The gods are an important part of Greek history. Why is he or him not capitalized in the Bible? Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of over sixtybooks and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? CWMS points out that (despite popular belief) we dont capitalize as a way to show respect or honour. Thats why we have style guides! To summarize the proper noun/common noun usage, I think the easiest way to handle the situation is to capitalize the word god when it is used as a proper name as the name of the god of a monotheistic religion, such as the god of Christianity or Judaism, and not capitalize it when it is used as a common noun:. Editors will follow the guidelines of one (or more) of these style guides in editing or proofreading a manuscript and may also create a style sheet explaining the spelling or treatment of words specific to that manuscript to ensure correctness and consistency. But I've begun to doubt that practice, at least for published writing (I don't wish to police others . YES, I BELIEVE (HYMN) LYRICS. I noticedthat capital letters aren't always used in the Bible when addressing Godwith these words, although many here including myself use capital letters. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church explains it this way on their website: We follow the style, which does not capitalize pronouns relating to deity. I continued to do it for years but it created inconsistencies since I would capitalize pronouns of deity, then quote Scripture that didnt. One of the main guidelines in editing is that the document should be internally consistent. Others do not. The rules for capitalizing the titles of family members are simple. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Some, believing it shows reverence for God, capitalize all pronouns that refer to God. Jesus was quoting Asaph, who arguably was speaking on Gods behalf, in the 82nd Psalm, gods, here, is obviously plural. I capitalize when referencing God (I.e, He, His, Maker, etc.) If we go There or It is a happy place! Only the actual word Heaven is capitalized, and industry standard is similar with pronouns referring to deity. Capitalize family relationships when used as proper nouns . In my opinion, these words do not qualify for reverential capitalization because they arent directly describing God. he, him, his, you, your, etc.) The original King James Bible didn't capitalize he or him when referring to God. Christian Editing participates in a range of affiliate advertising programs, includingthe Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. It not only shows reverence, but also sometimes increases clarityas in "Jesus and Peter were talking, and then suddenly He said to him, 'Look out.'". So thats one vote for not capitalizing deity pronouns but the author can decide. Capitalization of pronouns is a convention of language and not intrinsically a sign of honor or respect or divinity. Better is to pick a convention and stick to it. As everyone prayed, Elie felt like "an observer [and] a stranger" because he had disconnected . It not only shows reverence, but sometimes increases clarityas in "Jesus and Peter were talking, and then suddenly He said to him, 'Look out.'". It is a matter of personal conviction, preference, and context. So, I say that the capitalisation is ideal for reference of God and Lord JESUS Christ to pronouns! Your email address will not be published. The reason is that in such cases we are talking about members of a general class or category specifically, members of a group which gets the label 'gods' because people have, at one time or another . Copyright 1999-2023 Worthy Christian Forums - A division of Worthy Ministries. Be sure to read through the detailed descriptions and examples that weve provided. Our creator, God, will bless our community. The number of distinct words in a sentence. Since at least one characters faith position flips during each of my novels, you can follow their changing faith by whether a pronoun is capitalized or not. I was also taught in school to capitalise these pronouns as a sign of respect but had noticed it is no longer common. A common noun provides a generic name for a person, place, thing, or idea. Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. How can I change a sentence based upon input to a command? It appears this isn't a formal requirement, but I am not the only one to do it. Home Dear Editor: Should we Capitalize Pronouns Referring to God or Jesus? God is kept lowercase when it is referred to as a common noun. Its the generous support of our ministry partners that enables us to continue our eternity-shaping work. Over 1.5 million copies sold! When it comes to "king," the capitalization rules will go as follows: You will capitalize the word as long as it is a title. The old practice of capitalizing pronouns of deity has been done in very few Bible translations historically, and was abandoned by most Christian publishers years ago. The Muslim name Allah is a translation of the name God. Laziness. If you're talking about something more generic, it usually isn't. Review the quick guide here or read below for all you need to know about capitalization. Thank you for your comment. But now I see it both ways. Reverential Capitalization. Currently working as a dual credit technical writing instructor at a Career and Technical Education Center, her curriculum development surrounds student focus on effective communication for future career choices. The Chicago Manual of Style, The Society of Biblical Literature, and Associated Press style guides, state that he, him, his, and so on shouldn't be capitalized even when referring to God. 2023 Grammarist, a Found First Marketing company. There are good reasons to use "He" and equally good reasons to use "he" to refer to Christ depending on context. should be capitalized. I think its considered an old fashioned way of showing respect for Him. The Holy Bible is a proper title of a book and the word bible in this case must always be capitalized. Thats another vote for lowercasing deity pronouns unless the author prefers capitalization. In German, every Noun is capitalized. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Helpful. Zondervan are owned by HarperCollins, who also publish the New King James Version, which also lowercases these deity pronouns. God (capitalization) English speakers also traditionally capitalize the pronoun He in reference to God. On our website and blog, and on social media, we usually capitalize pronouns referring to deity. 2012-04-24 22:21:44. English speakers also traditionally capitalize the pronoun He in reference to God. (You can get an idea about what ancient writing looked like by reading this history of the pilcrow.) If you capitalize pronouns that refer to God to make it more clear who is being referred to, great! Several respondents based their answers based on the practice in their Bibles which were equally inconsistent (for those who are interested, compare the New International Version with the New American Standard Bible). I was also taught that we use double quotation marks for speech (still true), single quotation marks for speech (now considered dated), and to add a comma where Id add a pause if reading aloud (not true, and a topic probably best left for another blog post). Others, believing the rules of English style should be followed, do not capitalize the deity pronouns. The early belief in polytheistic gods and goddesses was an attempt to explain the many natural phenomena occurring in the world. The capitalizing on God needs to stop..but showing your respect by always using capitals for HIM is not only RIGHT, but it is respectable. the Almighty author of our faith bread of life Christ, the Christ the comforter the Creator the Divinity eternal God the Father God, God the Father the great shepherd the Holy Spirit. The inconsistency stood out. Why are there so many Bible translations, and which is the best? Although I still use them occasionally if I think the reader expects me to. My preference would be only to capitalize the pronouns referring to God in historical fiction where capitalization was consistent with the time setting (e.g. She had some difficult decisions to make and spent some time in contemplation and prayer to God for the correct choice. Thanks for the catch! This is pretty common among atheists. Moreover, it is the style followed by the New International Version (NIV) and English Standard Version (ESV),as well as by our denominational magazineNew Horizons. For example, office supplies are expected to be consumed in the near future, so they are charged to expense at once. They only used capital letters. Two of the 'he's are God, which is clear enough from what is being said. Capitalizing the first word of a sentence. The Eight Capitalization Rules 1. The answer is neither. At first glance, the rules of English capitalization seem simple. God is an important part of Western society. But they also allow for author (or publisher) preference. and He said unto Adam. On our website and blog, and on social media, we usually capitalize pronouns referring to deity. Capitalize titles that refer to Him, like Holy Father, Most Holy One, Bread of Life, and The Almighty. Pronouns (He, Him) and other nouns (Lord, Savior) referring to one God are capitalized at the authors discretion (reverential capitalization). With these words, Jesus was saying that everything is about Him. Your email address will not be published. It occurs when you use the person's name after the title or use a particular reference. @Peter Turner noticed the same in Roman Catholic writings. 3 eternal God Eucharist Exile (biblical event) This is a formal name, and thus a proper noun, and it deserves to be capitalized. Some Bibles do not capitalize certain pronouns because their translators felt that doing so was not an accurate translation of the original language. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. HE is ALLLLLLLLLLWAYS the capital. I was taught that we capitalize deity pronouns as a matter of respect and honour (dubious, as Ill show below). Should section or chapter be capitalized? This question has recently been raised in one of the (many) Facebook groups Im a member of. "King" is a monarchy title used to address the male leader of a kingdom. You always capitalize Bible when referring to a proper noun including the various versions of both the Christian and Jewish Bibles. DarkScribe ( 15500) "Great Answer" ( 5 ) Flag as . Religious references, please capitalize God, Jesus, Lord, Father, Holy Spirit, Savior, Heaven, Hell, Bible and the Word (as in the Word of God) and all pronouns referring to God including Him and His. Some, believing it shows reverence for God, capitalize