ChatterBank7 mins ago
Spring. Or Spring?
41 Answers
Standard reference works list 'spring' as a common noun, which does not, therefore, take a capital letter, so "I love the Spring" is wrong, but "I love the spring" is correct.
I prefer George Orwell's admonition to disregard any of the above rules if they result in poor English (not about Spring, but you get my drift).
If I write "I prefer the spring", it's not inconceivable that I like a coil of metal wire that goes boing when you push it. But if I write "I prefer the Spring", there is less ambiguity.
Anyone want to argue?
No, sorry, I mean are there any different views?
BB
I prefer George Orwell's admonition to disregard any of the above rules if they result in poor English (not about Spring, but you get my drift).
If I write "I prefer the spring", it's not inconceivable that I like a coil of metal wire that goes boing when you push it. But if I write "I prefer the Spring", there is less ambiguity.
Anyone want to argue?
No, sorry, I mean are there any different views?
BB
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Yes danny, but there are occasions where you might want to write "I prefer the spring (or the Spring)".
My point is, I suppose, that rules written in stone (like Common Nouns must Not Have Capital Letters) are daft. A bit like not being able to use capital letters, not even For Fun. (They were used for emphasis up until the early 19th Century, then for no very good reason went out of fashion - I suppose the more rigid standardisation of English grammar helped kill off random capitals).
BB
My point is, I suppose, that rules written in stone (like Common Nouns must Not Have Capital Letters) are daft. A bit like not being able to use capital letters, not even For Fun. (They were used for emphasis up until the early 19th Century, then for no very good reason went out of fashion - I suppose the more rigid standardisation of English grammar helped kill off random capitals).
BB
I don't capitalise spring the season.
On a similar theme, I've been wondering about capitalising 'Happy birthday'. When writing a card I have always put an upper case B, but I've recently thought that it really shouldn't have one, so I've recently started putting a lower case b, but it doesn't really look right.
On a similar theme, I've been wondering about capitalising 'Happy birthday'. When writing a card I have always put an upper case B, but I've recently thought that it really shouldn't have one, so I've recently started putting a lower case b, but it doesn't really look right.
Danny. I think it's a matter of style, not necessity.
No, you don't 'need' the definite article. I love spring. I love the spring.
Both equally acceptable (in my English world!)
I'm wary of the Grammatical Mavens who descend from their heights to peck mere mortals when they break some obscure rule - I don't mind rules that help with communication, but rules that are there because they're there, well, they don't deserve observance.
BB
No, you don't 'need' the definite article. I love spring. I love the spring.
Both equally acceptable (in my English world!)
I'm wary of the Grammatical Mavens who descend from their heights to peck mere mortals when they break some obscure rule - I don't mind rules that help with communication, but rules that are there because they're there, well, they don't deserve observance.
BB
Prudie, spring is not a proper noun.
https:/
https:/
The BBC
https:/
Guardian
https:/
and Press Gazette
https:/
all advocate the use of lower case initial letters for the seasons in their style guides.
As an aside though, when I'm writing children's fiction I can never get mum/Mum to look right. It's obvious enough when the word is being used as a name (e.g. "Hello, Mum") but elsewhere ("e.g. he was worried about what his mum might say") the lower case simply doesn't look right to me, even though it's only substituting for 'mother' (where the lower case is clearly correct).
https:/
Guardian
https:/
and Press Gazette
https:/
all advocate the use of lower case initial letters for the seasons in their style guides.
As an aside though, when I'm writing children's fiction I can never get mum/Mum to look right. It's obvious enough when the word is being used as a name (e.g. "Hello, Mum") but elsewhere ("e.g. he was worried about what his mum might say") the lower case simply doesn't look right to me, even though it's only substituting for 'mother' (where the lower case is clearly correct).
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