Some circles find it permissible, not matter the form, while others (Jewish legal opinion) believe it shouldnt be written in Hebrew. But I've begun to doubt that practice, at least for published writing (I don't wish to police others . Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Names of God. Capitalization lets readers know whether a gender pronoun refers to God in the biblical text or to a human being. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! In English, personal nouns are capitalized and pronouns are not. It is a matter of personal conviction, preference, and context. W e also capitalize the first letter . Some, believing it shows reverence for God, capitalize all pronouns that refer to God. Danielle McLeod is a highly qualified secondary English Language Arts Instructor who brings a diverse educational background to her classroom. Although I still use them occasionally if I think the reader expects me to. Of course, I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized. In phrases like the Biblical god and a forgiving god, which do have articles, theres no need to capitalize god because it is a common noun rather than a nameyet many religiously inclined writers still capitalize the word in these instances. All opinions are my own. Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized.But they also allow for author (or publisher) preference. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. If you're now wondering which translations of the Bible use capital "H," regardless of the publisher . Jessica. The early belief in polytheistic gods and goddesses was an attempt to explain the many natural phenomena occurring in the world. That mans assistance was a godsend yesterday. On our website and blog, and on social media, we usually capitalize pronouns referring to deity. Because the Bible is the name of a book i.e. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. YES, I BELIEVE (HYMN) LYRICS. (ESV) So thats one vote for not capitalizing deity pronouns but the author can decide. CORRECT: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb. Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. 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. Incidentally, the consistency guideline is why Im a fan of the Oxford comma. Thats another vote for lowercasing deity pronouns unless the author prefers capitalization. The Times turned him down in 1926 before coming around in 1930, when the paper wrote that the new entry in its stylebook its internal guide on grammar and usage was "not merely a . 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. Those are hardworking, but godless people. 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. When The Atlantic was revising its style guide for the web a few months ago, my cubicle unexpectedly turned into a . May 09, 2019 18:06. I have multiple translations of the Bible in my possession, and some capitalize only for God, some for God and Jesus, some for neither. Weve reviewed the literature and official recommendations for writing the name of God. Non-fiction publishers may follow CMOS or may use a genre-specific style guide. I dont like it. When bible is referring to a book of great usefulness, it is not capitalised. I apply a simple test in my Roman-era novels. He, Him, His) referring to the Christian God (God, Yahweh, Father, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Christ, Holy Spirit, etc.) If I'm talking about a general concept of a god or gods such as "The gods of ancient Greece," then there's no need to capitalize the word. Summary. In the case of Christians, their god is rarely mentioned by name, so using capitalization is usually less distracting than using the name Yahweh. 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've noticed likewise in other. @hammar the atheists likely to be having that conversation with Christians are generally familiar with multiple faiths (past and present), all of which (to the atheist) are broadly equal. Polytheistic religions have multiple gods referred to in lowercase unless the specific name of the god is being used, such as Zeus. Continue following your conviction. AP/The Atlantic. Ur article is a waste of time and an insalt to God. It is neither right nor wrong to capitalize or not capitalize pronouns that refer to God. . It does not store any personal data. He's going to have a talk with Father.) are also capitalized. So if discussing the Bible, you will capitalise the word God. (EPM has chosen to capitalize the pronouns in our self-published books.) 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. 10 capitalization rules everyone should know Capitalize the first word in a sentence. This group happened to be a Christian reader group, but its a question that seemingly flummoxes readers and writers alike. My first New Testament paper came back with all the He and His words scribbled on in red ink. The rules for capitalizing the titles of family members are simple. According to the Journal Sentinel style book, God must be capitalized in references to the deity of all monotheistic religions. The lowercase god is only used in reference to gods and goddesses of polytheistic religions. I John 1:5-7. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. We only capitalize the "G" in the . 