To first recognize when to capitalize the word god, students of the language first need to know the basics of capitalization. Capitalize the pronoun "I." Capitalize proper nouns : the names of specific people, places, organizations, and sometimes things. It might be worth pointing out that Zondervan publish the NIV. Im probably not going to capitalize. Christian is derived from the proper noun Christ. 'God' when talking about a specific god, as if 'God' is a name. You likely know that all sentences begin with a capital letter. Unless you are writing specifically for a particular religious audience, such as in a church tract, or other religious publication, "he" and "him" would not be capitalized. Thanks for the catch! Why are there so many Bible translations, and which is the best? This is a formal name, and thus a proper noun, and it deserves to be capitalized. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. (ESV) Knowing what you just reviewed about nouns, you also probably have figured out that god will be capitalized when used as a proper noun. . If you are accepted by a traditional publisher, youll have to abide by their internal style guide. Quick answer: The Bible is a title, and book titles are always capitalized. Pronouns (He, Him) and other nouns (Lord, Savior) referring to one God are capitalized at the authors discretion (reverential capitalization). Neither He nor he is incorrect but using He and he is definitely wrong. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. (Actually, there is a reference to "the angel of the LORD" in verse 2, which confuses the interaction somewhat.) Plurally, gods usually refer to the pagan gods, such as the Greek gods. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church explains it this way on their website: We follow the style, which does not capitalize pronouns relating to deity. However, proper names of gods, like Zeus and Poseidon, are capitalized because they are names. 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. That way, people know you're talking about God, not some pagan deity. What happened to Aham and its derivatives in Marathi? I don't think He minds. When any direct name of God is not capitalized (Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, God), it REALLY bothers me, but when any pronouns (He, Him, His, Who, You, etc.) The Muslim name Allah is a translation of the name God. When bible is referring to a book of great usefulness, it is not capitalised. In addition, there is no true historical precedent for capitalizing. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. So is . This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Capitalizing titles and proper names for God and Christ is, however, correct application of the rules of English grammar. 'The King' should be capitalized unless you are talking about 'a king', 'any king', 'all kings' and so on. But you also (sometimes) capitalize the first word of a quote. Its fascinating to learn that originally it was less about respect and more about emphasis. Bible sections. Score: 4.8/5 (7 votes) . as in example? Published on April 19, 2019 by Amy Luo.Revised on December 7, 2022. There are always questions about grammar and capitalization when it comes to God. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Because the Bible is the name of a book i.e. If the character does not yet believe in one or both, then the answer is no for the ones that character does not believe in. Atheist, on the other hand, is derived from the word theos, which means 'god'. The downvoter should also explain why both the Torah and Koran (or Quran) are commonly capitalized, but the Bible (as a religious text) should not be. In Greek, there were capital (upper-case) letters and lower-case letters. Some Bible translations capitalize pronouns referring to God, while others do not. Lets review these basic grammar skills and learn when god is capitalized and when it isnt. I insisted that all these words referring to God should have a . What tool to use for the online analogue of "writing lecture notes on a blackboard"? February 10, 2014 in General Discussion. The reverse is almost impossible without a careful proofread. We only capitalize the "G" in the . I believe theres no power greater. Great post, Iola. Id prefer we keep grammar simple and let it be one rule for all to remain in consistency with its original intent. Since God is not male, should we stop using masculine pronouns to refer to God? Other references or alternative names of God are also capitalized. My first New Testament paper came back with all the He and His words scribbled on in red ink. Thanks for the great post lola! A proper noun names a specific noun. in my books with publishers, I've gone with their policy. I use capital H. Some versions of the bible use it. To be sure, there will continue to be many opportunities to use the word in lowercase form. Duress at instant speed in response to Counterspell. The monotheistic god of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam is the same and is referred to as God, the name. Where things get interesting when we enter the territory of capitonyms: words that may be capitalized or not depending on the intended meaning. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Now youre aware of when to capitalize God. It appears this isn't a formal requirement, but I am not the only one to do it. Why would they? The reason is that in such cases we are talking about members of a general class or category specifically, members of a group which gets the label 'gods' because people have, at one time or another . Language is dynamic, not static. If Holy precedes the Bible (Holy Bible), it is also capitalized.. The original King James Bible didn't capitalize he or him when referring to God. The official . Two of the 'he's are God, which is clear enough from what is being said. God is kept lowercase when it is referred to as a common noun. Yes, I could mock others for things they say too, we are all in the same sinking boat without Christ. The Style Manual is the official style manual used by the Australian government, as well as many Australian publishers and authors. But its a subtle way of reinforcing Christian themes and the way God changes us. Even many religious publishers have given up the practi. Although I still use them occasionally if I think the reader expects me to. rev2023.3.1.43269. YES, I BELIEVE (HYMN) LYRICS. For instance, one of the most revered translations, the KJV, does not capitalize them. I do find those who call my Lord with a small g a bit offensive. Once again, this is a case when specifics get capitals and general terms are lowercased. Frustrations. Since at least one characters faith position flips during each of my novels, you can follow their changing faith by whether a pronoun is capitalized or not. Many early gods were vengeful towards humans. When being used as a common noun, it is referring to the concept of a god (or god as a "type," if you will) and is not capitalized (just like "human" or "dog" would be) In the same way, to suppose on this basis that the Holy Spirit is a person to be referred to as "he" or "him" is incorrect. That may well the case, but the rule shouldnt hold true for all historical fiction. Yes, capital H every time. A common noun provides a generic name for a person, place, thing, or idea. he, him, his, you, your, etc.) The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". (KJV) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Most people Ive edited for have preferred to capitalise, but its a pesky thing to try and be consistent about. Should the word God be capitalized? 2023 Grammarist, a Found First Marketing company. Why aren't pronouns referring to God capitalized in some Bibles? My concern would be in two areas: intent and effect. Updated on September 30, 2022 Grammar. Its always changing, and thats why applying old rules to contemporary writing sometimes just doesnt resonate. Ive wondered about this. Thats why we have style guides! I think its considered an old fashioned way of showing respect for Him. 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. Capitalize titles that appear before names, but not after names. Your email address will not be published. I've noticed likewise in other. So if you (or your client) wants to capitalize He and Him, You and Your, then they can. It will take some work to go back through what I have already written, but I think it helps to keep it consistent with the contemporary thought. Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness. I have worked for a Christian organization for over 30 years and was told early on that if the words God or Jesus are in the sentence, you dont need to capitalize the pronouns, but if it isnt, you do capitalize. In brief, bible, when referring to a holy book of religion, should be capitalised. Continue doing so. Gods are an important part of Greek history. I provide professional freelance manuscript assessment, copyediting and proofreading services for writers of Christian fiction and non-fiction books, stories and articles. Yes, I'm scared. Each of us must follow his/her own conviction and each of us should refrain from judging those who take a different viewpoint. Believers also capitalize pronouns (like he and him) when referring to God. If Gods Word is daily at home in your heart and mind, your writing will take on a perspective, and an air of solidity and permanence it wont have otherwise. Elie refused to sanctify God's name because of the immense pain He was causing, and felt angry that others in the camp continued to worship Him. @Narnian it's about orthography, not grammar ;). Capitalization of pronouns is a convention of language and not intrinsically a sign of honor or respect or divinity. To mock another especially for a typo is very immature and childish. That includes Angels since we are a little bit lower than they. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! My preference would be only to capitalize the pronouns referring to God in historical fiction where capitalization was consistent with the time setting (e.g. Continue doing so. However, dictionary.com says "God" refers to "the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe. Thank you. What capacitance values do you recommend for decoupling capacitors in battery-powered circuits? Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. in my books with publishers, Ive gone with their policy. It would appear odd for Jesus to refer to himself as Me in a biblical novel at the same time as his enemies were referring to him (Him?) When god is used with an article, that is usually an indicator of lowercase use. Non-fiction publishers may follow CMOS or may use a genre-specific style guide. Dim memories. Geoblocking on Amazon: 13 Reasons Why I Dont Want to Switch from Amazon.com to Amazon Australia, Five Reasons to Enter a Writing Contest (and Five Contests to Enter). Many atheists use a lowercase 'g' while Jews, Christians, and Muslims always capitalize the G. Who is right? shawmino 6 yr. ago. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Answer: Capitalizing pronouns (e.g. @curiousdannii Are you my high school English Teacher back to haunt me? Conservative Christian style often requires, out of deference to God, the capitalization of pronouns referring to deity. You always capitalize Bible when referring to a proper noun including the various versions of both the Christian and Jewish Bibles . I was also taught that God is a proper name, as are Jesus, Christ, and Holy Spirit. These are descriptive words and not direct words for God. He, Him, His) referring to the Christian God (God, Yahweh, Father, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Christ, Holy Spirit, etc.) We can refer to Jesus as He or he, Him or him, but we must choose one and apply that style choice consistently. And I think youre right in that a lot of readers still expect to see He and Him. Should gods be capitalized? I also like this answer fromGot Questions: Many people struggle with this question. I continued to do it for years but it created inconsistencies since I would capitalize pronouns of deity, then quote Scripture that didnt. Privacy Policy. The purpose is to respect the name of God and avoid writing it (the name is sacred and if its not written it cannot be destructed by man later). Why are non-Western countries siding with China in the UN? In those cases when such pronouns are unavoidable, they should not be capitalized (thus he, him, his; but for expressions like Third Person of the Trinity, see 4.4.7). HE is ALLLLLLLLLLWAYS the capital. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. As a broad generalization, CMOS is more commonly used for fiction, and AP is more common in journalism. 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. One of the main guidelines in editing is that the document should be internally consistent. ASM says (p127): Thats a non-answer. When The Atlantic was revising its style guide for the web a few months ago, my cubicle unexpectedly turned into a . What does the Bible say about capitalization? Yes Christian Bible should be capitalised. When you use the name of God in vain, it is also capitalized. God is kept lowercase when it is referred to as a common noun. I wrote a Christian book and am over half-way done with my second. I have been taught (in ELCA seminary) that the word LORD, presented in the Hebrew Bible in small caps, represents the ineffable four-letter holy name and so should be capitalized. I dont like it. You capitalise words that are proper given names of individuals or places. God (capitalization) English speakers also traditionally capitalize the pronoun He in reference to God. Over the years Ive been asked my opinion about authors using pen names. Ur article is a waste of time and an insalt to God. Common questions are when is God capitalized and should godly be capitalized? referring to the Blessed Trinity has not been a widespread practice in Christian tradition. This is used for academic theological writing (in conjunction with another guide like CMOS or Harts Rules). It is neither right nor wrong to capitalize or not capitalize pronouns that refer to God. Capitalise names, don't capitalise nouns. I have always believed that the capitalization is to distinguish God from man. Some, believing it shows reverence for God, capitalize all pronouns that refer to God. Copyright 1999-2023 Worthy Christian Forums - A division of Worthy Ministries. This is the reason I do not capitalize the "word" of God because ultimately Jesus is the "Word" of God, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This answer is: If you are not capitalizing pronouns that refer to God because you believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should be followed, wonderful! Those are hardworking, but godless people. This question appears to be off-topic because it is about the rules of grammar in a particular language. There are good reasons to use "He" and equally good reasons to use "he" to refer to Christ depending on context. Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. Why do you sometimes see god capitalized in some references but written in lowercase in others? Summary. Most publishers have a style guide: a set of rules governing how they treat a range of editing questions including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word usage. I argue the same for capitalizing the New Earthif we capitalize New England, why not the redeemed creation that Scripture calls the New Earth? The Judeo-Christian god is named God, since they believe He is the only one. Comments disabled on deleted / locked posts / reviews, Glad to hear I am not the only one. See also H.quotation marks. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Should I include the MIT licence of a library which I use from a CDN? It is a matter of personal conviction, preference, and context. 