As per the title :
For example, in fiction, if I were to describe three men by stand-out characteristics such as red-bearded, fat-bellied and one-armed, if I then refer to them as red beard, fat belly and one arm, should they then become capitalised?
Thank you.
When referring to a person by a decriptive phrase, do we capitalise that?
Moderator: EC
- panam
- Member
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Fri Jan 21, 2022 4:24 pm
- Status: Other
- Location: CORNWALL, UNITED KINGDOM
- Josef Essberger
- Admin/Teacher
- Posts: 1798
- Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 6:56 am
- Status: Teacher of English
- Location: England
Re: When referring to a person by a decriptive phrase, do we capitalise that?
If you’re using them as nicknames, yes they should be capitalised:
Red Beard or Redbeard
Fat Belly, maybe Fatbelly
One Arm
Red Beard or Redbeard
Fat Belly, maybe Fatbelly
One Arm
English Prepositions List by Josef Essberger
Extremely useful ebook full of examples and visual aids to learn prepositions Inés Barbero
Extremely useful ebook full of examples and visual aids to learn prepositions Inés Barbero
- panam
- Member
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Fri Jan 21, 2022 4:24 pm
- Status: Other
- Location: CORNWALL, UNITED KINGDOM
Re: When referring to a person by a decriptive phrase, do we capitalise that?
Thank you! So, just to double-check, if I refer to the red-bearded fellow by saying :
"The soldier looked over at the smirking red beard" it would be capitalised as it's designating him by the nickname?
Thank you very much indeed!
"The soldier looked over at the smirking red beard" it would be capitalised as it's designating him by the nickname?
Thank you very much indeed!
- Josef Essberger
- Admin/Teacher
- Posts: 1798
- Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 6:56 am
- Status: Teacher of English
- Location: England
Re: When referring to a person by a decriptive phrase, do we capitalise that?
Actually it happens that people with red beards can be described as red beards (not a name, a common noun):
I saw the red beard coming towards me.
She loves red beards.
But if you choose to give him a nickname based on his beard, it must obey the rules of proper nouns:
I saw Red Beard coming towards me. (capitals, no the)
On the other hand, the common noun for ppl with fat bellies or one arm is something like:
a fat-bellied man
the one-armed guy
I saw the fat-bellied guy
I saw a one-armed man
If YOU choose to give them a nickname based on their characteristics, it must obey the rules of proper nouns:
I saw Fatty
I saw Fatman
I saw Fat Belly
I saw One Arm
I saw Onearm
You can give them any name you want, but you still need to see obey the rules of names or proper nouns
I saw the red beard coming towards me.
She loves red beards.
But if you choose to give him a nickname based on his beard, it must obey the rules of proper nouns:
I saw Red Beard coming towards me. (capitals, no the)
On the other hand, the common noun for ppl with fat bellies or one arm is something like:
a fat-bellied man
the one-armed guy
I saw the fat-bellied guy
I saw a one-armed man
If YOU choose to give them a nickname based on their characteristics, it must obey the rules of proper nouns:
I saw Fatty
I saw Fatman
I saw Fat Belly
I saw One Arm
I saw Onearm
You can give them any name you want, but you still need to see obey the rules of names or proper nouns
English Prepositions List by Josef Essberger
Extremely useful ebook full of examples and visual aids to learn prepositions Inés Barbero
Extremely useful ebook full of examples and visual aids to learn prepositions Inés Barbero