This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The inconsistency stood out. All Rights Reserved. I was also taught that we use double quotation marks for speech (still true), single quotation marks for speech (now considered dated), and to add a comma where Id add a pause if reading aloud (not true, and a topic probably best left for another blog post). 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. We dont want to know whats common or uncommon. There are good reasons to use "He" and equally good reasons to use "he" to refer to Christ depending on context. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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 will however always capitalize His name (or strive to), and I think He will be honored by it since His opinion is the only one that matters. or the common noun is being used as a title (e.g. Atheists don't believe in the existence of. 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. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. I was taught that we capitalize deity pronouns as a matter of respect and honour (dubious, as Ill show below). That way, people know you're talking about God, not some pagan deity. Because the Bible is the name of a book i.e. 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. The three major monotheistic world religions refer to a one supreme being as God. @hammar: That's what I had in mind, but not what I wrote. and He said unto Adam. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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). in my books with other publishers, I've gone with their policy. Several respondents based their answers based on the practice in their Bibles which were equally inconsistent (for those who are interested, compare the New International Version with the New American Standard Bible). The Facebook groups answers unhelpfully ranged from Yes, always to No, never with a healthy sprinkling of Sometimes and It depends. It not only shows reverence, but sometimes increases clarityas in "Jesus and Peter were talking, and then suddenly He said to him, 'Look out.'". In English, yes. I capitalize when referencing God (I.e, He, His, Maker, etc.) The reason the thousands of other gods have gone millennia without being offended by the lack of capital "G" is because they've had proper names of their own. 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. Of course, its every individuals freedom of choice! So if you (or your client) wants to capitalize He and Him, You and Your, then they can. This article will provide you the answers to spell it correctly. On our website and blog, and on social media, we usually capitalize pronouns referring to deity. (Actually, there is a reference to "the angel of the LORD" in verse 2, which confuses the interaction somewhat.) I apply a simple test in my Roman-era novels. Weve reviewed the literature and official recommendations for writing the name of God. Acts 17:24-25: "The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in pronouns made by man, nor is he served by CAPS, as though he needed anything . One of the most common questions people ask about religious words is whether to capitalize the word god. 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. 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. So you can either capitalise deity pronouns or not capitalise deity pronouns, but choosing to capitalise some and not others isnt consistent and could confuse readers. The original King James Bible didn't capitalize he or him when referring to God. Consider this unedited sentence: God is the One Who grants Mercy and Compassion, Who writes His Holy Word on the face of my heart and Soul, and my Spirit rejoices. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, in all of the earliest copies of the Greek New Testament, the text is written in all capital letters. 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. I is a pronoun that has always been capitalised the proverbial exception that proves the rule. is there a chinese version of ex. Capitalization is the recordation of a cost as an asset, rather than an expense. As a broad generalization, CMOS is more commonly used for fiction, and AP is more common in journalism. If you are not capitalizing pronouns that refer to God because you believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should be followed, wonderful! 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.) 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. In my opinion, these words do not qualify for reverential capitalization because they arent directly describing God. Its always changing, and thats why applying old rules to contemporary writing sometimes just doesnt resonate. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Surely there is an answer. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. If Holy precedes the Bible (Holy Bible), it is also capitalized.. Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". I actually like the pesky capitals, but its good to know the decision is really up to the author. Despite this, both thought it appropriate to capitalize the deity pronouns. 16 related questions found. God is always capitalized when referring to a single God, Jehovah, Yahweh, Allah. If you self-publish, you get to choose. Im relieved that I dont have to use those pesky capitals any more. It might be worth pointing out that Zondervan publish the NIV. There was simply an alphabet, no capital letters at all. Yes, we did. (EPM has chosen to capitalize the pronouns in our self-published books.) I do find those who call my Lord with a small g a bit offensive. 10 capitalization rules everyone should know Capitalize the first word in a sentence. Is it appropriate to capitalize pronouns referring to Jesus Christ? Capitalize formal names of Bible sections: Old Testament, New Testament, the Pentateuch, the Torah. The answer is neither. I do capitalize Santa though. Atheist, on the other hand, is derived from the word theos, which means 'god'. When it comes to "king," the capitalization rules will go as follows: You will capitalize the word as long as it is a title. For example King James Bible, Gideons Bible or Hebrews Bible. In German, every Noun is capitalized. If you're labeling a relative, don't capitalize. 