another plea for help

13 posts / 0 new

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Fri, 2009-07-17 20:29

I have two problems. The first is capitals (again). if you say "my great aunt" should it be capitalised? The second is the headache I have given myself trying to work it out - so you could kill two birds with one stone, and I'd be very grateful : )

Fri, 2009-07-17 20:41

chuck

I'm not sure it matters IPFNH. Capitals, and punctuation generally, are gradually being phased out except for screaming at people you disagree with on message boards. seriously i don't no

Fri, 2009-07-17 20:44

Insertponceyfre...

IT'S ONE OF THOSE STUPID THINGS THAT WE OUGHT TO KNOW THOUGH ISN'T IT thanks for trying to help

Sat, 2009-07-18 11:31

threeleafshamrock

My Great Aunt should definitely be capitalized; don't know about yours. Does she deserve it? Is she a nice woman/man?? Is she rich? Have you seen the will?

Sat, 2009-07-18 14:06

Insertponceyfre...

oh ok, thanks : ) I will go back and change them all then. She was nice. didn't see the will but luckily it didn't matter where she lived - inheritance laws there adjusted to take account of poor grammar

Sat, 2009-07-18 14:08

threeleafshamrock

Proper order, that sounds somefink like where I wanna live, innit!

Sat, 2009-07-18 15:11

Insertponceyfre...

- not if you were hoping to get the lot you wouldn't !

Sat, 2009-07-18 16:34

Ewan

For my two penn'orth here ´My Great Aunt Sally` but ´I went to stay with a great aunt on my mother´s side` is what I understood the usage to be. I have just checked this in Fowler´s Modern English usage and think it comes under the titles and forms of address ruling.

Author Page at the 'Zon

Sat, 2009-07-18 17:34

Insertponceyfre...

Hah! I knew it didn't look right when I went back and changed it all. Thank you so much for going to the trouble of looking it up. Hang on a sec though, what about my mother in your example? is it because the name isn't mentioned or because it's followed by side

Sat, 2009-07-18 18:09

#10

chuck

You could just capitalize Side? That should keep everybody happy.

Sat, 2009-07-18 18:18

#11

Insertponceyfre...

Thank you for the imaginative suggestion. I liked that lily Allen thing you posted

Sat, 2009-07-18 19:20

#12

Ewan

In dialogue, were your story set 'oop north' as it were, it would be: 'Can yer 'ear me, Mother?'

Author Page at the 'Zon

Sat, 2009-07-18 19:34

#13

Insertponceyfre...

thanks - I changed it all and it does look wrong - will change it back again in a minute - god I am rubbish at grammar. I had to buy a book when I started teaching because students would ask me questions I couldn't answer. can do it in french though!

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