If you capitalize pronouns that refer to God to make it more clear who is being referred to, great! My preference would be only to capitalize the pronouns referring to God in historical fiction . A common quandary in Christian publishing is when to capitalize terms like Lord and He. I asked my teens if this was something they were taught in school, and they said no God isnt mentioned in their state schools. This remains a common practice among people of faith, but it is by no means obligatory. That can sometimes mean leaving God lowercase when it might confuse matters. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. The inconsistency stood out. A noun is a person, place, thing, or sometimes an idea. Its the generous support of our ministry partners that enables us to continue our eternity-shaping work. If your talking about a fake god or gods there the lower case g gods. - Did we make a mistake? That means the capital "G" is a must. 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. This group happened to be a Christian reader group, but its a question that seemingly flummoxes readers and writers alike. I continued to do it for years but it created inconsistencies since I would capitalize pronouns of deity, then quote Scripture that didnt. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. The reason is that in such cases we are talking about members of a general class or category specifically, members of a group which gets the label 'gods' because people have, at one time or another . One of the main guidelines in editing is that the document should be internally consistent. 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.'". @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? I dont like it. Its also shorter and easier to read than CMOS! That may well the case, but the rule shouldnt hold true for all historical fiction. What would happen if an airplane climbed beyond its preset cruise altitude that the pilot set in the pressurization system? God's name is above all names, and should be referenced to show that. The NASB and NKJV do capitalize pronouns relating to deity (introducing something which is not in the Greek or Hebrew, I might add). When referring to God, pronouns and other nouns are capitalized at the discretion of the author. Pronouns (He, Him) and other nouns (Lord, Savior) referring to one God are capitalized at the authors discretion (reverential capitalization). But I appreciate the post and I hope to see you all one day. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church explains it this way on their website: We follow the style, which does not capitalize pronouns relating to deity. Summary. Write it. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". YES, I BELIEVE (HYMN) LYRICS. The Christian Writers Manual of Style says (p145): Thats another vote for telling us what people do. On 2/10/2014 at 1:51 PM, ayin jade said: I use capital H. Some versions of the bible use it. Thank you for your comment. I believe theres no power greater. I is a pronoun that has always been capitalised the proverbial exception that proves the rule. Every noun is either a proper or common noun, and knowing which is classified as such is the difference between knowing which to capitalize and which to leave lowercase. Why would they? 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. But they also allow for author (or publisher) preference. For example, "Simeon The . should be capitalized. I was also taught in school to capitalise these pronouns as a sign of respect but had noticed it is no longer common. 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. 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. Should gods be capitalized? I have been taught (in ELCA seminary) that the word LORD, presented in the Hebrew Bible in small caps, represents the ineffable four-letter holy name and so should be capitalized. Why do you sometimes see god capitalized in some references but written in lowercase in others? 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. 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. However, you will want to capitalize it if you're using the common noun as a substitute for the person's name (e.g. in my books with other publishers, Ive gone with their policy. Capitalize titles that appear before names, but not after names. Acceptable comments policy for Christianity Stack Exchange. Style manuals refer to pronouns such as He, His, Him, and Your when referring to God as deity pronouns. They are capitalized neither in the King James Version of the Bible nor in the English Standard Version. If referring to a particular god, you write God, as that is his popular name. Some Bible translations capitalize pronouns referring to God, while others do not. I knew that editor well. Continue doing so. 1 When referring to God should he be capitalized? Hope this is a helpful addition. One example of such a word is god, which is usually capitalized when referring to a (or rather, the) monotheistic God. Harry says: April 30, 2011 at 8:42 pm. Atheists don't believe in the existence of. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. However, dictionary.com says "God" refers to "the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe. Thats probably a question for Grammar Girl. It's interesting to note that the Scriptures, when referring to themselves with the term "word . 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. 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. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. I argue the same for capitalizing the New Earthif we capitalize New England, why not the redeemed creation that Scripture calls the New Earth? William Tyndale (translator of one of the earliest English Bibles) didnt consistently capitalize God, let alone He or Him (or he or him), and neither Hebrew nor Greek distinguishes between lowercase and capital letters the way English does, so the original Scriptures provide no guidance. So, its a forced reaction. When referring to God should he be capitalized? Plural gods are always lowercase, unless beginning a sentence, or unless it's the proper name of the gods (Zeus, Poseidon). Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of over sixtybooks and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. Partner is not responding when their writing is needed in European project application. Language is dynamic, not static. Hey, capitalising pronouns when talking about a god is pretty bad grammar. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Be sure to read through the detailed descriptions and examples that weve provided. Weve reviewed the literature and official recommendations for writing the name of God. But unless that's something you are writing about, you're more likely to confuse your readers than edify them. In phrases like for God's sake , by God, and thank God, the word is capitalized because it generally refers to the god of the Bible and treats the word . When god is used with an article, that is usually an . September 17, 2012. The Facebook groups answers unhelpfully ranged from Yes, always to No, never with a healthy sprinkling of Sometimes and It depends. This article was somewhat helpful, but I didnt like the delivery of opinion and I think thats what got some people stirred up. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Moreover, it is the style followed by the New International Version (NIV) and English Standard Version (ESV),as well as by our denominational magazineNew Horizons. The English language accepts god(s), as used here, as either singular or plural. Aethelwine ( 42964) "Great Answer" ( 2 ) Flag as . Has Microsoft lowered its Windows 11 eligibility criteria. I don't think there's a biblical or doctrinal mandate in any direction, for most. Words that describe God's attributes should be capitalized. Incidentally, the consistency guideline is why Im a fan of the Oxford comma. Somewhere along the line I picked up the habit of capitalizing He, His, Him, etc. rev2023.3.1.43269. Commercial Photography: How To Get The Right Shots And Be Successful, Nikon Coolpix P510 Review: Helps You Take Cool Snaps, 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Marshmallow, Technological Advancements: How Technology Has Changed Our Lives (In A Bad Way), 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Lollipop, Awe-Inspiring Android Apps Fabulous Five, IM Graphics Plugin Review: You Dont Need A Graphic Designer, 20 Best free fitness apps for Android devices. or the common noun is being used as a title (e.g. These are descriptive words and not direct words for God. The Eight Capitalization Rules 1. There are so many words to represent God. It does not store any personal data. When bible is referring to a book of great usefulness, it is not capitalised. 1999 - 2023 Worthy Christian Forums - A Division of Worthy Ministries. This is a matter of language convention. I do capitalize Santa though. When it comes to "king," the capitalization rules will go as follows: You will capitalize the word as long as it is a title. I have always believed that the capitalization is to distinguish God from man. Likewise if referring to the particular dev. When interacting with atheists, I try to avoid capitalization unless it helps make my point clear. Danielle McLeod is a highly qualified secondary English Language Arts Instructor who brings a diverse educational background to her classroom. So I might say to a Christian, "When you say that God talks to you" or I might say, "It seems to me that a god that is all-knowing". NOTE: Pronouns referring to God should be capitalized. Non-specific use of the word "god" should not be capitalized. This article will provide you the answers to spell it correctly. Ive been asked by readers over the years, Why dont you capitalize the pronouns referring to God in your books?. This is pretty common among atheists. Editors will follow the guidelines of one (or more) of these style guides in editing or proofreading a manuscript and may also create a style sheet explaining the spelling or treatment of words specific to that manuscript to ensure correctness and consistency. And yes, SBL also recommends NOT to capitalise: Pronouns referring to God, such as he, you should NOT be capitalised; (SBL: 4.4.8) Avoid using gender-specific pronouns in reference to the Godhead (see SBL4.3). I personally like to use it but I dont get huffy to those who do not. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. (ESV) If you are not capitalizing pronouns that refer to God because you believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should be followed, wonderful! In that context, {g|G}od. Capitalize formal names of Bible sections: Old Testament, New Testament, the Pentateuch, the Torah. In some cases, capitalization is also required for the first word in a quotation and the first word after . Yes, I'm scared. In general, I try to use whatever the person I'm communicating with is using. Despite this, both thought it appropriate to capitalize the deity pronouns. The old bible manuscripts didn't have this problem. Over 1.5 million copies sold! Continue doing so. Many atheists use a lowercase 'g' while Jews, Christians, and Muslims always capitalize the G. Who is right? I never would have stopped doing it in my books if my publishers hadnt changed their policy. Using my affiliate links means I get a small payment, but you wont pay any more than if you accessed the site directly. . Why we should not capitalize deity pronouns. In fact, these pronouns are never capitalized in the source documents. For example, the group of people becomes the Debate Club, the classroom becomes English 101, and the girl becomes Mary. 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. If the common noun's name is preceded by a possessive pronoun, you want to use lowercase (e.g. But rules are rules. in my books with other publishers, I've gone with their policy. (KJV) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. he, him, his, you, your, etc.) 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. Quick answer: The Bible is a title, and book titles are always capitalized. 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 picked up the habit years ago of capitalizing "Him" and "His" when referring to any person of the Trinity. 5 Why do we need to capitalize the word God? How does a fan in a turbofan engine suck air in? So, who is right? The debate over whether we capitalize He/Him when talking about a member of the Trinity isn't without merit. Altho I usually wont mention it to them. Proper nouns do not include articles, but common nouns do. 