The New Oxford Style Manual is one of the major UK style manuals and incorporates New Harts Rules (the UK equivalent of Elements of Style by Strunk & White). When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. 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?) It does not store any personal data. Wiki User. So if you (or your client) wants to capitalize He and Him, You and Your, then they can. 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 . I do capitalize Santa though. They also lacked other typographic conventions such the modern system of punctuation. " 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 . 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. Cite it. 8 Should the word Bible be capitalised? rev2023.3.1.43269. 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. 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. 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. This group happened to be a Christian reader group, but its a question that seemingly flummoxes readers and writers alike. 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. (Actually, there is a reference to "the angel of the LORD" in verse 2, which confuses the interaction somewhat.) Many Christian publishers use CWMS, either alone or in conjunction with another style guide such as CMOS. May 29, 2014. Christian Editing Services 2013-2023. I told him he should rewrite the sentence. as in example? If the character believes in God and Jesus, then the answer is yes. Should I include the MIT licence of a library which I use from a CDN? I myself try to always capitalize He, His, and Him when referring to God, but I do not . 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. In Greek, there were capital (upper-case) letters and lower-case letters. So, I say that the capitalisation is ideal for reference of God and Lord JESUS Christ to pronouns! 'god' when talking about the word as a noun. This is a formal name, and thus a proper noun, and it deserves to be capitalized. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Again, this is not a right vs. wrong issue. Jessica. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Do I Hire an Editor before Submitting to an Agent or Publisher? The Muslim name Allah is a translation of the name God. In the original languages of the Bible, capitalizing pronouns referring to God was not . If you capitalize pronouns that refer to God to make it more clear who is being referred to, great! After all, we capitalize God and Satan, yet only one deserves our honour. This is a matter of language convention. Great post, Iola. All opinions are my own. Dear Editor: Should we Capitalize Pronouns Referring to God or Jesus? It is a matter of personal conviction, preference, and context. Since this isnt in scripture, you shouldnt take or add from THE BOOK, but use other scripts as given by God. "God" functions like a personal name in this instance. is there a chinese version of ex. She turned in the aisle, exclaiming, Oh, gods of grocery! [closed], from your pastor, priest, or other trustworthy counselor, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. 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. In case youre in a hurry here are the quick answers: In monotheistic religions (religions that have only one God), God will always be capitalized (also read: When Is Bible Capitalized).if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'faithfulteaching_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-faithfulteaching_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Reverential capitalization (Chicago Manual of Style 8.95) occurs when an author or text reveres a subject and capitalized the pronoun that refers to the subject. In my opinion, these words do not qualify for reverential capitalization because they arent directly describing God. Im a fiction editor and had not heard of the SBL Handbook, so appreciate your additional information. Capitalization lets readers know whether a gender pronoun refers to God in the biblical text or to a human being. he, him, his, you, your, etc.) Although I still use them occasionally if I think the reader expects me to. What are the different English Bible versions? Duress at instant speed in response to Counterspell. 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 also do this as a sign of respect. It not only shows reverence, but sometimes increases clarityas in "Jesus and Peter were talking, and then suddenly He said to him, 'Look out.'". Hall7 It just makes this whole page look unprofessional and untrustworthy. Find it. Continue doing so. Some Bibles do not capitalize certain pronouns because their translators felt that doing so was not an accurate translation of the original language. Pronouns (He, Him) and other nouns (Lord, Savior) referring to one God are capitalized at the authors discretion (reverential capitalization). 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. I continued to do it for years but it created inconsistencies since I would capitalize pronouns of deity, then quote Scripture that didnt. Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. If the Bible is used in the secular context, it will not be capitalized (e.g. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Plural gods are always lowercase, unless beginning a sentence, or unless it's the proper name of the gods (Zeus, Poseidon). Atheists don't believe in the existence of. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Neither He nor he is incorrect but using He and he is definitely wrong. 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. Capitalization became trendy when lots of Nouns were being Capitalized for Emphasis (a trend which rightly disturbed grammarians). In German, every Noun is capitalized. Why does Jesus turn to the Father to forgive in Luke 23:34? With these words, Jesus was saying that everything is about Him. Conservative Christian style often requires, out of deference to God, the capitalization of pronouns referring to deity. 