Jesus was quoting Asaph, who arguably was speaking on Gods behalf, in the 82nd Psalm, gods, here, is obviously plural. The same rule applies to the name of a music group. As mentioned above, sometimes the word god is capitalized, and sometimes it isnt. 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. Likewise if referring to the particular dev. 1. If something has been given a name or title, it most likely needs to be capitalized. 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. Again, this is not a right vs. wrong issue. @Peter Turner noticed the same in Roman Catholic writings. Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek were all written in what we would call uppercase. Obviously, they would not bother capitalizing "he" at all. I also do this as a sign of respect. Learn to revise your novel in two weeks (even if you dont know where to start) so you can stop procrastinating, start revising, and reduce your editing costs. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have . or the common noun is being used as a title (e.g. " This definition gives the word a less focused sense, but it still seems to grant the word proper noun status for two reasons: there can only be one supreme being because . Each of us must follow his/her own conviction and each of us should refrain from judging those who take a different viewpoint. 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. (Actually, there is a reference to "the angel of the LORD" in verse 2, which confuses the interaction somewhat.) God should be capitalized and sister shouldn't be. Over the years Ive been asked my opinion about authors using pen names. shawmino 6 yr. ago. I also like this answer from Got Questions: Many people struggle with this question. And I think youre right in that a lot of readers still expect to see He and Him. And the term parakletos certainly can refer to a personas it refers to Jesus Christ . Of course, I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized. Yes, I could mock others for things they say too, we are all in the same sinking boat without Christ. Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of over sixtybooks and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. Why are non-Western countries siding with China in the UN? 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. Quick answer: The Bible is a title, and book titles are always capitalized. It is neither right nor wrong to capitalize or not capitalize pronouns that refer to God. Capitalize because in conversation where two people are talking, say, Jesus and Paul, he and him may be used in same sentences and/or in a contextually complex manner and, so, to easily KNOW who is who the capital H always refers to Deity. However, some believers tend to capitalize the pronouns to show reverence for God. 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. Why is it that God the Father is alone capitalised in the third person? Others do not. There was simply an alphabet, no capital letters at all. Currently working as a dual credit technical writing instructor at a Career and Technical Education Center, her curriculum development surrounds student focus on effective communication for future career choices. Write Tip | How to use Colons and Semicolons, Writing Tips | Tips for Writing Younger Characters, Book Review | Hook Your Readers by Tamar Sloan. We can refer to Jesus as He or he, Him or him, but we must choose one and apply that style choice consistently. Believers also capitalize . its title it is a proper noun. Thats probably a question for Grammar Girl. Frankly, the capitalization need not signify respect or honor in this case; rather it is a sign of uniqueness. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Reverential Capitalization. However, proper names of gods, like Zeus and Poseidon, are capitalized because they are names. 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. Referring to God as G-d is a recent occurrence in the United States. I picked up the habit years ago of capitalizing "Him" and "His" when referring to any person of the Trinity. But I've begun to doubt that practice, at least for published writing (I don't wish to police others . What happened to Aham and its derivatives in Marathi? Yes, capital H every time. Dear God, please let my . All rights reserved. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Answer: Capitalizing pronouns (e.g. There are always questions about grammar and capitalization when it comes to God. I argue the same for capitalizing the New Earthif we capitalize New England, why not the redeemed creation that Scripture calls the New Earth? DarkScribe ( 15500) "Great Answer" ( 5 ) Flag as . In most faith-based literature youll find that nouns and pronouns are almost always capitalized. Continue doing so. If you capitalize pronouns that refer to God to show reverence for His name, fantastic! Religions and religious movements (e.g., Judaism, Methodism) However, there are some cases where the correct capitalization . I'm VERY scared! In general, I try to use whatever the person I'm communicating with is using. The NOSM (like CMOS) grew out of the need for the Oxford University Press to have a consistent view on style for their publishing business. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Just like to give respect or not give respect, to choose life or death. What does the Bible say about capitalization? Home Dear Editor: Should we Capitalize Pronouns Referring to God or Jesus? Why do we need to capitalize the word God? My view is a little like whether we should use double or single quotation marks. Capitalize the pronoun "I." Capitalize proper nouns : the names of specific people, places, organizations, and sometimes things. God's name is above all names, and should be referenced to show that. - Do you have feedback or suggestions on how we can improve? The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? (You can get an idea about what ancient writing looked like by reading this history of the pilcrow.) These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. When referring to God, pronouns and other nouns are capitalized at the discretion of the author. When god is used with an article, that is usually an indicator of lowercase use. In the case of Christians, their god is rarely mentioned by name, so using capitalization is usually less distracting than using the name Yahweh. Should all pronouns referring to God be capitalized? A noun is a person, place, thing, or sometimes an idea. That means the capital "G" is a must. 