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Joined: Aug 2008
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stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1 |
Is there a reason to capitalize the words "communist" and "socialist" in this sentence: Anyone who thinks that is nothing but a Socialist or Communist ... This is quoted from a book about writing: "Reading, Writing, and Rhetoric" by Hogins and Yarber. I can understand if he meant "Communist Party of China" where capitalization is required but in this context, is capitalization justified?
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
I would say leave them all lower case unless, as you say, they're part of a proper noun phrase.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
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I would leave it lower case as well but there could be an argument that it is capitalized to indicate that the writer was referring to members of a group or movement and not just to their ideology.
Nope, capitals still look wrong.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,931 Likes: 3 |
If I were still teaching high school I would have the students
leave them in lower case, unless, as Zed says, it refers to
a particular group, and not their ideology.
This is a great topic, our country and its use of language
and grammar sadly and badly needs this, to wit, the media.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3 |
If you're going to label a person a member of the Socialist or Communist groups (parties), then the words Socialist and Communist are proper nouns and should be capitalized.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,931 Likes: 3 |
If you're going to label a person a member of the Socialist or Communist groups (parties), then the words Socialist and Communist are proper nouns and should be capitalized. but would not zed's comment above still be correct?
----please, draw me a sheep----
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 23
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 23 |
Different publishers have their own house rules about capitalization; problems can arise when there is a difference between for instance a college fellow (contemporary) and a College Fellow (proprietor).
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member
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member
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Different publishers have their own house rules about capitalization; problems can arise when there is a difference between for instance a college fellow (contemporary) and a College Fellow (proprietor). But, aren't there a number of style manuals that serve as standards? I think of the Chicago Style Manual for one. When I was in college (1960s), Harbrace's Manual was the standard at the university I attended.
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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But, aren't there a number of style manuals that serve as standards?
There are. They don't always agree on specifics. Different publishers choose different manuals.
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
But, aren't there a number of style manuals that serve as standards?
PastorVon started a sentence with a conjunction! 
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