Conventional English question
Conventional English question
#1Conventional English question
Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:45pm
Forgive my ignorance, but when you're spelling out "twentieth century" (or twenty-first, whatever), what is the convention on capitalizing it?
I'm doing final edits on my thesis, and don't want to get docked for something as minor as a misplaced or lacking capital letter, but I honestly don't know which is correct.
#2re: Conventional English question
Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:50pm
according to these answers, only if it starts a sentence. Otherwise no.
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nmartin
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/3/05
#2re: Conventional English question
Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:50pm
Do not capitalize that...or else!
For real don't cap. it.
#3re: Conventional English question
Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:56pm
Thank you.
My English professor advisor has been on my tail about every conceivable thing in the book, but things like this, they never do clarify for you!
How come you often DO see it capitalized in the middle of a sentence? Is there a time when you ever should? I've always wondered that, since you see people do it both ways. Or are the people who capitalize it always just wrong?
#4conventional english question
Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:57pmwell, who wouldn't be on your tail?
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#5conventional english question
Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:57pm
Hah. Thanks. 
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#6conventional english question
Posted: 4/21/08 at 7:01pmIf she nails you for it, say that you are simply defying the conventions of a stagnant language, blazing a path towards new frontiers in English and besides, your wife is a linguist.
#7conventional english question
Posted: 4/21/08 at 7:06pmGood plan.
george95
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/1/08
#8conventional english question
Posted: 4/21/08 at 7:40pmOnly proper nouns get capitalized in the middle of a sentence. Century is not a common noun, not a proper noun. Twentieth is an adjective. Having an adjective in front of a common noun has no basis on capitalization.
keen on kean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/06
#9conventional english question
Posted: 4/21/08 at 7:47pm
The OWL at Purdue says do not capitalize century names.
Congrats on being almost done!
JohnBoy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/06
#10conventional english question
Posted: 4/22/08 at 8:10am
You've seen it capitalized in the body of a sentence, when the sentence was:
Elizabeth Taylor starred as Cleopatra, for Twentieth Century Fox.
But seriously, perhaps seeing that studio name capitalized (or the title On the Twentieth Century) so many times in your life is what made you think the words should be capitalized.
Updated On: 4/22/08 at 08:10 AM
#11conventional english question
Posted: 4/22/08 at 8:51am
Exactly. If twentieth century is part of a proper name, then it's capitalized. Otherwise not.
Just like the seasons. If you're talking about the Annual Summer Youth Festival, then "summer" is capitalized. It's part of a proper name. Otherwise not.
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#12conventional english question
Posted: 4/22/08 at 9:49am
For all your usage and style questions...
The Bible of Editing
#13conventional english question
Posted: 4/22/08 at 10:32amActually, according to the AP Stylebook, only spell out centuries less than 10 (the first century); for all else use the number (20th century). This applies to numbers in general as well (nine dogs, 101 Dalmatians).
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