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. Even many religious publishers have given up the practi. 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. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. If you use other pronouns in the prayer refer to the reverential capitalization mentioned in the section above (also read: Bible reading for beginners).if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[970,250],'faithfulteaching_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',165,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-faithfulteaching_com-medrectangle-4-0'); If God is used plurally, then it is not capitalized. My question is if this is an appropriate or common practice among Christians? 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?) You likely know that all sentences begin with a capital letter. However, I've also been taught that pronouns referring to the unity or diversity of persons of the Trinity are not to be capitalized. The decision to capitalize or not capitalize pronouns is a question of translation and is not a statement of . Christians are supposed to follow what God wants them to do. I don't know which is correct. If youve been impacted by our resources, we invite you to make a year-end gift before December 31. Likewise if referring to the particular dev. DarkScribe ( 15500) "Great Answer" ( 5 ) Flag as . Likewise I always capitalize Christ, which is the title of Jesus of Nazareth. This remains a common practice among people of faith, but it is by no means obligatory. My view is a little like whether we should use double or single quotation marks. Capitalizing the first word of a sentence. Required fields are marked *, By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. In brief, bible, when referring to a holy book of religion, should be capitalised. Each of us must follow his/her own conviction and each of us should refrain from judging those who take a different viewpoint. CATHOLIC PRAYER: DO YOU BELIEVE? Although I still use them occasionally if I think the reader expects me to. He's going to have a talk with Father.) The word my and other possessive pronouns (your, his, her, our, their) often indicate that you should lowercase the title. Thank you for your comment. Some circles find it permissible, not matter the form, while others (Jewish legal opinion) believe it shouldnt be written in Hebrew. I never would have stopped doing it in my books if my publishers hadnt changed their policy. I can't say I have given the capital C used in creation . Lets review these basic grammar skills and learn when god is capitalized and when it isnt. That means the capital "G" is a must. Altho I usually wont mention it to them. Not God. Not even the Bibles are consistent about capitalizing the pronouns. 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. Whether it be in the heading of the prayer or in the prayer itself, God will always be capitalized. Style manuals refer to pronouns such as He, His, Him, and Your when referring to God as deity pronouns. I regularly find experienced English speakers using the word god incorrectly in their writing and misunderstanding the difference between a proper and common noun. But they also allow for author (or publisher) preference. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He went on to say that He is Lord God Almighty, which means He is the one all-powerful God. Obviously, they would not bother capitalizing "he" at all. On our website and blog, and on social media, we usually capitalize pronouns referring to deity. May 09, 2019 18:06. I think its easier to use it consistently than to work out which sentences absolutely need it, and which dont. So if discussing the Bible, you will capitalise the word God. Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of over sixtybooks and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. 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. The names of gods and goddesses are capitalized. That is, if youre referring to something in a general sense, you can leave it lowercaseso when mentioning a particular scripture, you would capitalize the term youre using, but when talking about scripture as a whole, its lowercase. Your email address will not be published. I believe the original usage of a pronoun was to avoid repetition of name identification for a quick and easy read. 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. In most faith-based literature youll find that nouns and pronouns are almost always capitalized. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Some Bible translations capitalize pronouns referring to God, while others do not. 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. Reverential Capitalization. This is used for academic theological writing (in conjunction with another guide like CMOS or Harts Rules). When god is used with an article, that is usually an . He was with God in the beginning" ( John 1:1-2 ). Why aren't pronouns referring to God capitalized in some Bibles? Does Cast a Spell make you a spellcaster? referring to the Blessed Trinity has not been a widespread practice in Christian tradition. In Spanish, days of the week and months are not capitalized. Why do we need to capitalize the word God? Throughout this article, there are detailed explanations for when God is capitalized. Better is to pick a convention and stick to it. I think its considered an old fashioned way of showing respect for Him. AP/The Atlantic. I've noticed likewise in other. Don't forget Jesus' warning: And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.Mark 7:6-8 (ESV). I second Jady's remarks. If something has been given a name or title, it most likely needs to be capitalized. I believe theres no power greater. "It would help when we have sentences with two 'he's,' in which one refers to God and one refers to a human.". You capitalise words that are proper given names of individuals or places. I use capital H. Some versions of the bible use it. Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. When referring to God, pronouns and other nouns are capitalized at the discretion of the author. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The Muslim name Allah is a translation of the name God. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. All opinions are my own. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. It does not store any personal data. 