Brits - you know those tube stations..?

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2625.aspx

Go directly to the source.

Place names would have capitals - as in Stockwell. I'd go for Stockwell tube station, lower case for the last two words as they are not place names. I would also apply this to all railway stations, e.g. Ipswich station, Victoria station.

I'm sort of a bit moderately ambivalent about this.

I think you could argue that Victoria Station is in fact a place name. It looks right (to me at least) but then, Traralgon Railway Station looks a bit over-capitalized.

Then again, walking passed the street signs for the stations, they're all capitalised, but I've not noticed them using 'station' in the names -- it's understood they're station names (the tube logo helps).

OTOH, when you actually get to the station itself, the name (if it has station in it, don't remember), it should normally be capitalised.

But, take this with a grain of salt, I've not been to London in a long time.

Also, I don't know of us generally calling something a "tube station", we call the network the underground, and after that pretty much refer to the different lines. So if you want to refer to the signage or getting directions from Brits, y'know. The signs don't say "tube station" or "underground" either as far as I recall from my last train journey. You get the main sign outside the station saying "Waterloo East" or whatever, then inside signs directing you to Northern Line, District Line, Circle Line etc.

So you could refer to the places as Victoria Station, I reckon, since it is a place, or just Victoria. But you wouldn't necessarily need to call it London Victoria Underground, near London Victoria coach station

You might ask "Where is the nearest underground station?" though. And then get the reply, "It's Cockfosters - five minutes' walk that way."

But no one would say, "It's Cockfosters tube station."

If you had to reference it, to differentiate the station from the place, then I would agree with the others - capitalise the name of the place, but keep 'tube station' or 'underground station' to lower case.

The signs outside simply say "Underground".


But the signs on the platforms give the name of the station you are currently at.

In that case, pick one and stick with it. I don't think there is any rule. Personally I'd choose 'Stockwell tube station', if it has to be tube rather than underground.

Sophia's wording sounds the most natural for me. It sounds like how I'd say it myelf. Then again I'm lazy so I'd say "on the underground at Stockwell", but you get the idea

I don't think it matters awfully much so long as you pick one and are consistant throughout. Then, if an editor decides they don't like the way you've done it and wants to change it, it at least looks like an intellectual, informed choice rather than a mistake when you do it 'wrong' by their standard

mccardy, are you per chance covering the Stockwell tube shooting?

I think it all depends on the context.

Stockwell Tube Station is a compound proper noun (i.e. it is a place, as in 'I'll meet you at...'). In Stockwell tube station, Stockwell is a proper noun being used as an adjective (as in UK resident). So you would say the Stockwell tube station.

(The) Stockwell Tube is the name of the train that is going to or from Stockwell. So, 'Stockwell Tube station' would be the its station (which does not make sense to me). 'Stockwell Tube shooting' does, on the other hand.

PS The Guardian has a reputation (rightly or wrongly) for typing errors!

Kenn said:

PS The Guardian has a reputation (rightly or wrongly) for typing errors!

Click to expand...

There's a reason we call it the Grauniad