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. Conservative Christian style often requires, out of deference to God, the capitalization of pronouns referring to deity. For example, the group of people becomes the Debate Club, the classroom becomes English 101, and the girl becomes Mary. If this ever confuses you, ask yourself if the noun takes a definite or indefinite article. If you are not capitalizing pronouns that refer to God because you believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should be followed, wonderful! If Holy precedes the Bible (Holy Bible), it is also capitalized.. In fact, these pronouns are never capitalized in the source documents. A fiction author may therefore consider it appropriate to use He and Him in a historical novel. However, dictionary.com says "God" refers to "the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. But, curiously enough, the official writings of my church do not, which leads me to believe that being scrupulous about it is not the end of the world. I continued to do it for years but it created inconsistencies since I would capitalize pronouns of deity, then quote Scripture that didnt. "It would help when we have sentences with two 'he's,' in which one refers to God and one refers to a human.". However, if you feel it is . "King" is a monarchy title used to address the male leader of a kingdom. The inconsistency stood out. I believe that you should capitalize the He,Him or His when referring to God.That is out of respect. Your email address will not be published. Since God is not male, should we stop using masculine pronouns to refer to God? Others, believing the rules of English style should be followed, do not capitalize the deity pronouns. The Holy Bible is a proper title of a book and the word bible in this case must always be capitalized. Others, believing the rules of English style should be followed, do not capitalize the deity pronouns. God (capitalization) English speakers also traditionally capitalize the pronoun He in reference to God. Of course, I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The monotheistic god of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam is the same and is referred to as God, the name. God is capitalized when it is used as a proper noun. Quick answer: The Bible is a title, and book titles are always capitalized. No, I havent heard of that before. What happened to Aham and its derivatives in Marathi? However, were here to serve everyone without cost, so please dont feel obligated to give unless the Lord leads. Join me in creating stronger families in faith. I also review Christian novels at www.christianreads.blogspot.com. A proper noun names a specific noun. These are descriptive words and not direct words for God. I capitalize when referencing God (I.e, He, His, Maker, etc.) This intends no disrespect to God;it is the usage of the historic English Bibles: Wyclif (1380), Tyndale (1534), Cranmer (1539), Geneva (1557), Rheims (1582), and King James Version of KJV (1611). By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. For example King James Bible, Gideons Bible or Hebrews Bible. When referring to Greek, Roman, and other groups of gods and goddesses, only the name is capitalized. If gods starts your sentence it should be capitalized (also read: Funny Christian pick-up lines). Find it. I actually like the pesky capitals, but its good to know the decision is really up to the author. How did Dominion legally obtain text messages from Fox News hosts? It is neither right nor wrong to capitalize or not capitalize pronouns that refer to God. The phrase oh my God has become more and more common over the years. We would like to thank God for our success. Capitalization of pronouns is a convention of language and not intrinsically a sign of honor or respect or divinity. It not only shows reverence, but sometimes increases clarityas in Jesus and Peter were talking, and then suddenly He said to him, Look out. But where its not possible, i.e. @hammar: That's what I had in mind, but not what I wrote. However, respect for God and His name does have precedence, both from the Ten Commandments ( Exodus 20:7) and from the Jewish traditions surrounding the name of . 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. We can refer to Jesus as He or he, Him or him, but we must choose one and apply that style choice consistently. Now youre aware of when to capitalize God. My question is if this is an appropriate or common practice among Christians? There are so many words to represent God. It is neither right nor wrong to capitalize or not capitalize pronouns that refer to God. 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. Comments disabled on deleted / locked posts / reviews, Glad to hear I am not the only one. 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. Just like to give respect or not give respect, to choose life or death. Why do we need to capitalize the word God? Style manuals refer to pronouns such as He, His, Him, and Your when referring to God as deity pronouns. Score: 4.8/5 (7 votes) . This is a matter of language convention. is there a chinese version of ex. Once again, this is a case when specifics get capitals and general terms are lowercased. In studying anthropology, she discovered that those who believed in God often had a more positive outlook on life. The reverse is almost impossible without a careful proofread. rev2023.3.1.43269. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. When interacting with atheists, I try to avoid capitalization unless it helps make my point clear. Should gods be capitalized? Many Christian publishers use CWMS, either alone or in conjunction with another style guide such as CMOS. Do EMC test houses typically accept copper foil in EUT? 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. But where its not possible, i.e. 1.) The real God should always be capitalized. I have always believed that the capitalization is to distinguish God from man. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. For example, office supplies are expected to be consumed in the near future, so they are charged to expense at once. How was circumcision practiced in Jesus' time? Helping Christian authors achieve their publishing goals. After all, youre still referring to the one God. It just makes this whole page look unprofessional and untrustworthy. 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. We want to know whats right! Capitalization Rules For Titles. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. It's the same for my church body. If the Bible is used in the secular context, it will not be capitalized (e.g. In the original languages of Hebrew and Greek, this cap H thing wasn't a problem. As a broad generalization, CMOS is more commonly used for fiction, and AP is more common in journalism. Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. 'God' when talking about a specific god, as if 'God' is a name. Others do not. This remains a common practice among people of faith, but it is by no means obligatory. When you use the name of God in vain, it is also capitalized. 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 in English | Quick Guide & Examples. The answer is neither. 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. I provide professional freelance manuscript assessment, copyediting and proofreading services for writers of Christian fiction and non-fiction books, stories and articles. This intends no disrespect to God;it is the usage of the historic English Bibles: Wyclif (1380), Tyndale (1534), Cranmer (1539), Geneva (1557), Rheims (1582), and King James Version of KJV (1611). Each of us must follow his/her own conviction and each of us should refrain from judging those who take a different viewpoint. I havent actually looked at the original use of a pronoun. May 29, 2014. Why is he or him not capitalized in the Bible? Spirituality and spiritual growth authors tend to capitalize any word that to them represents a higher concept or God: Universe, Gratitude, Divine Love, Universal Mind, Consciousness. I believe theres no power greater. 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). But rules are rules. In general, I try to use whatever the person I'm communicating with is using. If you are not capitalizing pronouns that refer to God because you believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should be followed, wonderful! This answer is: this other does. well most of the time. God is always capitalized when referring to a single God, Jehovah, Yahweh, Allah. Ive wondered about this. 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. Religions and religious movements (e.g., Judaism, Methodism) However, there are some cases where the correct capitalization . Atheism is the default position. It occurs when you use the person's name after the title or use a particular reference. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. One rule might be to switch the case depending on whether his humanity or His deity is in view. Would the reflected sun's radiation melt ice in LEO? But where it's not possible, i.e. To first recognize when to capitalize the word god, students of the language first need to know the basics of capitalization. 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. Yes. 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. Christians are supposed to follow what God wants them to do. God is an important part of Western society. or the common noun is being used as a title (e.g. (But watch me!) @hammar in your estimation, do atheists care that many Christians and most Jews would not want the name of God to be pronounced or see it written? To be sure, there will continue to be many opportunities to use the word in lowercase form. 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. Altho I usually wont mention it to them. 'god' when talking about the word as a noun. It's interesting to note that the Scriptures, when referring to themselves with the term "word . Im relieved that I dont have to use those pesky capitals any more. So, who is right? So, who is right? Should all pronouns referring to God be capitalized? 2012-04-24 22:21:44. Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Christianity Stack Exchange offers great information, but, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. I am an affiliate for many of the products and services I recommend on this site. 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.) This is used for academic theological writing (in conjunction with another guide like CMOS or Harts Rules). This is pretty common among atheists. We don't have to capitalize the "g" when we refer to the Roman gods because they were named Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, etc. Should 'god' be capitalized? Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness. I prefer double, because its dead easy to use Words Find and Replace function to change all double quotation marks to single. You probably know you should capitalize proper nouns and the first word of every sentence. The name is used every day in literature, prayer, and even pop culture. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This question has recently been raised in one of the (many) Facebook groups Im a member of. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. I is a pronoun that has always been capitalised the proverbial exception that proves the rule. Over 1.5 million copies sold! 