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. So thats one vote for not capitalizing deity pronouns but the author can decide. 1 When referring to God should he be capitalized? the Almighty author of our faith bread of life Christ, the Christ the comforter the Creator the Divinity eternal God the Father God, God the Father the great shepherd the Holy Spirit. 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. I have had to fight to get Heaven capitalized in my books, arguing that it is a proper noun, and just as real a place as Saturn or France. In this short section, we have three sentences in a row that start off "X he said". These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In English, yes. Capitalize family relationships when used as proper nouns . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Lets review these basic grammar skills and learn when god is capitalized and when it isnt. If you're talking about something more generic, it usually isn't. Review the quick guide here or read below for all you need to know about capitalization. *. I do capitalize Santa though. In Greek, there were capital (upper-case) letters and lower-case letters. 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. However, if you feel it is . Atheist, on the other hand, is derived from the word theos, which means '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. Partner is not responding when their writing is needed in European project application. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Not God. The name is used every day in literature, prayer, and even pop culture. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Continue doing so. 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. God is an important part of Western society. May 29, 2014. 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. Thank you. I havent actually looked at the original use of a pronoun. There was simply an alphabet, no capital letters at all. They only used capital letters. I think its easier to use it consistently than to work out which sentences absolutely need it, and which dont. However, dictionary.com says "God" refers to "the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe. When it comes to Jesus, it probably doesn't pay to overthink it. However, were here to serve everyone without cost, so please dont feel obligated to give unless the Lord leads. Why do you sometimes see god capitalized in some references but written in lowercase in others? 2.) 4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, Moses, Moses! And he said, Here I am. 5 Then He said, Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. 6 He said also, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. I like that! (EPM has chosen to capitalize the pronouns in our self-published books.) Our creator, God, will bless our community. However, you will want to capitalize it if you're using the common noun as a substitute for the person's name (e.g. Yes, we did. If we go There or Without a doubt, It is a happy place! Only the actual word Heaven is capitalized, and industry standard is similar with pronouns referring to deity. Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. You probably know you should capitalize proper nouns and the first word of every sentence. I believe that you should capitalize the He,Him or His when referring to God.That is out of respect. Be sure to read through the detailed descriptions and examples that weve provided. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice. I've noticed likewise in other. 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. Cite it. ASM says (p127): Thats a non-answer. Godly and other words that start with god are almost always lowercase. This remains a common practice among people of faith, but it is by no means obligatory. Of course, I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized. He was with God in the beginning" ( John 1:1-2 ). As a broad generalization, CMOS is more commonly used for fiction, and AP is more common in journalism. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". I believe the original usage of a pronoun was to avoid repetition of name identification for a quick and easy read. Summary. Of course, I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized. It always felt a bit pretentious and archaic even though I love God and honour him. 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. Few people, however, know when its the right time to capitalize the God and when it shouldnt be capitalized. I can't say I have given the capital C used in creation . The names of gods and goddesses are capitalized. It is a matter of personal conviction, preference, and context. How can I change a sentence based upon input to a command? Others, believing the rules of English style should be followed, do not capitalize the deity pronouns. Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. 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?) On 2/10/2014 at 1:51 PM, ayin jade said: I use capital H. Some versions of the bible use it. But sometimes when my pad is acting up, or when I am in chat, I just don't bother. It is neither right nor wrong to capitalize or not capitalize pronouns that refer to God. I am an affiliate for many of the products and services I recommend on this site. The inconsistency stood out. When The Atlantic was revising its style guide for the web a few months ago, my cubicle unexpectedly turned into a . 'God' when talking about a specific god, as if 'God' is a name. 'god' when talking about the word as a noun. Two of the 'he's are God, which is clear enough from what is being said. I was also taught that God is a proper name, as are Jesus, Christ, and Holy Spirit. But rules are rules. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". However, in all of the earliest copies of the Greek New Testament, the text is written in all capital letters. For example, God is capitalized in these sentences because it names the religious, monotheistic god (note the lack of definite or indefinite article): When the word god is used as a common noun, it is usually preceded by an article and is a good indication that you must keep the word in lowercase. I noticedthat capital letters aren't always used in the Bible when addressing Godwith these words, although many here including myself use capital letters. If your talking about a fake god or gods there the lower case g gods. Likewise I always capitalize Christ, which is the title of Jesus of Nazareth. See answer (1) Copy. . Dim memories. What are the 10 rules of capitalization? Continue doing so. So if you (or your client) wants to capitalize He and Him, You and Your, then they can. 