Capitalization question

Gilroy Cullen · Oct 27, 2011

Ah, my first post, and I come to ask a grammar question.

So I have my alpha reader going through one of my stories and she stumbled upon a problem in this sentence:

He held a bible in his hand.

So I ask the grammar gurus out there: Should the word bible in this sentence be capitalized?

I say no.
She says yes.

I guess why I say no is because its nonspecific. A bible. I don't say the "King James New American Edition Bible." That I could see as capital since its a title.

Please help me figure this out.
Thanks!

Gilroy
Writer of a little of everything
Servant to five cats
Amateur Photog.

Snick · Oct 27, 2011

The Bible is a specific piece of literature.Yes, there are many versions, but they are all the Bible.

absitinvidia · Oct 27, 2011

Gilroy Cullen said:
Ah, my first post, and I come to ask a grammar question.

So I have my alpha reader going through one of my stories and she stumbled upon a problem in this sentence:

He held a bible in his hand.

So I ask the grammar gurus out there: Should the word bible in this sentence be capitalized?

I say no.
She says yes.

I guess why I say no is because its nonspecific. A bible. I don't say the "King James New American Edition Bible." That I could see as capital since its a title.

Please help me figure this out.
Thanks!

Gilroy
Writer of a little of everything
Servant to five cats
Amateur Photog.

It should absolutely be capitalized, just as you would capitalize the Koran, the Talmud, the Torah, etc.

Gilroy Cullen · Oct 27, 2011

Snick said:
The Bible is a specific piece of literature.Yes, there are many versions, but they are all the Bible.

Here is where I can honestly say this is why I have trouble.

He held a bomber's bible in his hand.

This one word changes that ideal of many versions by the all the same book.

The word bible has been stolen from it's trademark by the media to create other such "long passionate texts to a specific purpose" that it feels like the auto capitalization is no longer valid. Just like Aspirin lost its trademark.

ironmikezero · Oct 27, 2011

You are flirting with religious tenets and dogma; consequently, you'll find ample disagreement.

IMHO, since there are many versions of the Bible (in the Judea-Christian genre), if one is specified, then capitalization is warranted. OTOH, if referenced generically, or metaphorically, then capitalization is not recommended - or is at least discretionary.

Examples:

The gospels are found in the New Testament of the King James Bible.

The peddler opened his trunk and displayed a host of bibles for sale.

The courtroom hushed as the witness placed his hand upon a bible and repeated the oath.

A competent mechanic will always consult his shop manual, the professional's bible.

Disclaimer: The foregoing is only personal opinion. Do as you see fit.

Gilroy Cullen · Oct 27, 2011

absitinvidia said:
It should absolutely be capitalized, just as you would capitalize the Koran, the Talmud, the Torah, etc.

In that argument, I don't feel that you've used the entire title. It's Holy Bible. Not just Bible.

Fallen · Oct 27, 2011

I think if it's seen to be refering to a particular bible, then you capitalise:

She held the (!) Bible in her hand

But, it it's just a metaphor:

James Herbert is her bible, it goes lowercase.

I think the plural is also lowercased.

religious bibles....

not too sure on this one...

Susan Coffin · Oct 27, 2011

Welcome!

Yes, you are referring to a specific book, therefore it is capitalized. It does not matter how many versions are out there.

absitinvidia · Oct 27, 2011

Gilroy Cullen said:
In that argument, I don't feel that you've used the entire title. It's Holy Bible. Not just Bible.

My sources are the Chicago Manual of Style; Associated Press style; the APA style; the American Heritage Dictionary; and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition. All agree that as a sacred text and a classical work, "Bible" is capitalized.

I'd say capitalizing the Bible as a sacred text is standard. When it's used generically (the bomber's bible) it's lowercased, but that's true of many things (a mecca for surfing enthusiasts, for example).

absitinvidia · Oct 27, 2011

Gilroy Cullen said:
Here is where I can honestly say this is why I have trouble.

He held a bomber's bible in his hand.

This one word changes that ideal of many versions by the all the same book.

The word bible has been stolen from it's trademark by the media to create other such "long passionate texts to a specific purpose" that it feels like the auto capitalization is no longer valid. Just like Aspirin lost its trademark.

It's not a trademark.

Snick · Oct 27, 2011

Gilroy Cullen said:
Here is where I can honestly say this is why I have trouble.

He held a bomber's bible in his hand.

This one word changes that ideal of many versions by the all the same book.

The word bible has been stolen from it's trademark by the media to create other such "long passionate texts to a specific purpose" that it feels like the auto capitalization is no longer valid. Just like Aspirin lost its trademark.

Was the book a copy of the Bible that had belonged to a bomber? Or are you referring to a book of bomb making recipes? "The Home Handyman's Bible" the ther title of a book of things that people can make arounf the house. There are many such books, and sometimes they are referrred to as bibles; books that contain everything that yu need to know about something. If that is the case, then the lower case would be fine. If it is a copy of the Christian holy book, then it must be the Bible. We aren't talking about aceticyclic (sp?) acid. Kleenix lost its trademark protection, because people used it to refer to other brands of facial tissue paper, but people don't call the Koran the Moslem (or Muslim) Bible, do they?

Jamesaritchie · Oct 27, 2011

Titles are always capitalized, and it has nothing to do with religion, or with it being a sacred text. Whether it's the Bible, a Stephen King novel, or a short story, the title gets caps.

And, no, it's never been a trademark. It's a title, not copyrightable, the same as the title of any other book.

Even if it had been a trademark, or copyrighted, both would have expired nearly two thousand years ago.

missf410 · Oct 27, 2011

Capatilize!

Whether you refer to the The Holy Bible, The Bible, The King James Bible, The New King James Version Bible, or, simply, Bible its all capitalized when it is the holy texts. All other bibles are not capitalized unless it is a specific title. The bombers bible isn't capitalized, but The Handyman's Home Repair Bible would be. At least that is my understanding.

JSDR · Oct 27, 2011

I agree with missf410
Capitalized when speaking of a sacred text, non capitalized when speaking of secular text.

He put his hand on the Bible and swore an oath.
He consulted Bear-Evading for Dummies, his camping bible.

bonitakale · Oct 28, 2011

Agree with most of the others. The Bible is a special case because you don't italicize it like Gone With the Wind. There are so many translations and versions. Same with the Torah, the Koran.

But if you mean the book that talks about Abraham and Moses and Ruth and Jesus and Paul--capitalize it.

The lower-case usage is a metaphor; it originally meant only a book or instructions that you followed (metaphor again) religiously. (The La Leche League handbook was her bible; she followed its smallest suggestion.) But it's come to be used also to mean a compilation of everything you need on a subject.

Jamesaritchie · Oct 29, 2011

"Bible" gets a capital even non-holy texts, if it's part of the title. The Anarchist's Bible, for example. But if you only use the single word "Bible, it only gets a cap if it's part of a title. People rightfully assume "Bible" means The Holy Bible, but the rules do not change.

Capitalization question

Gilroy Cullen

Handsome servant of a redhead

Snick

absitinvidia

A bit of a wallflower

Gilroy Cullen

Handsome servant of a redhead

ironmikezero

practical experience, FTW

Gilroy Cullen

Handsome servant of a redhead

Fallen

Stood at the coalface

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is

absitinvidia

A bit of a wallflower

absitinvidia

A bit of a wallflower

Snick

Jamesaritchie

missf410

Struggling to be the dream...

JSDR

wants moar baddassery.

bonitakale

Jamesaritchie