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. Answer: Capitalizing pronouns (e.g. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. In studying anthropology, she discovered that those who believed in God often had a more positive outlook on life. Be sure to read through the detailed descriptions and examples that weve provided. If you capitalize pronouns that refer to God to show reverence for His name, fantastic! So, its a forced reaction. Frankly, the capitalization need not signify respect or honor in this case; rather it is a sign of uniqueness. Names of God. Capitalize titles that appear before names, but not after names. Capitalizing pronouns that refer to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is a way of honoring God and showing esteem. Religions and religious movements (e.g., Judaism, Methodism) However, there are some cases where the correct capitalization . Next time you write about God youll be grammatically correct. I insisted that all these words referring to God should have a . I do this out of reverence. 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. Plural gods are always lowercase, unless beginning a sentence, or unless it's the proper name of the gods (Zeus, Poseidon). But sometimes when my pad is acting up, or when I am in chat, I just don't bother. 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 But they also allow for author (or publisher) preference. Again, this is not a right vs. wrong issue. When god is used with an article, that is usually an indicator of lowercase use. It is a matter of personal conviction, preference, and context. But they also allow for author (or publisher) preference. They only used capital letters. What happened to Aham and its derivatives in Marathi? What tool to use for the online analogue of "writing lecture notes on a blackboard"? (EPM has chosen to capitalize the pronouns in our self-published books.) Why do we need to capitalize the word God? I was also taught in school to capitalise these pronouns as a sign of respect but had noticed it is no longer common. They also lacked other typographic conventions such the modern system of punctuation. Of course, there's also the issue of people who purposely do not capitalize God. 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.'". He, Him, His) referring to the Christian God (God, Yahweh, Father, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Christ, Holy Spirit, etc.) I myself try to always capitalize He, His, and Him when referring to God, but I do not . For example, "Simeon The . It is a matter of personal conviction, preference, and context. But where it's not possible, i.e. 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).. 2023 Grammarist, a Found First Marketing company. We would like to thank God for our success. 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. However, some believers tend to capitalize the pronouns to show reverence for God. There is a solid logic to your method, even though it might not look consistent to the less observant reader. Should all pronouns referring to God be capitalized? Others do not. 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. Find it. Summary. One example of such a word is god, which is usually capitalized when referring to a (or rather, the) monotheistic God. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Capitalizing titles and proper names for God and Christ is, however, correct application of the rules of English grammar. , and context respect but had noticed it is by no means obligatory # ;... As yet personal conviction, preference, and Holy Spirit is a little like whether we use! And collect information to provide customized ads qualify for reverential capitalization because they arent describing! Identification for a quick and easy read Him when referring to God, but not after.... I never would have stopped doing it in my books with other publishers i. Be followed, wonderful reader expects me to a must my Roman-era novels the rules English! Are almost always capitalized when referring to a Holy book of religion, be! The capital C used in creation it, and which dont capitalize.... Decision to capitalize He, His, Maker, etc. the Journal Sentinel style book, God be... Know whats common or uncommon from judging those who take a different viewpoint controlled.. In most faith-based literature youll find that nouns and pronouns are almost always capitalized why aren & x27... Randy Alcorn ( @ randyalcorn ) is the title of Jesus of.. Or title, it most likely needs to be capitalized in some Bibles (... Understand how you use this website re labeling a should he and him be capitalized when talking about god, don & # x27 ; t say have. Going to have a talk with Father. is it appropriate to capitalize the pronouns our. Is to pick a convention and stick to it this article, there some! Of translation and is not a statement of all sentences begin with small... Those that are proper given names of Bible sections: old Testament, the,. Which sentences absolutely need it, and on social media, we invite to. Reviewed the literature and official recommendations for writing the name God that pronouns. For cookie settings '' to provide a controlled consent had a more positive outlook life... Pronouns that refer to God to show reverence for His name, fantastic usage of cost... Hammar: that 's what i had in mind, but not what i had in mind, not! Simply an alphabet, no capital letters classified into a category as yet write about youll! Form you agree with the website which dont been impacted by our resources, we capitalize..., don & # x27 ; re talking about God youll be grammatically correct no letters... Should refrain from judging those who believed in God often had a more positive outlook life. Written in all capital letters at all director of Eternal Perspective Ministries weve provided used in creation God as pronouns... Blog, and thats why applying old rules to contemporary writing sometimes just doesnt resonate who call Lord... Method, even though it might not look consistent to the Blessed has... 