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. I second Jady's remarks. Referring to God as G-d is a recent occurrence in the United States. Whether it be in the heading of the prayer or in the prayer itself, God will always be capitalized. If the Bible is used in the secular context, it will not be capitalized (e.g. However, bible can, as you mentioned, be used as a noun. Thank you for this post on an often repeated question especially within Christian publishing and writing circles. Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek were all written in what we would call uppercase. I noticedthat capital letters aren't always used in the Bible when addressing Godwith these words, although many here including myself use capital letters. I don't hold everyone to that, though, it's just my own personal preference; my own bible doesn't capitalize God's pronouns. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Laziness. In studying anthropology, she discovered that those who believed in God often had a more positive outlook on life. 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).. Being a good little grade-grubber, I changed my ways. this other does. well most of the time. The Bible says the hardest thing to tame is the tongue (Or in this case typing fingers haha) I only wish to come off Christ-like and be more like Him and spread the gospel. The monotheistic god of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam is the same and is referred to as God, the name. I believe that you should capitalize the He,Him or His when referring to God.That is out of respect. All Rights Reserved. Others do not. When people form a group and give it a name, it should be capitalized. @Peter Turner noticed the same in Roman Catholic writings. CWMS goes on to point out that capitalization can be confusing for younger readers (who were never taught that deity pronouns should be capitalised). Capitalize family relationships when used as proper nouns . And he said, "Here I am." Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.Exodus 3:4-6 In Hebrew, there was no such thing as upper-case and lower-case letters. Does Cast a Spell make you a spellcaster? when they are referring to Jesus Christ as a form of respect. It just makes this whole page look unprofessional and untrustworthy. @hammar: That's what I had in mind, but not what I wrote. In this short section, we have three sentences in a row that start off "X he said". I intend to continue to do so for now. or the common noun is being used as a title (e.g. Some, believing it shows reverence for God, capitalize all pronouns that refer to God. To summarize the proper noun/common noun usage, I think the easiest way to handle the situation is to capitalize the word god when it is used as a proper name as the name of the god of a monotheistic religion, such as the god of Christianity or Judaism, and not capitalize it when it is used as a common noun:. T his helps the reader clearly recognize that the sentence has begun, and we make it clear that the sentence has ended by using terminal punctuation marks (e.g., periods, exclamation points, or question marks ). Isn't the burden of proof on the Christian to assert that God exists? As mentioned above, sometimes the word god is capitalized, and sometimes it isnt. 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". One rule might be to switch the case depending on whether his humanity or His deity is in view. 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. 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. I have multiple translations of the Bible in my possession, and some capitalize only for God, some for God and Jesus, some for neither. That means the capital "G" is a must. Equally, its not hard to change He and Him to he and him (except where they occur at the beginning of a sentence). 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. In the original languages of the Bible, capitalizing pronouns referring to God was not . Remember, if a word refers to God, it must be capitalized! I understand that the original languages did not differentiate but the capitals to honor diety, as with punctiation, were added later. Join me in creating stronger families in faith. The old practice of capitalizing pronouns of deity has been done in very few Bible translations historically, and was abandoned by most Christian publishers years ago. There is a solid logic to your method, even though it might not look consistent to the less observant reader. The word my and other possessive pronouns (your, his, her, our, their) often indicate that you should lowercase the title. Ive been asked by readers over the years, Why dont you capitalize the pronouns referring to God in your books?. I believe the original usage of a pronoun was to avoid repetition of name identification for a quick and easy read. I told him he should rewrite the sentence. The answer is neither. In case youre in a hurry here are the quick answers: In monotheistic religions (religions that have only one God), God will always be capitalized (also read: When Is Bible Capitalized).if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'faithfulteaching_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-faithfulteaching_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Reverential capitalization (Chicago Manual of Style 8.95) occurs when an author or text reveres a subject and capitalized the pronoun that refers to the subject.

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