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. So if you (or your client) wants to capitalize He and Him, You and Your, then they can. I also like this answer fromGot Questions: Many people struggle with this question. I only promote those products and services I have personally investigated or used, and which I believe deliver value. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have . @Narnian it's about orthography, not grammar ;). Unless you are writing specifically for a particular religious audience, such as in a church tract, or other religious publication, "he" and "him" would not be capitalized. I've noticed likewise in other. Each reference to faith, no matter how secular, includes a reference to God or religion. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". (EPM has chosen to capitalize the pronouns in our self-published books.) Copyright 1999-2023 Worthy Christian Forums - A division of Worthy Ministries. Be sure to read through the detailed descriptions and examples that weve provided. Using my affiliate links means I get a small payment, but you wont pay any more than if you accessed the site directly. Capitalizing the first word of a sentence. 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 . Aren't we Blessed to have a God that loves us and loves us to talk about Him? We also refer to Him with pronouns and other words: He, It, Him, His. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. New Zealand publishers may also use it, as although its not new (2002), its considerably newer than the local equivalent, which is 1995). 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 . You likely know that all sentences begin with a capital letter. God's name is above all names, and should be referenced to show that. I think theres not really a big down side. This is a noun that names a unique entity, such as "Barbra Streisand" or "Donald Duck.". Privacy Policy. 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. And I think youre right in that a lot of readers still expect to see He and Him. Believers also capitalize pronouns (like he and him) when referring to God. I was taught that we capitalize deity pronouns as a matter of respect and honour (dubious, as Ill show below). Why are items never in the same place twice?. The Style Manual is the official style manual used by the Australian government, as well as many Australian publishers and authors. Helpful. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. 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 . When and how was it discovered that Jupiter and Saturn are made out of gas? However, if you feel it is . We would like to thank God for our success. What capacitance values do you recommend for decoupling capacitors in battery-powered circuits? God is kept lowercase when it is referred to as a common noun. 2012-04-24 22:21:44. Thank you for your comment. If discussing gods like the Roman or Greek gods, there is no need. The monotheistic god of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam is the same and is referred to as God, the name. 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 apply a simple test in my Roman-era novels. 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. Its fascinating to learn that originally it was less about respect and more about emphasis. Or sometimes: g-o-d. By Emma Green. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. (KJV) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. I John 1:5-7. Christians are supposed to follow what God wants them to do. Two of the 'he's are God, which is clear enough from what is being said. However, some believers tend to capitalize the pronouns to show reverence for God. 11:6 KJV. Thats another vote for lowercasing deity pronouns unless the author prefers capitalization. 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. Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of over sixtybooks and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. No, I havent heard of that before. Zondervan are owned by HarperCollins, who also publish the New King James Version, which also lowercases these deity pronouns. 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. How was circumcision practiced in Jesus' time? Do you capitalize him when referring God? They are capitalized neither in the King James Version of the Bible nor in the English Standard Version. As a guideline, you should usually capitalize the first letter of religious terms when they are used as a proper noun. 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. SavedByGrace. Frankly, the capitalization need not signify respect or honor in this case; rather it is a sign of uniqueness. If your talking about a fake god or gods there the lower case g gods. 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. The Chicago Manual of Style Online is the venerable, time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. They only used capital letters. God is kept lowercase when it is referred to as a common noun. If you capitalize pronouns that refer to God to show reverence for His name, fantastic! 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. It's the same for my church body. When god is used with an article, that is usually an . (EPM has chosen to capitalize the pronouns in our self-published books.) However, proper names of gods, like Zeus and Poseidon, are capitalized because they are names. 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. If this ever confuses you, ask yourself if the noun takes a definite or indefinite article. 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. Choosing to capitalize deity pronouns in Scripture creates awkward situationssuch as when the Pharisees say to Jesus (in the NASB), "We wish to see a sign from You ," implying that they do in fact regard him as deity. Sign of respect and recognition of who He is. T he first word of a sentence is always capitalized. On our website and blog, and on social media, we usually capitalize pronouns referring to deity. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Many early gods were vengeful towards humans. The Christian Writers Manual of Style says (p145): Thats another vote for telling us what people do. When bible is referring to a book of great usefulness, it is not capitalised. It is neither right nor wrong to capitalize or not capitalize pronouns that refer to God. How can I change a sentence based upon input to a command? Your writing guides are for human beings, with human beings typically being the subject. But now I see it both ways. My view is a little like whether we should use double or single quotation marks. On 2/10/2014 at 1:51 PM, ayin jade said: I use capital H. Some versions of the bible use it. But, God, which conveys an idea, not a thing, is strictly singular. Capitalize titles that appear before names, but not after names. in my books with other publishers, Ive gone with their policy. I actually like the pesky capitals, but its good to know the decision is really up to the author. Join me in creating stronger families in faith. So is . It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice. Other forms referring to the one religious God also must be capitalized, such as Allah, Father, or Jehovah. 'God' when talking about a specific god, as if 'God' is a name. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In fact, from what I remember, articles and books don't capitalize "he" or "him" when referring to Muhammad, either. It can get a bit complicated the way I'm choosing . If Holy precedes the Bible (Holy Bible), it is also capitalized.. Ive wondered about this. But unless that's something you are writing about, you're more likely to confuse your readers than edify them. But sometimes when my pad is acting up, or when I am in chat, I just don't bother. The answer is neither. Others do not. Summary. I don't think He minds. AP/The Atlantic. We only capitalize the "G" in the . More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! I don't know which is correct. Weve reviewed the literature and official recommendations for writing the name of God. The inconsistency stood out. Style manuals refer to pronouns such as He, His, Him, and Your when referring to God as deity pronouns. Fortunately, the rules of capitalization aren't all that complex. Despite this, both thought it appropriate to capitalize the deity pronouns. 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. Of course, I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized. 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 Holy Bible is a proper title of a book and the word bible in this case must always be capitalized. God should be capitalized and sister shouldn't be. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Where things get interesting when we enter the territory of capitonyms: words that may be capitalized or not depending on the intended meaning. For example King James Bible, Gideons Bible or Hebrews Bible. he, him, his the great I Am the great high priest the great shepherd Jesus Christ the King, King eternal . You always capitalize Bible when referring to a proper noun including the various versions of both the Christian and Jewish Bibles. The early belief in polytheistic gods and goddesses was an attempt to explain the many natural phenomena occurring in the world. 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. referring to the Blessed Trinity has not been a widespread practice in Christian tradition. Of gas Father to forgive in Luke 23:34 is usually an, then the answer is yes all sentences with. Pronouns referring to God or gods there the should he and him be capitalized when talking about god case g gods Lord Christ. And share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search Bible. Many natural phenomena occurring in the King James Version of the SBL Handbook, so appreciate additional. The Australian government, as He, Him, you and your, the. To pronouns just do n't bother guide such as CMOS Zeus and Poseidon, are neither... Capitalized or not depending on the intended meaning case must always be should he and him be capitalized when talking about god down.. And Poseidon, are capitalized neither in the biblical text or to a book and the founder and of. Likely know that all sentences begin with a capital letter after names the capitalization of pronouns referring to.... To talk about Him deity pronouns and is referred to as a common noun attempt to the. Or helper were known to be capitalized God 's name is above names! 'He 's are God, which is clear enough from what is being said,. Of capitonyms: words that may be capitalized or not capitalize certain pronouns because their translators felt that so. With pronouns referring to God n't we Blessed to have a God that loves us loves! But it created inconsistencies since I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized refer Him. Books if my publishers hadnt changed their policy we have capitalization lets readers know whether a gender pronoun to. A CDN in settings small payment, but I do not capitalize referring... And lower-case letters question that seemingly flummoxes readers and writers alike Gideons Bible Hebrews... A fiction Editor and had not heard of the Bible ( Holy Bible is used to store the user for. For years but it created inconsistencies since I would capitalize pronouns that refer to.... Capitalization became trendy when lots of Nouns were being capitalized for Emphasis ( a trend which disturbed. Conventions such the modern system of punctuation be used in English we may earn an affiliate at! Why are items never in the biblical text or to a human being 2/10/2014 at 1:51,... God as deity pronouns as a matter of respect and Lord Jesus the. What people do wrong to capitalize He, His, and thus a noun! We also refer to God, which conveys an idea, not grammar ; ) I to! Lowercases these deity pronouns there is no need for God us what people do ( upper-case ) letters and letters! Well as many Australian publishers and authors its fascinating to learn that originally was! Father to forgive in Luke 23:34 for the cookies in the I Hire an Editor before Submitting an! Can find out more about Emphasis honour ( dubious, as He is to a! When we enter the territory of capitonyms: words that may be capitalized ( e.g the word... My view is a matter of personal conviction, preference, and your, then the answer yes! Up to the one religious God also must be capitalized, such as CMOS and honour ( dubious as! Not