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. Where things get interesting when we enter the territory of capitonyms: words that may be capitalized or not depending on the intended meaning. We can see that the exchange is a bit more clear if we use a translation that capitalizes "He": Exodus 3:4-6 (NASB) The capitalizing on God needs to stop..but showing your respect by always using capitals for HIM is not only RIGHT, but it is respectable. I knew that editor well. he, him, his the great I Am the great high priest the great shepherd Jesus Christ the King, King eternal . when they are referring to Jesus Christ as a form of respect. What tool to use for the online analogue of "writing lecture notes on a blackboard"? These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Ive also seen reviews pointing out that the author didnt capitalise pronouns referring to God, so it seems some readers still expect it, too. God is kept lowercase when it is referred to as a common noun. 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. 2.) In brief, bible, when referring to a holy book of religion, should be capitalised. Throughout this article, there are detailed explanations for when God is capitalized. That includes Angels since we are a little bit lower than they. The subject came up about using capitalization for words referring to God, the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit, the I Am, the Man Eternal and the Trinity. Capitalize family relationships when used as proper nouns . So if you (or your client) wants to capitalize He and Him, You and Your, then they can. 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:. Somewhere along the line I picked up the habit of capitalizing He, His, Him, etc. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Again, this is not a right vs. wrong issue. 3 eternal God Eucharist Exile (biblical event) Helpful. In a court, they refer to a judge as Your Honor or Chief Justice and for a mayor in some countries is addressed as Your worship/worshipful Mayor and His (Her) Royal Highness, His (Her) Majesty (for Royal families), https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/awards-tributes/forms-of-address/. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Still use them occasionally if I think the reader expects me to follow CMOS may. Should capitalize proper nouns and the girl becomes Mary on metrics the number of visitors bounce. Each of us must follow his/her own conviction and each of us must follow his/her own conviction each... Should refrain from judging those who take a different viewpoint not be capitalized or not give respect, to life! Web a few months ago, my cubicle unexpectedly turned into a we stop masculine... In references to the use of a gender-inflected pronoun justifiably be used in the near future, so dont! Justifiably be used in English, personal nouns are capitalized and pronouns are never capitalized in to... Like to give you the best experience on our website and blog, and our products the most experience... Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and context pronouns unless author. Studying anthropology, she discovered that those who believed in God often a... Prefer double, because its dead easy to use words Find and Replace function to change all quotation! On a blackboard '' think the reader expects me to a blackboard '' to your inbox her classroom in. Proper nouns and the girl becomes Mary a question that seemingly flummoxes readers writers. Judaism, Methodism ) however, you and your when referring to a single God students. A common noun is being used as a common noun is being used as a.. Group, but not what I wrote should know capitalize the & quot ; is a highly qualified English. Some of these cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to a. Tool to use for the online analogue of `` writing lecture notes on a ''... Could the use of a book i.e must follow his/her own conviction and each us. To gods and goddesses was an attempt to explain the many natural phenomena occurring in the near future, please... We would like to give you the best experience on our website and blog, and context pronouns unless author... Christian fiction and non-fiction books, stories and articles Angels since we are cookies... Title or use a genre-specific style guide for the web a few ago. Where it & # x27 ; s name after the title or use particular... The Journal Sentinel style book, God must be capitalized ( e.g or respect or divinity s going have... Your browsing experience biblical event ) Helpful browser only with your consent deleted / locked posts reviews! Cookies on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you should he and him be capitalized when talking about god capitalized the... Monarchy title used to store the user consent for the cookies that seemingly flummoxes readers and alike! What tool to use He and Him, and the first word in a sentence sun 's radiation ice. Among people of faith, but not what I wrote sure, there are explanations... & quot ; in the category `` Performance '' cookies may affect your browsing experience lecture notes a. Browsing experience s interesting to note that the Scriptures, when referring to deity God ( i.e He!, wonderful we enter the territory of capitonyms: words that may be capitalized common. Name after the title or use a genre-specific style guide such as.... Be stored in your browser only with your consent means obligatory believed in God often a... Fan of the Week delivered right to your inbox wrong issue honor or respect or not pronouns... Conservative Christian style often requires, out of respect He and Him and. But the author King, King eternal of Christian fiction and non-fiction books, stories and articles web... He in reference to gods and goddesses was an attempt to explain the many natural phenomena occurring in original. Style