Another Capitalisation Question

Zelenka · Feb 21, 2008

I wasn't sure if this would be correct for the Grammar forum so I put it in here, but please accept my apologies if it's in the wrong place.

After the discussion on using ALLCAPS in dialogue, I have a quick question - I have several places in my WIP where what is quoted is an inscription or motto which I've quoted in capitals, my thinking being that the actual inscription my character is looking at and reading would be in capitals. Is this wrong though? Does it look amateurish? The couple of places I've found it in this WIP, the inscription is something big, something that really strikes him as he sees it, which makes me tempted to keep the capitals but at the same time I don't want anything in there that might put off a potential agent.

(Just for illustration's sake, this is a snippet from the WIP I'm editing;
"...he saw above the lintel the inscription, ‘DEATH DECIDES WHERE PHYSIC DISAGREES’.")

KikiteNeko · Feb 21, 2008

I don't think there's anything wrong with it. In novels that are actually published, I've seen inscriptions of building signs in caps, but they are in a smaller font proportionate to the rest of the text. Sometimes they're introduced with a colon and in their own paragraphs. Hope this helps.

Maryn · Feb 21, 2008

Jess, that's exactly how I'd do it. (Not that my preference means much.)

Maryn, who thinks it makes sense

ORION · Feb 21, 2008

Doesn't matter what you do in your manuscript- the copy editors and page designers will do their thing. So don't obsess about it. I would only worry if your manuscript is full of caps.

Zelenka · Feb 21, 2008

Thanks folks

I know any formatting I have will probably mean nothing if, by some miracle, anyone actually accepts this manuscript but I just want to make sure there's nothing in it that will scupper my chances - if I can at least get the formatting right then all I have to worry about is the story and writing style, right?

Just I had no idea when I started editing this how many 'questionable' things there were just in the first three chapters.

Mumut · Feb 21, 2008

Can you make the words look like the actual inscription?

'Angela brushed off as much dirt as she could then squinted to read the ancient inscription;
(change to Morpheus Font) HERE LIES SIR HENRY BLOGGS

or something like that.

Novelhistorian · Feb 21, 2008

You don't need to change fonts. The use of all caps (which the copyeditor will probably change to small caps), or even quotation marks and upper and lower, will be clear. And if it's not clear, no amount of typographical fireworks will help.

Zelenka · Feb 21, 2008

Novelhistorian said:
You don't need to change fonts. The use of all caps (which the copyeditor will probably change to small caps), or even quotation marks and upper and lower, will be clear. And if it's not clear, no amount of typographical fireworks will help.

My understanding was that it should all be courier or some non-fancy font like that anyway, so I'd be reluctant to put anything in fancy or strange formatting. Actually I had changed it to small caps after that was mentioned earlier and I like that better than all caps. I'll be honest and admit I had completely forgotten I could do small caps.

dpaterso · Feb 21, 2008

JessRamage said:
(Just for illustration's sake, this is a snippet from the WIP I'm editing;
"...he saw above the lintel the inscription, ‘DEATH DECIDES WHERE PHYSIC DISAGREES’.")

Using caps kinda negates the need for quotes, how 'bout:

...he saw above the lintel the inscription: DEATH DECIDES WHERE PHYSIC DISAGREES.

ORION and Novelhistorian are right of course. But that doesn't stop you from giving the slush pile reader a fun visual before the copyeditor goes technical on yo mss.

-Derek

Torgo · Feb 22, 2008

Jess - if what you're describing would be in caps in real life (like inscriptions in stone) then def. do them in caps in the MS.

Charlie Horse · Feb 22, 2008

I refuse to answer this until you spell capitalization with a Z.

Zelenka · Feb 22, 2008

Charlie Horse said:
I refuse to answer this until you spell capitalization with a Z.

I'm British and therefore spelling it with an s is correct.

Charlie Horse · Feb 22, 2008

JessRamage said:
I'm British and therefore spelling it with an s is correct.

'

I'm totally aware of that. Still doesn't make it right.

(I hope you can tell that I'm joking

)

Zelenka · Feb 22, 2008

Charlie Horse said:
'

I'm totally aware of that. Still doesn't make it right.

(I hope you can tell that I'm joking)

Sorry - didn't mean to come across as snippy as that.

What I get for typing in a hurry before I leave for work.

Anyway I'm all for more Zs in spelling - that way I score more at Scrabble.

Another Capitalisation Question

Zelenka

Going home!

KikiteNeko

.

Maryn

I Tried

ORION

Sailed away years ago

Zelenka

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Mumut

Well begun is half done...

Novelhistorian

Zelenka

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dpaterso

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Torgo

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Charlie Horse

Speaking in metaphors

Zelenka

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Charlie Horse

Speaking in metaphors

Zelenka

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