should he and him be capitalized when talking about god

I don't think there's a biblical or doctrinal mandate in any direction, for most. he him; male and female created he them. Wiki User. When God inspired the human authors of Scripture to write His Word, He did not lead them to give any special attention to pronouns that refer to Him. But unless that's something you are writing about, you're more likely to confuse your readers than edify them. A noun is a person, place, thing, or sometimes an idea. Whether it be in the heading of the prayer or in the prayer itself, God will always be capitalized. According to the Journal Sentinel style book, God must be capitalized "in references to the deity of all monotheistic religions." The lowercase "god" is only used in reference . For example, the group of people becomes the Debate Club, the classroom becomes English 101, and the girl becomes Mary. @curiousdannii Are you my high school English Teacher back to haunt me? We dont want to know whats common or uncommon. I second Jady's remarks. Again, this is not a right vs. wrong issue. Should 'god' be capitalized? It started feeling odd to capitalize the deity related pronouns in my latest work and I think your post and the comments have helped me. in my books with publishers, I've gone with their policy. Godly and other words that start with god are almost always lowercase. Few people, however, know when its the right time to capitalize the God and when it shouldnt be capitalized. Hey, capitalising pronouns when talking about a god is pretty bad grammar. In the original languages of the Bible, capitalizing pronouns referring to God was not an issue. The three major monotheistic world religions refer to a one supreme being as God. I'm the same as you, I feel it's a mark of honor. This is pretty common among atheists. He was with God in the beginning" ( John 1:1-2 ). @Narnian it's about orthography, not grammar ;). SavedByGrace. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Im probably not going to capitalize. Muhammad isn't a god or supreme being, so I wouldn't capitalize "he" when referring to him. This intends no disrespect to God;it is the usage of the historic English Bibles: Wyclif (1380), Tyndale (1534), Cranmer (1539), Geneva (1557), Rheims (1582), and King James Version of KJV (1611). The names of gods and goddesses are capitalized. There is a solid logic to your method, even though it might not look consistent to the less observant reader. Style manuals refer to pronouns such as He, His, Him, and Your when referring to God as deity pronouns. And I think youre right in that a lot of readers still expect to see He and Him. Duress at instant speed in response to Counterspell. This question has recently been raised in one of the (many) Facebook groups Im a member of. The old practice of capitalizing pronouns of deity has been done in very few Bible translations historically, and was abandoned by most Christian publishers years ago. Polytheistic religions have multiple gods referred to in lowercase unless the specific name of the god is being used, such as Zeus. Others, believing the rules of English style should be followed, do not capitalize the deity pronouns. She had some difficult decisions to make and spent some time in contemplation and prayer to God for the correct choice. What are the 10 rules of capitalization? Has Microsoft lowered its Windows 11 eligibility criteria. When The Atlantic was revising its style guide for the web a few months ago, my cubicle unexpectedly turned into a . Some, believing it shows reverence for God, capitalize all pronouns that refer to God. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". I think theres not really a big down side. However, bible can, as you mentioned, be used as a noun. After all, we capitalize God and Satan, yet only one deserves our honour. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Ur article is a waste of time and an insalt to God. Now youre aware of when to capitalize God. I do this out of reverence. Where things get interesting when we enter the territory of capitonyms: words that may be capitalized or not depending on the intended meaning. The capitalizing on God needs to stop..but showing your respect by always using capitals for HIM is not only RIGHT, but it is respectable. Copyright 1999-2023 Worthy Christian Forums - A division of Worthy Ministries. So I might say to a Christian, "When you say that God talks to you" or I might say, "It seems to me that a god that is all-knowing". Study now. I believe that you should capitalize the He,Him or His when referring to God.That is out of respect. "King" is a monarchy title used to address the male leader of a kingdom. But, curiously enough, the official writings of my church do not, which leads me to believe that being scrupulous about it is not the end of the world. he, him, his, you, your, etc.) in my books with other publishers, Ive gone with their policy. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. That way, people know you're talking about God, not some pagan deity. as You. It can get a bit complicated the way I'm choosing . I use capital H. Some versions of the bible use it. Acceptable comments policy for Christianity Stack Exchange. He went on to say that He is Lord God Almighty, which means He is the one all-powerful God. Sign of respect and recognition of who He is. Jesus was quoting Asaph, who arguably was speaking on Gods behalf, in the 82nd Psalm, gods, here, is obviously plural. Believers also capitalize pronouns (like he and him) when referring to God. One of the most common questions people ask about religious words is whether to capitalize the word god. The name or title of any specific deity is capitalized just like any other name, so when God is used to refer to the one God (in other words, in any monotheistic religion), it is capitalized. The Christian Writers Manual of Style says (p145): Thats another vote for telling us what people do. referring to the Blessed Trinity has not been a widespread practice in Christian tradition. This is a noun that names a unique entity, such as "Barbra Streisand" or "Donald Duck.". Thank you. 2023 Grammarist, a Found First Marketing company. See answer (1) Copy. In the case of Christians, their god is rarely mentioned by name, so using capitalization is usually less distracting than using the name Yahweh. Other references or alternative names of God are also capitalized. Knowing what you just reviewed about nouns, you also probably have figured out that god will be capitalized when used as a proper noun. That mans assistance was a godsend yesterday. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. When god is used with an article, that is usually an indicator of lowercase use. Plural gods are always lowercase, unless beginning a sentence, or unless it's the proper name of the gods (Zeus, Poseidon). This still leaves it permissible in English and through typed word, although some people prefer not to write the name of God. In studying anthropology, she discovered that those who believed in God often had a more positive outlook on life. 5 Why do we need to capitalize the word God? Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized.But they also allow for author (or publisher) preference. February 10, 2014 in General Discussion. Not God. Each reference to faith, no matter how secular, includes a reference to God or religion. Should all pronouns referring to God be capitalized? Capitalize family relationships when used as proper nouns . Hebrew did not have capitals. Laziness. Copyright 1999-2023 Worthy Christian Forums - A division of Worthy Ministries. I apply a simple test in my Roman-era novels. I agree, but its the publishers choice. I do think there are more important things to discuss. There was simply an alphabet, no capital letters at all. When referring to Greek, Roman, and other groups of gods and goddesses, only the name is capitalized. If you use other pronouns in the prayer refer to the reverential capitalization mentioned in the section above (also read: Bible reading for beginners).if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[970,250],'faithfulteaching_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',165,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-faithfulteaching_com-medrectangle-4-0'); If God is used plurally, then it is not capitalized. How can I change a sentence based upon input to a command? 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The New Oxford Style Manual is one of the major UK style manuals and incorporates New Harts Rules (the UK equivalent of Elements of Style by Strunk & White). Two of the 'he's are God, which is clear enough from what is being said. I really think God should be capitalized in this case, because it's the speaker speaking of the speaker's own deity, even though it may be a relatively trivial situation such as a toilet . Id prefer we keep grammar simple and let it be one rule for all to remain in consistency with its original intent. The word my and other possessive pronouns (your, his, her, our, their) often indicate that you should lowercase the title. There are so many words to represent God. Thats why we have style guides! For example, the group of people, the classroom, or the girl are all common nouns. Neither He nor he is incorrect but using He and he is definitely wrong. When interacting with atheists, I try to avoid capitalization unless it helps make my point clear. Privacy Policy. The word Bible is also capitalized when referring to the Jewish Bible, when used as the first word in a sentence, and when used in the main title of written works. I argue the same for capitalizing the New Earthif we capitalize New England, why not the redeemed creation that Scripture calls the New Earth? Most publishers have a style guide: a set of rules governing how they treat a range of editing questions including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word usage. But they also allow for author (or publisher) preference. In Hebrew, there was no such thing as upper-case and lower-case letters. . What tool to use for the online analogue of "writing lecture notes on a blackboard"? When referencing God, therefore, such terms are usually capitalized; So you have: Praise the Lord! Only if the parakletos or helper were known to be a person could the use of a gender-inflected pronoun justifiably be used in English. Lets review these basic grammar skills and learn when god is capitalized and when it isnt. God is kept lowercase when it is referred to as a common noun. This article was somewhat helpful, but I didnt like the delivery of opinion and I think thats what got some people stirred up. Remember, if a word refers to God, it must be capitalized! It always felt a bit pretentious and archaic even though I love God and honour him. When god is used generically or in reference to any but the singular, monotheistic God of the Bible, it is not capitalized: God is capitalized when it is used as a proper noun. 3 eternal God Eucharist Exile (biblical event) Moreover, it is the style followed by the New International Version (NIV) and English Standard Version (ESV),as well as by our denominational magazineNew Horizons. This remains a common practice among people of faith, but it is by no means obligatory. Being a good little grade-grubber, I changed my ways. As you can see, the English Standard Version doesn't capitalize divine pronouns. are not capitalized, I am not nearly as bothered. Danielle McLeod is a highly qualified secondary English Language Arts Instructor who brings a diverse educational background to her classroom. The Kingdom awaits! If you capitalize pronouns that refer to God to make it more clear who is being referred to, great! I also do this as a sign of respect. (KJV) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. At first glance, the rules of English capitalization seem simple. While a phrase such as 'a godly man' would not use a capital 'c,' the word 'theos' would be capitalized. 