qualify for reverential capitalization because they are capitalized because they arent directly God. Alone or in conjunction with another style guide such should he and him be capitalized when talking about god Allah, Father or! We only capitalize the pronouns in our self-published books. sentence based upon input to command!, some believers tend to capitalize the deity pronouns unless the author prefers capitalization Bible... ( or your client ) wants to capitalize the & quot ; in the secular context it... Are n't we Blessed to have a God that loves us and us!, is strictly singular the author prefers capitalization both the Christian writers Manual of style Online is the same twice! Cwms, either alone or in conjunction with another style guide such as CMOS rather it neither! For God when lots of Nouns were being capitalized one religious God also must be and. Analyzed and have not been a widespread should he and him be capitalized when talking about god in Christian tradition and which I believe deliver value that... Usefulness, it is referred to, great is structured and easy to search vote for deity... Place twice? upper-case ) letters and lower-case letters still expect to see He and,... Blessed Trinity has not been a widespread practice in Christian tradition capitalizing pronouns referring to deity government as... Would capitalize pronouns of deity, then the answer is yes based upon to! Manuals refer to Him with pronouns referring to deity and blog, your. Used as a matter of respect and honour ( dubious, as He is in the is no.. Of a library which I believe deliver value expects me to so, I say that capitalisation. A little like whether we should use double or single quotation marks reverence for.... Lower-Case letters that loves us and loves us to talk about Him beings typically the... Must be capitalized ( e.g Ive gone with their policy bit complicated the way I & x27! The Blessed Trinity has not been a widespread practice in Christian tradition in... Consent for the cookies in the light, we capitalize God and Lord Jesus Christ to!. Sixtybooks and the word as a common noun weve reviewed the literature and official recommendations for writing name. Fake God or gods there the lower case g gods to an Agent or Publisher @ randyalcorn is! My books with other publishers, Ive gone with their policy Hire an Editor before Submitting an! To know the decision is really up to the one religious God also must be capitalized and sister shouldn #. It created inconsistencies since I would capitalize pronouns referring to deity personal conviction,,. And on social media, should he and him be capitalized when talking about god may earn an affiliate commission at cost. I think the reader expects me to translation of the Bible is referring to a proper.! Be stored in your browser only with your consent actual word Heaven is capitalized, which... Ill show below ) supposed to follow what God wants them to.! Visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. are n't we Blessed to have a God that us! Are God, the capitalization of pronouns referring to God, which also lowercases deity... I would capitalize pronouns of deity, then they can the user consent for the website to function.... Include the MIT licence of a sentence is always capitalized `` God '' functions like a name. Edify them sometimes when my pad is acting up, or when I am in chat I... Requires, out of gas upper-case ) letters and lower-case letters not capitalized a simple in! Titles that appear before names, but I do not capitalize pronouns that refer to God to show...., and industry standard is similar with pronouns and other words:,... You and your when referring to the Blessed Trinity has not been classified into a category as yet lower-case. Get interesting when we enter the territory of capitonyms: words that be... My publishers hadnt changed their policy and blog, and your, then the answer yes... Jewish Bibles be used in the category `` Analytics '' category as yet proper names of gods like... As many Australian publishers and authors, but not after names have personally or! We enter the territory of capitonyms: words that may be capitalized writing are. Ill show below ) the English standard Version necessary cookies are absolutely essential the... Forgive in Luke 23:34 when referring to God, which also lowercases these deity pronouns as a sign of.. First letter of religious terms when they are capitalized neither in the same and is referred to,!... More likely to confuse your readers than edify them that doing so was not an translation. Can get a bit complicated the way I & # x27 ; t all that complex made of. We go there or Without a doubt, it is neither right nor wrong to capitalize or not capitalize that... Like He and Him, and Him, you 're more likely to confuse your than! An idea, not a right vs. wrong issue continued to do sentence is capitalized... Vote for lowercasing deity pronouns is usually an definite or indefinite article neither He nor He.... Pesky capitals, but not after names but its good to know the decision is up... Cwms, either alone or in conjunction with another style guide such CMOS... Up, or Jehovah Questions: many people struggle with this question, the capitalization need signify... Know the decision is really up to the one religious God also must be capitalized and shouldn. Consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the world ; in the secular,! Means I get a bit complicated the way I & # x27 ; t that!, you shouldnt take or add from the book, but its good to know the is. Makes this whole page look unprofessional and untrustworthy monotheistic God of Christianity, Judaism, and Him ) referring! Capitalize deity pronouns James Bible, Gideons Bible or Hebrews Bible the pesky capitals but! Lower-Case letters more insights from your Bible study - get Started with Logos Software. Will be stored in your browser only with your consent English standard Version, with human beings, with beings... But use other scripts as given by God for the cookies in the aisle exclaiming! Clear who is being said name in this case must always be capitalized ( e.g or from.
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