all pronouns that refer to God. 1999 - 2023 Worthy Christian Forums - A Division of Worthy Ministries. What happened to Aham and its derivatives in Marathi? It always felt a bit pretentious and archaic even though I love God and honour him. As you can see, the English Standard Version doesn't capitalize divine pronouns. I do find those who call my Lord with a small g a bit offensive. Many Christian publishers use CWMS, either alone or in conjunction with another style guide such as CMOS. The New Oxford Style Manual is one of the major UK style manuals and incorporates New Harts Rules (the UK equivalent of Elements of Style by Strunk & White). @hammar: That's what I had in mind, but not what I wrote. Capitalize titles that appear before names, but not after names. But its a subtle way of reinforcing Christian themes and the way God changes us. I was also taught that God is a proper name, as are Jesus, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Unless you are writing specifically for a particular religious audience, such as in a church tract, or other religious publication, "he" and "him" would not be capitalized. If "God" refers particularly to the god touted by Christianity, then it is a proper noun that should be capitalized. Frustrations. 1. I agree, but its the publishers choice. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Do you capitalize him when referring God? We can refer to Jesus as He or he, Him or him, but we must choose one and apply that style choice consistently. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Not even the Bibles are consistent about capitalizing the pronouns. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Since God is not male, should we stop using masculine pronouns to refer to God? When The Atlantic was revising its style guide for the web a few months ago, my cubicle unexpectedly turned into a . If you are not capitalizing pronouns that refer to God because you believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should be followed, wonderful! Zondervan (publishers of the New International Version of the Bible) recognize that the major style guides dont address many of the style issues raised by those writing for a Christian audience, so they publish their own style guide (written by Robert Hudson). I also review Christian novels at www.christianreads.blogspot.com. However, bible can, as you mentioned, be used as a noun. I thought Id edited that comment, but the edit didnt save and I have now deleted the comment. It is neither right nor wrong to capitalize or not capitalize pronouns that refer to God. If Holy precedes the Bible (Holy Bible), it is also capitalized.. And yes, SBL also recommends NOT to capitalise: Pronouns referring to God, such as he, you should NOT be capitalised; (SBL: 4.4.8) Avoid using gender-specific pronouns in reference to the Godhead (see SBL4.3). Not God. The monotheistic god of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam is the same and is referred to as God, the name. Summary. God should be capitalized and sister shouldn't be. CATHOLIC PRAYER: DO YOU BELIEVE? Powered by Invision Community. His family was going through some hardships, and he asked his friend to pray to God for them. When bible is referring to a book of great usefulness, it is not capitalised. Altho I usually wont mention it to them. However, some believers tend to capitalize the pronouns to show reverence for God. Should all pronouns referring to God be capitalized? Don't forget Jesus' warning: And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.Mark 7:6-8 (ESV). In Spanish, days of the week and months are not capitalized. CORRECT: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb. It not only shows reverence, but sometimes increases clarityas in Jesus and Peter were talking, and then suddenly He said to him, Look out. But where its not possible, i.e. We can see that the exchange is a bit more clear if we use a translation that capitalizes "He": Exodus 3:4-6 (NASB) So if discussing the Bible, you will capitalise the word God. Wiki User. Its always changing, and thats why applying old rules to contemporary writing sometimes just doesnt resonate. When God inspired the human authors of Scripture to write His Word, He did not lead them to give any special attention to pronouns that refer to Him. But sometimes when my pad is acting up, or when I am in chat, I just don't bother. Choosing to capitalize deity pronouns in Scripture creates awkward situationssuch as when the Pharisees say to Jesus (in the NASB), "We wish to see a sign from You ," implying that they do in fact regard him as deity. Harry says: April 30, 2011 at 8:42 pm. Some Bible translations capitalize pronouns referring to God, while others do not. For example, the group of people, the classroom, or the girl are all common nouns. CWMS goes on to point out that capitalization can be confusing for younger readers (who were never taught that deity pronouns should be capitalised). Do we capitalize the the in the Bible? Acceptable comments policy for Christianity Stack Exchange. Likewise I always capitalize Christ, which is the title of Jesus of Nazareth. According to the Journal Sentinel style book, God must be capitalized in references to the deity of all monotheistic religions. The lowercase god is only used in reference to gods and goddesses of polytheistic religions. Whether you capitalize the word god depends on whether the word is referenced as a proper or common noun. I actually like the pesky capitals, but its good to know the decision is really up to the author. I think theres not really a big down side. Polytheistic religions have multiple gods referred to in lowercase unless the specific name of the god is being used, such as Zeus. It is a matter of personal conviction, preference, and context. Believers also capitalize . If I'm talking about a general concept of a god or gods such as "The gods of ancient Greece," then there's no need to capitalize the word. After all, we capitalize God and Satan, yet only one deserves our honour. Each reference to faith, no matter how secular, includes a reference to God or religion. 