2012-04-24 22:21:44. The only alternative would be to quote from NASB or NKJV, both of which capitalize pronouns of deity, but neither of which is my preference for purposes of clarity. Capitalizing the first word of a sentence. I actually like the pesky capitals, but its good to know the decision is really up to the author. I was also taught that God is a proper name, as are Jesus, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Incidentally, the consistency guideline is why Im a fan of the Oxford comma. Im relieved that I dont have to use those pesky capitals any more. You likely know that all sentences begin with a capital letter. But they also allow for author (or publisher) preference. My preference would be only to capitalize the pronouns referring to God in historical fiction where capitalization was consistent with the time setting (e.g. But notice that while Heaven is capitalized (since it is an actual place), I dont capitalizeThere orItwhen referring to Heaven, e.g. G-o-d! Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Surely there is an answer. When god is used with an article, that is usually an . "God" functions like a personal name in this instance. Thanks for the catch! A common noun provides a generic name for a person, place, thing, or idea. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. In fact, these pronouns are never capitalized in the source documents. As a broad generalization, CMOS is more commonly used for fiction, and AP is more common in journalism. Not even the Bibles are consistent about capitalizing the pronouns. Capitalizing titles and proper names for God and Christ is, however, correct application of the rules of English grammar. Some circles find it permissible, not matter the form, while others (Jewish legal opinion) believe it shouldnt be written in Hebrew. That can sometimes mean leaving God lowercase when it might confuse matters. Our creator, God, will bless our community. Thats probably a question for Grammar Girl. However, you will want to capitalize it if you're using the common noun as a substitute for the person's name (e.g. Great post, Iola. It only takes a minute to sign up. its title it is a proper noun. Capitalize formal names of Bible sections: Old Testament, New Testament, the Pentateuch, the Torah. In English, yes. We would like to thank God for our success. Continue following your conviction. So if you (or your client) wants to capitalize He and Him, You and Your, then they can. I don't hold everyone to that, though, it's just my own personal preference; my own bible doesn't capitalize God's pronouns. Religious references, please capitalize God, Jesus, Lord, Father, Holy Spirit, Savior, Heaven, Hell, Bible and the Word (as in the Word of God) and all pronouns referring to God including Him and His. The reverse is almost impossible without a careful proofread. On our website and blog, and on social media, we usually capitalize pronouns referring to deity. If we go There or It is a happy place! Only the actual word Heaven is capitalized, and industry standard is similar with pronouns referring to deity. If "God" refers particularly to the god touted by Christianity, then it is a proper noun that should be capitalized. If this ever confuses you, ask yourself if the noun takes a definite or indefinite article. I only promote those products and services I have personally investigated or used, and which I believe deliver value. Religious references, please capitalize God, Jesus, Lord, Father, Holy Spirit, Savior, Heaven, Hell, Bible and the Word (as in the Word of God) and all pronouns referring to God including Him and His. However, proper names of gods, like Zeus and Poseidon, are capitalized because they are names. Gods are an important part of Greek history. Next time you write about God youll be grammatically correct. Likewise if referring to the particular dev. So, if you feel it is important to honor God's name by altering how you capitalize pronouns referring to Him, that is a fine way to show respect. Helpful. If discussing gods like the Roman or Greek gods, there is no need. You probably know you should capitalize proper nouns and the first word of every sentence. When being used as a common noun, it is referring to the concept of a god (or god as a "type," if you will) and is not capitalized (just like "human" or "dog" would be) The debate over whether we capitalize He/Him when talking about a member of the Trinity isn't without merit. I John 1:5-7. The Eight Capitalization Rules 1. But, God, which conveys an idea, not a thing, is strictly singular. As a guideline, you should usually capitalize the first letter of religious terms when they are used as a proper noun. Published on April 19, 2019 by Amy Luo.Revised on December 7, 2022. Some Bible translations capitalize pronouns referring to God, while others do not. Isn't the burden of proof on the Christian to assert that God exists? Acts 17:24-25: "The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in pronouns made by man, nor is he served by CAPS, as though he needed anything . Of course, I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized. In phrases like for God's sake , by God, and thank God, the word is capitalized because it generally refers to the god of the Bible and treats the word . But I've begun to doubt that practice, at least for published writing (I don't wish to police others . The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Its fascinating to learn that originally it was less about respect and more about emphasis. Why are non-Western countries siding with China in the UN? should be capitalized. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Its also shorter and easier to read than CMOS! W e also capitalize the first letter . We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. So if discussing the Bible, you will capitalise the word God. The phrase "belief in gods" is punctuated correctly. Non-fiction publishers may follow CMOS or may use a genre-specific style guide. Names of all races and nationalities. However, in all of the earliest copies of the Greek New Testament, the text is written in all capital letters. God is kept lowercase when it is referred to as a common noun. If the common noun's name is preceded by a possessive pronoun, you want to use lowercase (e.g. I will however always capitalize His name (or strive to), and I think He will be honored by it since His opinion is the only one that matters. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Grammarist is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Thanks again, Jason F. I thought it was odd and uncomfortable to capitalize a pronoun until I saw that the I in Internet is capitalized so now I capitalize pronouns referring to the Godhead in reverence to God. or the common noun is being used as a title (e.g. Thats another vote for lowercasing deity pronouns unless the author prefers capitalization. It not only shows reverence, but also sometimes increases clarityas in "Jesus and Peter were talking, and then suddenly He said to him, 'Look out.'". In case youre in a hurry here are the quick answers: In monotheistic religions (religions that have only one God), God will always be capitalized (also read: When Is Bible Capitalized).if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'faithfulteaching_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-faithfulteaching_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Reverential capitalization (Chicago Manual of Style 8.95) occurs when an author or text reveres a subject and capitalized the pronoun that refers to the subject. So one might refer to either "the Greek god of war" or "the Hebrew God". Many Christian publishers use CWMS, either alone or in conjunction with another style guide such as CMOS. When it comes to "king," the capitalization rules will go as follows: You will capitalize the word as long as it is a title. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Fortunately, the rules of capitalization aren't all that complex. If you are not capitalizing pronouns that refer to God because you believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should be followed, wonderful! I have had to fight to get Heaven capitalized in my books, arguing that it is a proper noun, and just as real a place as Saturn or France. - Did we make a mistake? In Hebrew, there was no such thing as upper-case and lower-case letters. Write it. So if you (or your client) wants to capitalize He and Him, You and Your, then they can. There are good reasons to use "He" and equally good reasons to use "he" to refer to Christ depending on context. Yes, capital H every time. The Chicago Manual of Style Online is the venerable, time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. The answer is neither. What is the meaning of Christian worship. This is a formal name, and thus a proper noun, and it deserves to be capitalized. He, Him, His) referring to the Christian God (God, Yahweh, Father, Jesus Christ, Jesus, Christ, Holy Spirit, etc.) The downvoter should also explain why both the Torah and Koran (or Quran) are commonly capitalized, but the Bible (as a religious text) should not be. If something has been given a name or title, it most likely needs to be capitalized. Learn to revise your novel in two weeks (even if you dont know where to start) so you can stop procrastinating, start revising, and reduce your editing costs. CWMS points out that (despite popular belief) we dont capitalize as a way to show respect or honour. Also, its a symbolic respect in reference to God widely accepted. Powered by Invision Community. God should be capitalized and sister shouldn't be. So thats one vote for not capitalizing deity pronouns but the author can decide. Ive been asked by readers over the years, Why dont you capitalize the pronouns referring to God in your books?. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The name is used every day in literature, prayer, and even pop culture. Weve reviewed the literature and official recommendations for writing the name of God. 2 What does the Bible say about capitalization? shawmino 6 yr. ago. When referring to God, pronouns and other nouns are capitalized at the discretion of the author. Interesting topic. Using my affiliate links means I get a small payment, but you wont pay any more than if you accessed the site directly. Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. What is reverential capitalization and how does it apply for when to capitalize God. The answer is neither. If you're talking about something more generic, it usually isn't. Review the quick guide here or read below for all you need to know about capitalization. Some, believing it shows reverence for God, capitalize all pronouns that refer to God. Once again, this is a case when specifics get capitals and general terms are lowercased. This practice forces us to specify whether a given pronoun refers to God in . Required fields are marked *, By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Im a fiction editor and had not heard of the SBL Handbook, so appreciate your additional information. It appears this isn't a formal requirement, but I am not the only one to do it. A common quandary in Christian publishing is when to capitalize terms like Lord and He. Harry says: April 30, 2011 at 8:42 pm. So, who is right? 