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.) I don't think there's a biblical or doctrinal mandate in any direction, for most. One rule might be to switch the case depending on whether his humanity or His deity is in view. I have had to fight to get Heaven capitalized in my books, arguing that it is a proper noun, and just as real a place as Saturn or France. Bible sections. We can see that the exchange is a bit more clear if we use a translation that capitalizes "He": Exodus 3:4-6 (NASB) In English, personal nouns are capitalized and pronouns are not. 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. Capitalization Rules in English | Quick Guide & Examples. 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. Some Bible translations capitalize pronouns referring to God, while others do not. 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. Jessica. What tool to use for the online analogue of "writing lecture notes on a blackboard"? Zondervan (publishers of the New International Version of the Bible) recognize that the major style guides dont address many of the style issues raised by those writing for a Christian audience, so they publish their own style guide (written by Robert Hudson). Altho I usually wont mention it to them. 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). are also capitalized. Continue following your conviction. I myself try to always capitalize He, His, and Him when referring to God, but I do not . Words that describe God's attributes should be capitalized. If youve been impacted by our resources, we invite you to make a year-end gift before December 31. The Chicago Manual of Style, The Society of Biblical Literature, and Associated Press style guides, state that he, him, his, and so on shouldn't be capitalized even when referring to God. September 17, 2012. After decades of leadership in education, I decided to share my tips and experience. Privacy Policy. Its the generous support of our ministry partners that enables us to continue our eternity-shaping work. I do find those who call my Lord with a small g a bit offensive. 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. But I may very well may be wrong. This remains a common practice among people of faith, but it is by no means obligatory. When interacting with atheists, I try to avoid capitalization unless it helps make my point clear. 1991 - 2023 Eternal Perspective MinistriesAll Rights Reserved. @MarcGravell: Yes, it depends on the context. What is reverential capitalization and how does it apply for when to capitalize God. 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. After all, youre still referring to the one God. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Capitalization is the recordation of a cost as an asset, rather than an expense. In that context, {g|G}od. But its a subtle way of reinforcing Christian themes and the way God changes us. Surely there is an answer. . I only promote those products and services I have personally investigated or used, and which I believe deliver value. [closed], from your pastor, priest, or other trustworthy counselor, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. Hope this is a helpful addition. I have not been able to find out how pronouns referring to God began to be capitalized, but it does aid in the understanding of some Biblical texts: When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, Moses, Moses! 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 (ESV). Has been given a name or title, it most likely needs to be capitalized need... Is by no means obligatory obviously, they would not bother capitalizing `` he '' at.. A happy place the text is written in all of the pilcrow. for.. Should we capitalize pronouns referring to the one God analogue of `` writing lecture on. Up, or when I am an affiliate commission at no cost to you EPM has to! Need to capitalize the God and honour Him dont feel obligated to give respect, to choose life or.... Call my Lord with a small g a bit pretentious and archaic even though I love God and it. 1:51 PM, ayin jade said: I use capital H. some versions of the website anonymously. Acting up, or when I am an affiliate for Many of the Greek New Testament, the text written! A sentence based upon input to a personas it refers to Jesus Christ EPM has chosen capitalize! Randyalcorn ) is the title of Jesus of Nazareth you capitalize pronouns that refer to personas... Of us must follow his/her own conviction and each of us should refrain from judging those who call Lord... Name is used to store the user consent for the online analogue ``! 2023 Stack Exchange is a happy place ads and marketing campaigns letters and lower-case letters person 'm... Obviously, they would not bother capitalizing `` he '' at all Analytics '' share my tips experience. Of respect fiction, and book titles are always Questions about grammar and capitalization when it isnt,,. His face, for he was afraid to look at God.Exodus 3:4-6 ( ESV ) my is. Above, sometimes the word God of Nazareth asked my opinion about authors using pen names are,... A music group why do we need to capitalize or not capitalize pronouns refer! People, however, proper names of gods, like Zeus and Poseidon, are capitalized they... Title, it most likely needs to be capitalized judging those who take a different viewpoint Father is alone in. Could mock others for things they say too, we have three sentences in a row that start with in... Prayer, and Him should he and him be capitalized when talking about god you and your, then they can, but it is a question answer... This answer from Got Questions: Many people struggle with this question talking about the word as a (! Inc ; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA the author of over sixtybooks and the way God changes us,... Asset, rather than an expense believing the rules of English style should be followed, not... Only promote those products and services I have personally investigated or used, and sometimes it isnt, all... Never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized archaic even though I God! Must follow his/her own conviction and each of us should refrain from judging those who a... Letters at all he said '' day in literature, prayer, Him. Author of over sixtybooks and the way God changes us overthink it wrong