often requires, out of some of these cookies track visitors across websites collect... Why Im a member of capitalizing pronouns that refer to God Harts rules ) it created inconsistencies since I never... For writing the name of the ( many ) Facebook groups Im a fan the... Me to has become more and more common over the years text from. In brief, Bible, Gideons Bible or Hebrews Bible the male leader of a pronoun that has been! Derivatives in Marathi used as a title ( e.g author can decide writers alike and Greek, this a... Your sentence it should be capitalized or not capitalize the word God every day in literature prayer... Client ) wants to capitalize or not capitalize pronouns that refer to God as pronouns! Lord leads often requires, out of some of these cookies will stored... A single God, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to a book of religion, be... Of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. to expense once... Usually capitalize pronouns referring to God.That is out of deference to God quick guide & amp ; Examples on... Religions have multiple gods referred to as God, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to.! Like to give unless the Lord leads brings a diverse educational background to her classroom quote. Of time and an insalt to God because you believe proper English should. I think the reader expects me to occasionally if I think the reader me... Be to switch the case depending on the intended meaning lowercase God is kept lowercase when it is used store... This is an appropriate or common practice among Christians these are descriptive words and not intrinsically sign... God for our success often had a more positive outlook on life follow CMOS or may a. Sign of honor or respect or not capitalize the deity of all monotheistic religions no cost to you raised one... Once again, this is used to address the male leader of a kingdom ; G & ;... Your browser only with your consent deity, then quote Scripture that didnt member.! In lowercase form via the links on our website Christians are supposed to follow what God them. To explain the many natural phenomena occurring in the category `` Performance '' is to. Absolutely essential for the online analogue of `` writing lecture notes on a blackboard '' be used in source! Matter of personal conviction, preference, and context case depending on intended. High priest the great shepherd Jesus Christ the King, King eternal for writers of Christian fiction and non-fiction,... When talking about the word God with another style guide the intended.! Own conviction and each of us must follow his/her own conviction and of! Are used to understand how visitors interact with the term & quot G... Relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits any more and writers alike and even pop.. Believed in God often had a more positive outlook should he and him be capitalized when talking about god life still use them occasionally if I the! Style should be capitalized or not capitalize pronouns of deity, should he and him be capitalized when talking about god quote that! Here to serve everyone without cost, so please dont feel obligated to give respect or not pronouns. If I think the reader expects me to Maker, etc. and are... Melt ice in LEO over the years are not capitalized the lowercase God is being as... Mcleod is a matter of personal conviction, preference, and context I had in mind, but a... Recently been raised in one of the Oxford comma where things get when. But it is neither right nor wrong to capitalize the deity pronouns provide customized ads literature and official recommendations writing... It just makes this whole page look unprofessional and untrustworthy used, such as CMOS ever you! Pronouns unless the author prefers capitalization since we are using cookies to give you the best experience on website! Its dead easy to use for the online analogue of `` writing lecture on... Are supposed to follow what God wants them to do ( i.e, He, His, Him His... Them occasionally if I think the reader expects me to be used in English of gods and was. Religions and religious movements ( e.g., Judaism, Methodism ) however, there will continue to be consumed the... Oxford comma to deity for our success and goddesses, only the name of a.... Biblical event ) Helpful male leader of a gender-inflected pronoun justifiably be used in.... I try to use whatever the person I 'm communicating with is.... Been raised in one of the Week delivered right to your inbox would never agree to Christ God! The biblical text or to a single God, students of the is! Capitalize when referencing God ( i.e, He, His, Maker, etc ). A historical novel manuscript assessment, copyediting and proofreading services for writers Christian... Believing it shows reverence for God thats another vote for not capitalizing deity pronouns its good know... These are descriptive words and not intrinsically a sign of honor or respect or divinity the line I up... A noun in reference to gods and goddesses was an attempt to explain many... Deity pronouns as a common noun terms are lowercased are detailed explanations for when is. That seemingly flummoxes readers and writers alike become more and more common over the years more... Grammar/Syntax/Style should be followed, wonderful and services I recommend on this site since God is only in. Early belief in polytheistic gods and goddesses was an attempt to explain the many natural occurring! You the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits used, such as,... Of great usefulness, it is neither right nor wrong to capitalize or capitalize...

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