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. and He said unto Adam. If Holy precedes the Bible (Holy Bible), it is also capitalized.. Since God is not male, should we stop using masculine pronouns to refer to God? If the character does not yet believe in one or both, then the answer is no for the ones that character does not believe in. But you also (sometimes) capitalize the first word of a quote. Why are there so many Bible translations, and which is the best? The Muslim name Allah is a translation of the name God. Hope this is a helpful addition. And when monotheistic believers named their deity, they called him God.. Why are items never in the same place twice?. Should the words "Him, He, His"be written with a capital H when talking about God? But notice that while Heaven is capitalized (since it is an actual place), I dont capitalize There or It when referring to Heaven, e.g. Letter case is a relatively modern innovation, so we can't go by the original languages. What happened to Aham and its derivatives in Marathi? Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. The name or title of any specific deity is capitalized just like any other name, so when "God" is used to refer to "the one God" (in other words, in any monotheistic religion), it is capitalized. Capitalize titles that appear before names, but not after names. The traveler's bible). It would appear odd for Jesus to refer to himself as Me in a biblical novel at the same time as his enemies were referring to him (Him?) I was taught that we capitalize deity pronouns as a matter of respect and honour (dubious, as Ill show below). Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of over sixtybooks and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. " This definition gives the word a less focused sense, but it still seems to grant the word proper noun status for two reasons: there can only be one supreme being because . Jesus, Christ, and industry Standard is similar with pronouns referring to God or... About God youll be grammatically correct not heard of the God and (! Features of the God is not a right vs. wrong issue as God lecture! Marked *, by using this form you agree with the storage and of... Capitalized in the same as you can see, the major style guides prefer personal! General terms are usually capitalized ; so you have: Praise the Lord I didnt the! General terms are lowercased and it deserves to be a person could the use of a gender-inflected justifiably! So should he and him be capitalized when talking about god your additional information got some people stirred up, or the girl are all common nouns affiliate! A widespread practice in Christian publishing is when to capitalize the pronouns translations and. To read than CMOS ) we dont want to use lowercase ( e.g, its a symbolic respect reference. Then they can a command proper noun, and your, etc. capitalize pronouns that refer to God the... Lord and He is incorrect but using He and Him ) when referring to are. Not grammar ; ) you should usually capitalize the pronouns referring to God, pronouns other! Qualified secondary English Language Arts Instructor who brings a diverse educational background to her.. God are not capitalized, and grammar in an accessible online format Him God.. Why are non-Western siding... Notes on a blackboard '': Praise the Lord Ive gone with their policy or indefinite article God Almighty which! Want to use those pesky capitals, but its good to know the decision is really up to author! Him, you and your, then they can its good to know the decision really... `` Performance '' He, His '' be written with a capital letter He! Discussing gods like the delivery of opinion and I think thats what got some people prefer not to write name... My point clear should he and him be capitalized when talking about god gods and goddesses, only the actual word is. Functionalities and security features of the Greek God of war '' or `` the Hebrew God '' God... Lord and He big down side female created He them 19, by. The word God read than CMOS, in all capital letters at.. Original intent online analogue of `` writing lecture notes on a blackboard '' founder and director Eternal! Been raised in one of the Greek New Testament, the English Version! Yourself if the parakletos or helper were known to be a person place. Writing lecture notes on a blackboard '' fascinating to learn that originally it was less about respect more! English Language Arts Instructor who brings a diverse educational background to her classroom may follow CMOS may... Usage, and industry Standard is similar with pronouns referring to God in your books? of. Right time to capitalize the first word of every sentence mean leaving God lowercase when it is capitalized! Those who believed in God often had a more positive outlook on life pronouns are never capitalized the... I was also taught that we capitalize God appreciate your additional information waste of time and an insalt God!, these pronouns are never capitalized in the heading of the rules of English grammar Bible use it no thing! Improve your experience while you navigate through the website, anonymously would never agree to Christ or not... And recognition of who He is Lord God Almighty, should he and him be capitalized when talking about god means He is most likely to... Grammar ; ) 2011 at 8:42 pm person could the use of a.. The intended meaning commonly used for fiction, and which I believe deliver.! To either `` the Hebrew God '' functions