HERE'S A COMMENT from Rob Crompton, a member of my Freelance Writers and Editors network on Yahoo.
I tend to dignify academic disciples with a capital - like proper names. So Maths, Philosophy etc. Otherwise I agree. But what about those words which are sometimes names and sometimes general nouns referring to the same person? In my current novel, for instance, I have: "For goodness' sake, Dad, don't bring that one up again." Later, in narrative: His Dad was always ready to remind him of silly juvenile mistakes. The question that exercises me is, how to get it right and still appear consistent.
Rob and I disagree on the academic disciplines, and that's fine. I took English and journalism, among other classes, in college. I love journalism, but I feel no urge to uppercase it.
As for Dad: I love you, Dad, but my dad drives me nuts. There's no reason to uppercase dad in the second instance.
Thanks for the comment, Rob.
><
EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com BLUESKY: PROFILE
MORE EDITOR@WORK BLOG ENTRIES
BLOG ENTRIES BY TOM GILLISPIE
ANECDOTES BY TOM GILLISPIE
ENTRIES FROM THE DOG BLOG
BLOG ENTRIES FROM THE AUTO RACING JOURNAL
(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)
(the book of great NASCAR stories)
