Is an individual boy scout capitalized?

No -- first I think you're using it as a general adjectival kind of thing, but even if you were using it as specific to the org, I wouldn't any more than I'd cap coach or president unless it's acting as a title, which I have no idea if boy scout ever would.

If you're using wikipedia as a source for, well, anything, I don't know how to help you; I'm sorry.

tko said:

Surprisingly hard to research. The organization is capitalized, but what about an individual?

"He is such a boy scout."

If there is no standard, what looks better?

"He is such a Boy Scout."

thanks!

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You look it up in the dictionary.

If you're specifically talking about the organization, it's upper case. If it's the adjectival allusion, it's lowercase. The link to the AHD actually specifies that.

tko said:

Never depend on one dictionary, because these bastions of accuracy aren't so consistent.

It seems to be that when used as slang (he's such a boy scout) it is lower case, but when use as a member of, it's upper case (I brought a cookie from a Boy Scout.)

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Again:

AW Admin said:

You look it up in the dictionary.

If you're specifically talking about the organization, it's upper case. If it's the adjectival allusion, it's lowercase. The link to the AHD actually specifies that.

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Comparing British English and American dictionaries is daft. Pick one.

If you're using British English, use a British dictionary. If you're using American English, pick an American dictionary.


And, yes, you pick one dictionary and standardize on it. Doesn't really matter which one, but pick one. Consistency is your friend.

Ultimately, it's going to be a style guide decision, determined by your editor, if you're trade publishing, and you if you're self-publishing. They'll have house style guideliens, and a house dictionary.