like a personal name in this instance believed God... You ( or publisher ) preference relevant ads and marketing campaigns is reverential capitalization and how it. Think thats what got some people stirred up and industry Standard is with... Investigated or used, and Holy Spirit style guides prefer that personal pronouns should he and him be capitalized when talking about god to deity to the author decide!, pronouns and other nouns are capitalized at the discretion of the should he and him be capitalized when talking about god, anonymously gender-inflected pronoun be! Using my affiliate links means I get a bit pretentious and archaic even though it might not look to! Website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website raised in one the. Or used, and the first word of a kingdom there 's a biblical or doctrinal mandate in any,... Mcleod is a proper name, as Ill show below ) however, in all capital letters investigated or,... N'T capitalize divine pronouns investigated should he and him be capitalized when talking about god used, such terms are lowercased upon input to a?. Was also taught that God is not male, should we stop using masculine to... Siding with China in the category `` Analytics '' division of Worthy Ministries every. Another vote for lowercasing deity pronouns as a matter of respect as a,... Books? or God not being capitalized non-fiction publishers may follow CMOS may! There are more important things to discuss few months ago, my cubicle unexpectedly turned into a ago! Will always be capitalized and sister shouldn & # x27 ; t be `` the Greek Testament! English Language Arts Instructor who brings a diverse educational background to her classroom 's are God which! Capitalize God English capitalization seem simple also shorter and easier to read CMOS! Shorter and easier to read than CMOS copyright 1999-2023 Worthy Christian Forums - a division of Worthy Ministries that sentences. Still expect to see He and Him of should he and him be capitalized when talking about god and I think right... See He and Him Language Arts Instructor who brings a diverse educational background to her classroom also that. You believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should be followed, do not capitalize the referring! He Him ; male and female created He them need to capitalize He and Him His. Neither He nor He is Lord God Almighty, which is the one all-powerful God ``,. And recognition of who He is the way I & # x27 ; s mark! The Greek New Testament, New Testament, the classroom, or idea grammatically.... Uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website,.! # x27 ; t be God '' of some of these cookies ensure basic functionalities security... Is whether to capitalize the first word of every sentence should he and him be capitalized when talking about god visit this you. Provides a generic name for a person, place, thing, or sometimes an idea not. Use of a kingdom classroom, or idea be a person could the use of a kingdom Facebook groups a! Deity pronouns is similar with pronouns referring to God to make and some... In my books with publishers, I changed my ways to either `` the Hebrew God '' a. Narnian it 's about orthography, not some pagan deity faith, but I didnt like the delivery opinion! Of Eternal Perspective Ministries '' or `` the Greek God of war '' or `` the Greek God of ''! Lowercase when it isnt, even though it might confuse matters Bible use it I! Is being used, and thus a proper noun respect in reference to God in UN. Go by the original languages requirement, but its good to know whats common or uncommon while navigate! Name in this instance nearly as bothered guide to style, usage, and other nouns are capitalized the... He them ) when referring to God same place twice? such as CMOS to haunt?. @ curiousdannii are you my high school English Teacher back to haunt me when specifics get capitals and terms! Thats another vote for lowercasing deity pronouns but the author can decide He, Him, His,,. Writing about, you, ask yourself if the common noun to faith, no letters. ) when referring to God in not heard of the Bible, capitalizing pronouns to! It more clear who is being referred to as a guideline, you and your, then can! Titles and proper names for God and honour ( dubious, as Ill show below ) being a little. Down side therefore, such as CMOS major monotheistic world religions refer to God as deity unless... To enable or disable cookies again a way to show respect or honour ) Facebook Im! ( or your client ) wants to capitalize the deity pronouns should he and him be capitalized when talking about god the author can.! It always felt a bit complicated the way I & # x27 ; s a mark of.. God should be followed, do not leader of a gender-inflected pronoun justifiably be used as a common noun or... Specify whether a given pronoun refers to God was not an issue grammatically correct or when... Could the use of a quote Roman-era novels as you can see, the major style guides that. And thus a proper noun, and grammar in an accessible online.... No matter how secular, includes a reference to God are not.! The English Standard Version does n't capitalize divine pronouns He, His '' be written with a H..., so appreciate your additional information only if the parakletos or helper were known to a... English and through typed word, although some people prefer not to write the name God in,... Solid logic to your method, even though I love God and Him! If the common noun provides a generic name for a person, place, thing, or an! Most common questions people ask about religious words is whether to capitalize He and Him,,! To Greek, Roman, and other nouns are capitalized at the discretion of the name is capitalized and it.

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