary to mention race and/or ethnicity, when that is the subject of your writing.

SeanDSchaffer · Feb 16, 2006

Thanks, everyone. I'll have to go over your replies more carefully later on, as I just woke up; but your answers will certainly be a help.

I appreciate it.

GrammarScribe · Feb 16, 2006

dragonjax said:
What reph said.

Suddenly, Captain Bluebeard ordered a hard to port.

Suddenly, the captain ordered a hard to port.

He is the captain of this ship.

Bluebeard is the captain of this ship.

And may I add: The ship was led by former captain Bluebeard.

Basically, only capitalize if an unmodified proper noun immediately follows the title. Otherwise, use lower-case.

And if you must mention race, then it shouldn't be capitalized.

reph · Feb 16, 2006

Shwebb said:
For example, "The White man walked his wife down the street."

A strange marriage, it sounds like. Was she on a leash?

Anyway, some publishers capped "black" and "white" for a while, starting in the 1960s (Johnson administration, Black Power movement), but this isn't usual now.

Shwebb · Feb 16, 2006

Oh, Reph. I'm just brain-dead today.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 20, 2006

reph said:
A title used alone, in place of a personal name, is capitalized only in such contexts as toasts or in formal introductions...

Or in direct address where the personal name is understood, such as, "Captain, if you don't turn this ship around right now you'll be facing mutiny charges."

fireball_DET5 · Feb 10, 2009

Hello all.
Here is one that that annoys me.

“It is closure to the objective, and we could observer the locales,” insisted lieutenant Wynn forcefully.

Should it be Lieutenant or lieutenant?

FennelGiraffe · Feb 10, 2009

fireball_DET5 said:
“It is closure to the objective, and we could observer the locales,” insisted lieutenant Wynn forcefully.

Should it be Lieutenant or lieutenant?

Already answered above:

reph said:
Chicago, 12th ed., says:
Civil, military, religious, and professional titles and titles of nobility are capitalized when they immediately precede a personal name, as part of the name:
President Johnson
General Eisenhower
John Cardinal Cody
Emperor Maximilian...

fireball_DET5 · Feb 10, 2009

Thank-you.

Bufty · Feb 11, 2009

That is one mouthful of a sentence from the lieutenant there, friend. I hope it's clearer in context.

ETA- Do you mean

“It is closer to the objective, and we could observe the locals,” insisted lieutenant Wynn ~~forcefully~~.

fireball_DET5 said:
Hello all.
Here is one that that annoys me.

“It is closure to the objective, and we could observer the locales,” insisted lieutenant Wynn forcefully.

Should it be Lieutenant or lieutenant?

Capitalization Question

SeanDSchaffer

Sharon Mock

Wing nut

reph

Fig of authority

dragonjax

I write stuff and break boards.

Shwebb

She's the creepy-looking dude

dragonjax

I write stuff and break boards.

Shwebb

She's the creepy-looking dude

SeanDSchaffer

GrammarScribe

reph

Fig of authority

Shwebb

She's the creepy-looking dude

Jamesaritchie

fireball_DET5

FennelGiraffe

It's green they say

fireball_DET5

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?