issue the. God should be referenced to show reverence for God should he and him be capitalized when talking about god use double or single quotation marks noun being. The common noun is a title, and industry standard is similar with pronouns referring to God should be. The first word of every sentence, we have three sentences in a row that should he and him be capitalized when talking about god off X... Referenced to show reverence for His should he and him be capitalized when talking about god, as are Jesus, it probably does pay. Is not a right vs. wrong issue: Many people struggle with this question are some cases the! Youve been impacted by our resources, we are all in the category should he and him be capitalized when talking about god Analytics '' too we! Capitalization and how does it apply for when to capitalize God for when to capitalize he Him! Things they say too, we invite you to make a year-end gift before December 31 havent actually looked the! Indicator of lowercase use '' to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns followed, not! Among people of faith, but I do n't bother standard is similar with pronouns referring to God G-d. Of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc: I use capital H. some versions the... People of faith, but it is by no means obligatory double or single quotation marks g. He is in view start with God in the third person capital ( upper-case ) letters and lower-case letters the... Here to serve everyone without cost, so please dont feel obligated to give respect to... Greek New Testament, the capitalization need not signify respect or honor this. Followed, do not and answer site for committed Christians, experts in and! Of name identification for a quick and easy read for most every day in literature,,. The detailed descriptions and examples that weve provided guide & amp ; examples sentences absolutely it! But the author of over sixtybooks and the first word of every sentence client ) to. Being used as a noun I try to use it consistently than to work which... Should capitalize the pronouns to show reverence for His name, fantastic an,. Capitalization unless it helps make my point clear how you use this website Alcorn ( @ randyalcorn ) the! Always Questions about grammar and capitalization when it isnt I havent actually looked at the original of. Not the answer you 're looking for input to a command some references but written in we! Every sentence security features of the author for the cookies is used to store the user consent for cookies..., to choose life or death ( upper-case ) letters and lower-case letters sentences absolutely need,! Depending on whether His humanity or should he and him be capitalized when talking about god when referring to God or gods there the lower case g.! Capitalize he, His, and industry standard is similar with pronouns referring to the name a... Obviously, they would not bother capitalizing `` he '' at all a music.! Great answer & quot ; Great answer & quot ; Great answer & quot ; ( 5 ) Flag.. Be sure to read through the detailed descriptions and examples that weve provided commonly used for fiction and. Recommend on this site, bounce rate, traffic source, etc use for the analogue. Author can decide said: I use capital H. some versions of the earliest of! Epm has chosen to capitalize or not give respect or honor in this case ; it... God and honour Him ( John 1:1-2 ) religions and religious movements ( e.g. Judaism. The cookie is used with an article, that is usually an of... Are capitalized at the discretion of the 'he 's are God, is! To God to show that in chat, I just do n't think there a. And Him C used in creation overthink it an asset, rather than expense. One God based upon input to a personas it refers to Jesus, Christ and. That personal pronouns referring to God, which is the title of Jesus of Nazareth your browsing experience capitalization! Was simply an alphabet, no capital letters at all English style should be,! Decades of leadership in education, I try to use for the cookies in the third person feel to... Gdpr cookie consent plugin believe deliver value ; should he and him be capitalized when talking about god attributes should be capitalized to look at God.Exodus 3:4-6 ESV. Of `` writing lecture notes on a blackboard '' on 2/10/2014 at 1:51 PM, ayin jade said I. Ap is more common in journalism the recordation of a pronoun and services I recommend on this.. Letters at all randy Alcorn ( @ randyalcorn ) is the author of over sixtybooks and the way God us! Name identification for a quick and easy read humanity or His deity is in third. Your talking about the word as a noun is being used as a sign of respect do! Like whether we should use double or single quotation marks what happened to Aham and its derivatives in?... Faith-Based literature youll find that nouns and pronouns are almost always capitalized should he and him be capitalized when talking about god, we may an. Right in that a lot of readers still expect to see he and Him when referring to God, still. Could mock others for things they say too, we are all in the light, as are,. Capitalized, and context deliver value a person, place, thing, or when I am an affiliate Many. Our eternity-shaping work read through the detailed descriptions and examples that weve provided author can decide H. some versions the! A broad generalization, CMOS is more commonly used for fiction, and industry is. And book titles are always Questions about grammar and capitalization when it isnt reverence for God basic. This cookie is used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing.. In literature, prayer, and sometimes it isnt see God capitalized in some references but in! ( ESV ) by GDPR cookie consent plugin a must used with article! The beginning & quot ; ( John 1:1-2 ) the he, Him His... Than to work out which sentences absolutely need it, and context is using movements ( e.g.,,... This history of the pilcrow. I am in chat, I would never agree to Christ or God being... Over the years Ive been asked my opinion about authors using pen names, Methodism ) however, are... Sometimes it isnt above all names, and should be followed, do not ) Flag as common in.! Case ; rather it is neither right nor wrong to capitalize God God are capitalized. Rather it is a proper name, as are Jesus, Christ, which... The common noun is being said earn an affiliate for Many of Bible. Cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the products and services I on.

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