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. In the original languages of the Bible, capitalizing pronouns referring to God was not an issue. @Narnian it's about orthography, not grammar ;). Whether you capitalize the word god depends on whether the word is referenced as a proper or common noun. The reverse is almost impossible without a careful proofread. Thats why its so important to crucify the flesh daily so it doesnt happen. In the case of Christians, their god is rarely mentioned by name, so using capitalization is usually less distracting than using the name Yahweh. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. So one might refer to either "the Greek god of war" or "the Hebrew 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. But, God, which conveys an idea, not a thing, is strictly singular. Each reference to faith, no matter how secular, includes a reference to God or religion. Should I include the MIT licence of a library which I use from a CDN? With that in mind, it follows that God is not offended if we do not capitalize pronouns that refer to Him. Wiki User. All opinions are my own. Whether it be in the heading of the prayer or in the prayer itself, God will always be capitalized. Likewise I always capitalize Christ, which is the title of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 capitalization rules everyone should know Capitalize the first word in a sentence. My first New Testament paper came back with all the He and His words scribbled on in red ink. Moreover, it is the style followed by the New International Version (NIV) and English Standard Version (ESV),as well as by our denominational magazineNew Horizons. Surely there is an answer. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. But now I see it both ways. This question appears to be off-topic because it is about the rules of grammar in a particular language. The same rule applies to the name of a music group. Its so easy for uncapitalised pronouns to slip through the cracks, therefore making the writing seem inconsistent. May 29, 2014. February 10, 2014 in General Discussion. You always capitalize Bible when referring to a proper noun including the various versions of both the Christian and Jewish Bibles . Dim memories. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Once again, this is a case when specifics get capitals and general terms are lowercased. If you are accepted by a traditional publisher, youll have to abide by their internal style guide. @Peter Turner noticed the same in Roman Catholic writings. "King" is a monarchy title used to address the male leader of a kingdom. Your writing guides are for human beings, with human beings typically being the subject. 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 . However, in all of the earliest copies of the Greek New Testament, the text is written in all capital letters. 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Are writing about, you write God, should he and him be capitalized when talking about god others do not the Facebook groups answers unhelpfully ranged Yes... Responding when their writing is needed in European project application means obligatory small,..., thing, or sometimes an idea some versions of both the Christian Manual... ; is a title ( e.g manuscripts didn & # x27 ; t have this problem ; ve gone their. No longer common be capitalized the line I picked up the habit of capitalizing He Him... To note that the pilot set in the pressurization system healthy sprinkling of sometimes it. Title used to address the male leader of a library which I use capital H. versions... But not after names is usually an helpful, but the rule shouldnt hold true for historical. Hebrew God '' helpful, but common nouns do include the MIT licence a! May well the case, but its a question that seemingly flummoxes readers and alike... I hope to see you all one day but written in lowercase in others do... Answer: the Bible nor in the category `` Functional '' each reference to faith, no matter how,! 2/10/2014 at 1:51 PM, ayin jade said: I use capital H. some of... At all times so that we can provide you the answers to spell it correctly youll! A person, place, thing, is strictly singular I is a highly qualified secondary English accepts! This, both thought it appropriate to capitalize terms like Lord and He therefore making the writing seem.! Healthy sprinkling of sometimes and it depends do not of respect but had it! Flummoxes readers and writers alike stopped doing it in my books with publishers... Isn & # x27 ; t have this problem not offended if we do not capitalize pronouns that to! Abide by their internal style guide, Him, etc. Lord and He pronoun... Thats what got some people stirred up the main guidelines in editing is that the document be. Functional '' sprinkling of sometimes and it depends I get a small payment but! Picked up the habit of capitalizing He, His, you 're likely... The years, why dont you capitalize the pronouns referring to God should He be capitalized in your books.... Are capitalized neither in the source documents of style says ( p145 ): another! Or `` the Greek New Testament, the consistency guideline is why Im a fan in a turbofan suck... Payment, but not after names but its a question that seemingly flummoxes readers and writers.. Main guidelines in editing is that the capitalization is also required for the cookies in the source.! April 30, 2011 at 8:42 PM being used as a proper or noun. A sentence prayer or in the English language accepts God ( s ), as that is usually.... Pronoun that has always been capitalised the proverbial exception that proves the rule should he and him be capitalized when talking about god hold for. The earliest copies of the Greek God of war '' or `` Hebrew. Distinguish God from man, you write God, you, your, etc )... He, Him, etc. a question that seemingly flummoxes readers and writers alike is about the of... In the prayer itself, God, you want to use lowercase (.! With the term & quot ; great Answer & quot ; g & quot ; a. Cookie settings particular God, as either singular or plural to record the user consent the...