capitalizing when addressing someone in writing.

1. 61

   kookoo88posted 14 years ago

   I am trying to figure out how much I should capitalize when someone is talking to another person.  Here are my samples:
   
   “Hello, my darling Liselle,” he said to her with a happy smile.
   
   Should it be
   "Hello, My Darling Liselle"
   "Hello, my Darling Liselle"
   "Hello, My darling Liselle"
   "Hello, my darling Liselle"
   
   The next one is:
   
   “I don’t know how, my Beautiful Flower."
   
   Should it be:
   “I don’t know how, My Beautiful Flower."
   “I don’t know how, my Beautiful Flower."
   “I don’t know how, my beautiful Flower."
   “I don’t know how, My Beautiful Flower."
   
   The next one is:
   
   “I would too, Vevin Dearest,” Liselle responded seriously.
   
   Should it be:
   
   “I would too, Vevin Dearest,” Liselle responded seriously.
   “I would too, Vevin dearest,” Liselle responded seriously.

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2. 96

   thooghunposted 14 years ago

   You don't need to capitalize the adjectives. You were right the fist time
   
   1. "Hello, my darling Liselle"
   
   The options on the second one are all wrong:
   
   2. “I don’t know how, my beautiful flower." Is the correct approach. Remember that when it comes to nouns, only proper nounsneed to be capped (places, names and things). For more info check:
   
   http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000045.htm
   
   3. “I would too, Vevin dearest,” Liselle responded seriously.

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   1. 62

      couturepopcafeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Unless you're taking poetic license.  But be careful.  You don't want to confuse your reader.

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3. 61

   kookoo88posted 14 years ago

   Thank you both very much.  I keep looking up grammar/capitalization rules and it's starting to muddle my brain.    I did try to drive while using my poetic license once, but I ended up in the ditch, so I leave that at home now.
   
   I know you're supposed to capitalize a title when it takes the place of a name, like: "Hello, Doctor."  But I mistakingly thought it applied to names of affection too.  I will go through and correct those instances.  *long drawn out whine*
   
   *wanders off to make corrections*

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4. 61

   kookoo88posted 14 years ago

   One more question on this subject:  There is another race that addresses the characters using "human" as a sort of surname.  Like this:
   
   “It was a delight to meet you, Liselle Human."
   
   in this instance, do I capitalize human even though it normally wouldn't be?

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   1. 86

      rebekahELLEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I think here, it's your call.

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   2. 96

      thooghunposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, that would make sense for instance:
      
      An extraterrestrial greeting a human:
      
      "Greetings Liselle, Human."
      
      Because the term human is a proper noun (a title) from the alien's point of view

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      1. 86

         rebekahELLEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         excellent call, I tried to think of how it could work, the comma does it.
         
         some good grammar advice for all of us.
         
         welcome kookoo. enjoy writing here.

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      2. 61

         kookoo88posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         On this, I believe the comma needs to be at: "Greetings, Liselle Human"
         
         For this reason:
         "Use commas to set off the name or title of a person being spoken to directly.
         
         Examples:
         For further information, Mr. Lombardo, please contact our regional office in Duluth.
         Vicky, do you have a copy of the company’s most recent annual report?
         I very much appreciate your many helpful suggestions, Professor."
         
         Reference page: http://www.wvup.edu/jcc/pam/commas.htm

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         1. 96

            thooghunposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Additional titles and references are usually suspended by a comma (in this make believe case, I'm sugesting that the word human is a "title" to the alien):
            
            Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second (Liselle), by the Grace of God (human), of Great Britain (writer), Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas Queen (socializer), Defender of the Faith (hubber)
            
            If you wanted to be creative you could use a dash like Iain M Banks does in his sci-fi novels
            
            "Greetings, Liselle-Human"
            
            
            
            P.S: If you wrote "Greetings, Liselle Human" without the comma, people would think it was a surname and not a title.

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            1. 61

               kookoo88posted 14 years agoin reply to this

               I like the dash!  I'm going with that.
               
               Awesome.  Thank you again.

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5. 67

   Mishaposted 14 years ago

   You better socialize than capitalize

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   1. 71

      WryLiltposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Just make sure you marx it correctly.
      
      (You get full marx for that joke!)

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6. 61

   kookoo88posted 14 years ago

   Excellent.  Thank you very much.   I'll keep it capitalized. 
   
   I really appreciate the help.

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