Capitalising titles?

efreysson · Dec 3, 2015

My current WIP has various royal, military and religious titles, and I'm not sure how to handle those in English.

Am I correct in that they are capitalized in "Good morning, Princess Jane." but not in "he greeted princess Jane"?

Bing Z · Dec 3, 2015

"Good morning, Princess Jane," Admiral Kirk greeted Princess Jane, who was the princess of Neverneverland, and fiancée of Princess Mary (yes, princess), who was formerly known as Prince John before the surgery. The transgender princess (or prince) was the sole child of King Charlie, who used to be Queen Charlie before his/her surgery, who governed the Kingdom of Coolchicks.

Chris P · Dec 3, 2015

If used as a title, capitalize: "Princess Jane." If used as a noun, do not capitalize: "Jane was the princess."

In your example, both occurrences of "princess" should be capitalized.

efreysson · Dec 3, 2015

I see. So if someone is addressed by title rather by name, it's capitalized?

Siri Kirpal · Dec 3, 2015

Sat Nam! (Literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

That's correct.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

Maryn · Dec 3, 2015

Yes, if a title or a title and name takes the place of a name, you capitalize the title and name. When you use "the" or "that" and the title, no caps.

"Yes, Princess Jane, a bologna sandwich on white, right away." Maryn scuttled to the kitchen.
"Bologna on white for the princess," Maryn ordered. "Hurry up, Princess is waiting," Maryn said to the cook.
"The princess will just have to wait. I'm busy." The cook didn't look busy, but what did Maryn know?

Rabe · Dec 12, 2015

Maryn said:
Yes, if a title or a title and name takes the place of a name, you capitalize the title and name. When you use "the" or "that" and the title, no caps.

"Yes, Princess Jane, a bologna sandwich on white, right away." Maryn scuttled to the kitchen.
"Bologna on white for the princess," Maryn ordered. "Hurry up, Princess is waiting," Maryn said to the cook.
"The princess will just have to wait. I'm busy." The cook didn't look busy, but what did Maryn know?

Hrmmmmm....in many instances here I would argue that the uncapitalized 'princess' is being used as a pronoun and therefore should be capitalized, mainly because the 'princess' in reference is actually the Princess. Now, if the cook were talking about Maryn, then it would be a generic noun, but no...it's all pronoun for Princess Jane.

Bufty · Dec 13, 2015

By 'many' do you mean both instances?

Maryn is correct.

And - "Hurry up. The princess is waiting." would also change the capitalised Princess to a lower case version.

Capitalising titles?

efreysson

Closer than ever

Bing Z

illiterate primate

Chris P

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

efreysson

Closer than ever

Siri Kirpal

Swan in Process

Maryn

At Sea

Rabe

the living dead

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?