Question re: Capitalizing characters' titles

swpauthor · Mar 9, 2009

I know this is a basic question that I should know by now, but I'm still confused by my own writing. :Shrug:

In my YA fantasy, I frequently refer to the alchemy students as Acolyte So-and-So or Apprentice Such-and-Such. Is this correct, or is lower case appropriate? Also, Master So-and-So.

Then later on, I've written: "The Master's acolyte crossed the room to the bookshelf...blah, blah, blah" and "The apprentices laughed and pointed, etc..." Is this correct usage, as far as capitalization goes?

Or would it be, "The Master's Acolyte crossed the room to the bookshelf..." and "The Apprentices laughed and pointed..."?

If another student speaks of the student body, such as "All Novices are to report to the mess hall..." is this correct?

How about, "First year Novices, in their uniforms were milling about the Keep."?

Thanks for your help in this--it's twisting my brain in knots.

dpaterso · Mar 9, 2009

I'd cap titles for specific characters, e.g. Master Bob nodded greeting to Acolyte Smith -- or specific groups, e.g. the Masters sat on one side of the dining hall, the Acolytes on the other -- otherwise I'd probably lowercase the labels. Depends how formal your world is!

-Derek

Pilot · Mar 9, 2009

How about this example: I am a colonel in the Air Force. My name is Colonel Blipper.

Then later on, I've written: "The Master's acolyte crossed the room to the bookshelf...blah, blah, blah" and "The apprentices laughed and pointed, etc..." Is this correct usage, as far as capitalization goes?
Looks like the right way to me.

In my YA fantasy, I frequently refer to the alchemy students as Acolyte So-and-So or Apprentice Such-and-Such. Also, Master So-and-So.
So does this.

The Lonely One · Mar 9, 2009

Here's my opinion. This is AP and I don't know if it's Chicago style as well, but:

You have it right, I think. A title before a name constitutes a capital letter. However, a reference to a title without the name isn't a proper noun, it's just a noun, so no capital.

You can make up your own rules if you follow them. How does this (I'm guessing fantasy) society refer to these folk in writing? Consistency rules all.

Here's how I'd write them:

"The master's acolyte crossed the room to the bookshelf..." and "The apprentices laughed and pointed."

also

"First-year novices, in their uniforms, were milling about the Keep (proper place?)"

Of course I could be wrong but that's the 411 as I understand it. Er, isn't that what the kids are saying these days?

tehuti88 · Mar 9, 2009

I'm with The Lonely One--capitalize when it's being used as a title before a name, don't capitalize when it's just being used as a generic noun. (However, if somebody is referring to another, specific character by title--"Yes, Master?" or "How are you, Acolyte?"--I'd capitalize that even if the name isn't used, because it's still being used as a title.)

Pilot · Mar 9, 2009

Pilot said:
Then later on, I've written: "The Master's acolyte crossed the room to the bookshelf...blah, blah, blah" and "The apprentices laughed and pointed, etc..." Is this correct usage, as far as capitalization goes?

Yep, I do believe they're right. I was too quick on the trigger regarding the one in bold. Should be lower case.

Prozyan · Mar 9, 2009

It depends.

Is he "the" master, or simply "a" master. If "the" master, then it is proper and should be capitalized. If "a" master, then it is common, and should not be.

Don't worry so much about proper. Worry about the effect capitalization has on the word. Do you want the term "master" to be important and specific? Then capitalize it.

jst5150 · Mar 9, 2009

If the title is before a name, capitalize it, e.g. President Obama, Colonel Smith, Chief Executive Officer Derek Patterson

If the title stands alone in a sentence, don't capitalize e.g., the president of the United States, a colonel in the Air Force, the chief exectuive officer of DPaterso Comics.

Falls to the rule of unnecessary capitalization.

emptyeyed · Mar 9, 2009

For the second half of your questions, trying using a little trick. Take a regular name, say Susie, and then when you're confused about whether or not to capitalize a title, exchange the title for Susie and see if it makes sense.

"The Master's acolyte crossed the room to the bookshelf...blah, blah, blah" and "The apprentices laughed and pointed, etc..."

"The Master's Susie crossed the room..."

Doesn't make sense so keep it lower-cased.

Whereas

"Acolyte So-and-So crossed the room..."
"Susie crossed the room..."

Susie does make sense, so Mom should remain capitalized.

Question re: Capitalizing characters' titles

swpauthor

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