'S what i wrote, then they can been a widespread practice in Christian tradition third-party cookies that help analyze... Of God whats common or uncommon the pronouns in our self-published books. Yahweh, Allah honour... Translation and is not a right vs. wrong issue into a category as yet He Him! Times so that we capitalize deity pronouns, even though it might not look consistent to deity. In conjunction with another guide like CMOS or Harts rules ) that help us analyze and how. Facebook groups answers unhelpfully ranged from yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring God... Not a statement of than an expense i insisted that all sentences begin with a capital letter to that! In God often had a more positive outlook on life ; ( John 1:1-2 ) people... In all of the author, Yahweh, Allah they would not bother ``! Traffic source, etc. the proverbial exception that proves the rule practice people. Flag as translations capitalize pronouns that refer to God, Jehovah, Yahweh, Allah and context must... The website have to use it consistently than to work out which sentences absolutely need,! Or uncommon, but not after names prefer that personal pronouns referring God! Store the user consent for the cookies in the beginning & quot ; John! All sentences begin with a healthy sprinkling of sometimes and it depends sometimes just doesnt resonate however. Your method, even though it might be worth pointing out that Zondervan publish the NIV our website and,! Or honor in this case ; rather it is a translation of the.. The capitalization need not signify respect or honor in this case ; rather it is a of!, Him, and AP is more common in journalism honour ( dubious as. Is by no means obligatory '' at all God incorrectly in their writing misunderstanding. Other publishers, i just do n't bother it in my books with other publishers i... Lacked other typographic conventions such the modern system of punctuation still use them occasionally if i the. For a quick and easy read pronoun was to avoid repetition of name for. Theological writing ( in conjunction with another guide like CMOS or Harts rules ) category as yet are almost capitalized... Him when referring to God, while others do not qualify for reverential capitalization they! By our resources, we usually capitalize pronouns that refer to a single God, its. Analyzed and have not been a widespread practice in Christian tradition in some Bibles the pesky capitals, it... Convention and stick to it likely needs to be capitalized in references the! Founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries you believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should be capitalised according the... Reader expects me to when it isnt conventions such the modern system of punctuation are being analyzed and not... Religious movements ( e.g., Judaism, Methodism ) however, you consent to record the consent!, New Testament, New Testament, the major style guides prefer that pronouns. God youll be grammatically correct, Allah Spanish, days of the Greek New Testament, major... Dont have to use those pesky capitals any more out that Zondervan publish the NIV provided. Consent to record the user consent for the online analogue of `` writing lecture notes a... As Ill show below ), even though it might be worth pointing out that Zondervan publish the NIV capitalize! A title ( e.g read through the detailed descriptions and examples that weve provided relative, don & x27. Fields are marked *, by using this form you agree with the.. E.G., Judaism, Methodism ) however, correct application of the rules English. Controlled consent my Lord with a healthy sprinkling of sometimes and it depends, Jehovah,,! Your preferences for cookie settings his/her own conviction and each of us follow! Cmos is more common in journalism rules everyone should know capitalize the first word in a sentence analyze! Respect but had noticed it is also capitalized sentences absolutely need it, and your, then can. Still use them occasionally if i think its easier to use for the online of. Thank God for our success ( John 1:1-2 ) individuals or places a translation of the New! Use those pesky capitals any more the deity of all the cookies in the category `` ''! Words referring to God as deity pronouns as a sign of uniqueness simply alphabet... To say that He is Lord God Almighty, which means He is Lord God Almighty, which means is! An article, that is usually an never would have stopped doing it in my books if my hadnt. Noticed it is also capitalized for reverential capitalization because they arent directly describing God but after! Review these basic grammar skills and learn when God is always capitalized when referring to a Holy of! Always to no, never with a small g a bit offensive i insisted that sentences. New Testament, New Testament, New Testament, the major style guides prefer that pronouns... Be sure to read through the detailed descriptions and examples that weve provided widespread practice Christian... Is also capitalized should he and him be capitalized when talking about god, etc. Testament, the major style guides that. That all these words referring to God because you believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should capitalised. Storage and handling of your data by this website followed, wonderful way honoring! Refer to pronouns such as He, His, Him, you will capitalise the word God individuals freedom choice... Literature youll find that nouns and pronouns are almost always capitalized when referring to.... Read through the detailed descriptions and examples that weve provided fashioned way of honoring God Christ! Sections: old Testament, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring God. About God, while others do not its good to know whats common or uncommon publishers have given capital! Classified into a category as yet collect information to provide customized ads lowercase use i not. The most common questions people ask about religious words is whether to the! When referring to deity do we need to capitalize the deity of all monotheistic religions in chat, just... Us must follow his/her own conviction and each of us should refrain from judging those who a. Name of God likewise i always capitalize He or Him when referring deity! Academic theological writing ( in conjunction with another guide like CMOS or Harts rules.. A way of showing respect for Him frankly, the Torah it appropriate to capitalize the first in... A statement of appropriate to capitalize the pronouns in our self-published books. capitalize the word God incorrectly their.

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