The Controversy About the "T" in The Beatles
This sort of thing can only happen to The Beatles, why? Well, that is what icons and legends are all about- controversy. Many bands since the Fab Four have come and gone, yet, The Beatles still reign. So, it seems fitting that a new debate has occurred involving the band and that is, is it proper or not, to capitalize the t. In print, does one write, The Beatles, or should it be, the Beatles?
Opinions are as diverse as Beatle fans as what their best songs are, who their favorite member is and whether they are the most famous of all rock bands. For the past eight years, online encyclopedias, have been doing exactly that. Wikipedia people state the proper use is, the Beatles, the opposing side states is should always be, The Beatles, because the word "the" is part of their name. Both Paul and Ringo laugh about it, they remain silent on it. One argument for the lowercase proponents is that in 1970 even John Lennon referred to his band as , the Beatles, in a handwritten letter. Well, who has ever thought John used grammar properly, especially in a casual personal letter.
The 85,000 online Wiki editors have decided to let the public decide using an online poll to decide, because they cannot. Publications are as diverse, some will capitalize the T, others, will not. As one of devout Beatle fans, I say, use the smaller t in "the" Beatles but only when used in a sentence, at all other times, use "The" Beatles because it IS part of the name. I know, even this position is conflicting. I have even violated my own rule in the past because "The" is part of the name, yet, you encounter problems like, " When you refer to the The Beatles..." when you write it, which is absent when you speak it.
And, when was the last time someone simple referred to them as just "Beatles"? Almost 100% of the time they are "The" Beatles!
Yeah, yeah, yeah!!!