Stupid Capitalization Question...

neener · Feb 7, 2009

Hey all--

This is a really embarassing question because I not only majored in English but taught HS English for awhile...ah well, we all have our weak spots. Mine is capitalization. Here is my question: in my novel, (YA Urban Fantasy, btw) I have a group of people who are defined by particular characteristics and have taken on a name. So, do I capitalize the name? Here is a for example:

“I’m one of those. Rejected fairy babies,” I qualified. “We call ourselves, or they call us, I’m not sure which, Sentinels. Originally, Sentinels were called changelings, but the mythology which sprung up around the word “changeling” was so messed up we renamed ourselves. Ages ago. There is a network of sorts, and we have houses set up.

You can see I'm being inconsistent here. Anyhow, what is the verdict? Is it like senator, which only needs to be capitalized sometimes (Senator Jones...) or is it like race, which should always be capitalized?

alleycat · Feb 7, 2009

That's a tougher question than it at first seems. Since it's not an organized group, I don't think it needs to be capitalized. To me it would be much like "football players" or "hunters". Yet in this case, it is a specific group of individuals and they've given themselves a name. Still, I don't think it need to be capitalized.

I'm not completely sure though. Others will come along and offer their opinion.

alleycat · Feb 7, 2009

Bumping this for the OP because I would like to hear what others say about this myself.

Mumut · Feb 7, 2009

I capitalize Gatekeepers in my books and Queensland and Nova Scotian editors have allowed it. They are a group of poeople who should ensure nobody falls into the time warps that occur on special occasions, in special places. So I would capitalize in your example.

ragefaith · Feb 7, 2009

Capitalize.

semilargeintestine · Feb 7, 2009

Capitalize it. Even if you don't have to, it draws attention to the word. It gives it an air of importance.

nevada · Feb 7, 2009

Capitalize. It's X-men, not x-men. so it's Sentinels.

semilargeintestine · Feb 7, 2009

I have X-man tattooed on my forearm.

seun · Feb 8, 2009

neener said:
“I’m one of those. Rejected fairy babies,” I qualified.

Not connected to your question, but I thought I'd bring it up, anyway. Would a simple said be better than qualified?

dpaterso · Feb 8, 2009

neener said:
“I’m one of those. Rejected fairy babies,” I qualified. “We call ourselves, or they call us, I’m not sure which, Sentinels. Originally, Sentinels were called changelings, but the mythology which sprung up around the word “changeling” was so messed up we renamed ourselves. Ages ago. There is a network of sorts, and we have houses set up.

Yep, I'd cap the name, making it a proper noun assigned to a specific, individual group.

Picky unasked-for edit suggestions:

I'd maybe use single quotes the first time 'Sentinels' is referred to above (and 'changeling' should also be in single quotes not double).

"I qualified" made me look twice.

And possibly I'd split "-- or they call us, I’m not sure which --" into a separate clause, the commas seem overworked.

Shrug, each to their own, maybe you just scribbled a quickie sample rather than selected an extract from your WIP.

X-Men not X-men.

-Derek

tehuti88 · Feb 8, 2009

I would capitalize this myself, since it's a proper name by which they refer to themselves. Others will say, however, that the main thing that matters is to just be consistent. (Names of races that I didn't capitalize in older stories, but capitalize now, it just bugs the snot out of me when I look back on my older writing and see that. I hate being inconsistent!)

FennelGiraffe · Feb 8, 2009

I agree: capitalize.

One caveat, however. Don't overdo it. Limit the number(*) of common nouns you capitalize in order to show they're fraught with Significance. Some fantasy writers get heavy-handed with this device, to the point that almost every Noun in the Book is capitalized.

*The number of different nouns, not the number of uses of the same noun.

RJK · Feb 8, 2009

I think it depends on how you would introduce the person. If Joe were a senator you would introduce him as Senator Joe. If it was Joe the plumber, you wouldn't introduce him as Plumber Joe. How would you introduce your sentinal?

ashkalder · Feb 8, 2009

I have same conundrum in my WIP. I have a group called 'Aberrations' which are a subset of a race, a loose collection of individuals that are different to the norm. I chose to capitalise.

If it were a racial group such as elves or dwarves or humans it would be lower case I think.

neener · Feb 8, 2009

Thanks. And I'll relook at that passage to those who thought it was awk. I noticed that it was a weird flow when I posted it. Sometimes you see things when you look at a small passage in isolation. Sigh...

Swordswoman · Feb 9, 2009

dpaterso said:
Yep, I'd cap the name, making it a proper noun assigned to a specific, individual group.

I'd totally agree with dpaterso. If you don't capitalize, the word simply has its literal meaning of 'sentinels' - which I'd imagine is wrong. Here your use is specialized, so you must give it the capital to change it to a proper noun. Otherwise, how would you distinguish (for instance) a member of the Sentinels from an enemy who is doing sentry duty, ie a sentinel?

I don't think any publisher would object to the capital, but (imo) many might object to its omission.

The only rule in UK publishing is that capitalization must be consistent - I've just had to supply my copy-editor with a list of the capitalization rules I've followed so she can check consistency. I don't know about the US, though - maybe someone else can help there?

neener · Feb 9, 2009

Swordswoman thanks, that was helpful. I kept reading capitalization rules, and I would find contradictory information. Capitalization seemed the instinctive thing to do, but I thought I should check.

Stupid Capitalization Question...

neener

Cleaning is overrated

alleycat

Still around

alleycat

Still around

Mumut

Well begun is half done...

ragefaith

Wants to be Yami when she grows up.

semilargeintestine

BassGirl 5000

nevada

semilargeintestine

BassGirl 5000

seun

Horror Man

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

tehuti88

Mackinac Island Fanatic

FennelGiraffe

It's green they say

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

ashkalder

neener

Cleaning is overrated

Swordswoman

Resilient and kind

neener

Cleaning is overrated