LANGUAGE 



187 



to mention the fact for the encouragement of 

 younger writers. The common temptation of 

 beginners is to write in what they think a more 

 elevated fashion. It needs some years of prac- 

 tice before a man fully takes in the truth that 

 for real strength, and above all, for real clear- 

 ness, there is nothing like the old English speech 

 of our fathers." 



CAPITALS 



1 . The first word of every full sentence should 

 begin with a capital, unless a literal reprint of 

 the writing of an illiterate person, who does 

 not begin a sentence with a capital, is to be 

 made. 



Two linea of invasion were adopted. Montgomery 

 descended Lake Champlain with 2,000 men. and after a 

 campaign of two months captured Montreal. 



2. Every line or verse of poetry should begin 

 with a capital. 



Morning, evening, noon, and night, 

 "Praise God! " sang Theocrite. 

 Then to his poor trade he turned, 

 Whereby the daily meal was earned. 



The initial letter in the first word of a poetical 

 quotation, though not beginning a line, should 

 be capitalized. 



But that's not enough : 

 Give my conviction a clinch I 



3. The name of the Deity in every person, 

 and in every synonym or attribute, should be- 

 gin with a capital; as, God, Christ, Jesus, Son, 

 Holy Ghost, Jehovah, Heaven, Creator, Provi- 

 dence, Infinite One, Supreme Being, etc. 



When the attributes of the Deity or of the 

 Saviour are expressed, not by adjectives, but in 

 the Hebrew style, by nouns, they should begin 

 with small letters, as Father of mercies, God 

 of wisdom, Prince of peace. 



Also write Son of man, Spirit of God, Lord 

 of lords, King of kings, etc. 



I. Pronouns referring to God and Christ 

 should not begin with capitals, unless they are 

 used emphatically without a noun. 



Phepherd! with thy tenderest love. 

 Guide me -to thy fold above; 



Jesus said, I and my Father are one. 



5. The pronoun I and the interjection O al- 

 ways take a capital letter. Oh does not unless 

 it begins a sentence. 



The heavens and earth, O Lord! proclaim thy boundless 

 power. 



6. The proper names of the days of the week 

 and of the months of the year, and of days of 

 feasts and fasts, festivals and holidays, both 

 n-liiri'Mis and civic, should begin with capitals; 

 as, Monday, March, Arbor Day, New Years, 

 Whitsunday, Decoration Day, Labor Day, 

 Easter, Black Friday, etc. 



1 h<- names of the seasons are not capit 

 7 All proper nouns and adjectives derived 

 from these nouns should begin with cnpit:iU; 

 as, a Greek, a Roman, a Hebrew, a Christian, a 



mrncdan, Elizabethan. 



Names of all geographical zones or section- 

 world, when used as proper nouns, take 

 a capital ; as, the Occident, the Orient, the Le- 

 vant, etc. 



Names of political parties should be capital- 

 ized; as Tory, Republican, Federalist, Free 

 Soiler, etc. 



Geographical, national, or personal qualities, 

 when used as nouns or before nouns in common 

 use that specify merchandise, do not need a 

 capital ; as china, india ink, prussian blue, turkey 

 red, majolica, delft, oriental rugs, castile soap, 

 etc. 



There are some verbs derived from proper 

 nouns that have lost their reference to the noun, 

 and so are printed with small letters ; as, to hector, 

 to philippize, to romance, to japan, to galvanize. 

 But Judaize and Christianize are exceptions 

 to this rule. 



8. Capitalize the first word in all titles of 

 books, periodicals, plays, and pictures, and also 

 every other word in the titles except articles, 

 prepositions, and conjunctions. 



Fiske's The War of Independence. 



This rule is contrary to the custom of the 

 American Library Association's rules, used in 

 cataloguing books. They capitalize only the 

 first word and proper nouns and proper adjec- 

 tives; as, Fiske's Tne war of independence. 



9. The first word and all important words 

 in the titles of corporations and societies, chould 

 begin with a capital letter; as, The Society for 

 the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Synod, 

 the Government (when it stands in place oC the 

 title of the divisions of the government). In 

 general one should use a capital in the last illus- 

 trations when the definite article is used, and 

 a small letter if the indefinite article is used. 



10. Titles of office or honor should be capi- 

 talized if used before the name of the person, 

 as, Mr. Smith, President Roosevelt, Messrs. 

 A. K. Bidwell & Co., Brother George, Aunt 

 Hannah. 



If used after, they are better written with a 

 small letter; as, Hon. James G. Elaine, ex-senator 

 from Maine; James Brown, roundsman, Broad- 

 way squad. 



When titles occur frequently on a page, and 

 are used without any particular expression of 

 honor, they should be written with small letters. 



In official documents the titles of poU 

 are often capitalized, even though they follow 

 the name of the ruler; as, Victoria, by the grace 

 of God, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, 

 Empress of India, etc. 



When sir, friend, boy, and the like words are 

 used in the salutation of a letter, they should 

 be capitalized ; as, My dear Sir, My dear Boy. 



A title used in place of the person's name 

 should begin with a capital; as, Good morning. 

 Captain; Mr. President. I call for the question. 



Abbreviated titles of honor or respect should 

 be capitalized: James Bryoe, D. C L., Henry 

 Northam, M. D., LL. D. 



1 1 Words of primary importance, especially 

 if they indicate some great event, or remarkable 

 ofaftOfa in religion or government, are com- 

 menced with capital letters; as, The Reforma- 

 tion, effected by Luther, is one of the most 

 wonderful event- in modern times. 



i tie M .::. of the points of the compass 

 when used to indicate direction should begin 

 with small letters. When used to indicate a 