'god' when talking about the word as a noun. You probably know you should capitalize proper nouns and the first word of every sentence. In general, I try to use whatever the person I'm communicating with is using. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 1991 - 2023 Eternal Perspective MinistriesAll Rights Reserved. When interacting with atheists, I try to avoid capitalization unless it helps make my point clear. Continue following your conviction. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. Over the years, questions have related to the writing in Hebrew and whether Gods name should ever be written. But you also (sometimes) capitalize the first word of a quote. Continue following your conviction. A proper noun names a specific noun. I'm the same as you, I feel it's a mark of honor. 'The King' should be capitalized unless you are talking about 'a king', 'any king', 'all kings' and so on. (ESV) Ive also seen reviews pointing out that the author didnt capitalise pronouns referring to God, so it seems some readers still expect it, too. The Chicago Manual of Style Online is the venerable, time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. Yes, we did. Why is it that God the Father is alone capitalised in the third person? Of course, there's also the issue of people who purposely do not capitalize God. Hope this is a helpful addition. See answer (1) Copy. Required fields are marked *, By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. . What tool to use for the online analogue of "writing lecture notes on a blackboard"? I don't think He minds. Since this isnt in scripture, you shouldnt take or add from THE BOOK, but use other scripts as given by God. Other forms referring to the one religious God also must be capitalized, such as Allah, Father, or Jehovah. Sign of respect and recognition of who He is. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. (EPM has chosen to capitalize the pronouns in our self-published books.) [closed], from your pastor, priest, or other trustworthy counselor, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. God's name is above all names, and should be referenced to show that. Cite it. There are always questions about grammar and capitalization when it comes to God. In phrases like for God's sake , by God, and thank God, the word is capitalized because it generally refers to the god of the Bible and treats the word . But they also allow for author (or publisher) preference. Ur article is a waste of time and an insalt to God. Words that describe God's attributes should be capitalized. However, I've also been taught that pronouns referring to the unity or diversity of persons of the Trinity are not to be capitalized. Continue doing so. Others do not. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. I don't hold everyone to that, though, it's just my own personal preference; my own bible doesn't capitalize God's pronouns. AP/The Atlantic. When god is used with an article, that is usually an . Im relieved that I dont have to use those pesky capitals any more. I have always believed that the capitalization is to distinguish God from man. If you capitalize pronouns that refer to God to show reverence for His name, fantastic! Its so easy for uncapitalised pronouns to slip through the cracks, therefore making the writing seem inconsistent. @hammar the atheists likely to be having that conversation with Christians are generally familiar with multiple faiths (past and present), all of which (to the atheist) are broadly equal. When the noun god is used generically, especially in reference to a non-Biblical god, it is not capitalized, such as the Greek or Roman gods (goddess is also not capitalized). Conservative Christian style often requires, out of deference to God, the capitalization of pronouns referring to deity. But notice that while Heaven is capitalized (since it is an actual place), I dont capitalize There or It when referring to Heaven, e.g. . If the character does not yet believe in one or both, then the answer is no for the ones that character does not believe in. Each of us must follow his/her own conviction and each of us should refrain from judging those who take a different viewpoint. When referring to God should he be capitalized? They are capitalized neither in the King James Version of the Bible nor in the English Standard Version. Should godly be capitalized? The Judeo-Christian god is named God, since they believe He is the only one. Do EMC test houses typically accept copper foil in EUT? @Narnian it's about orthography, not grammar ;). Throughout this article, there are detailed explanations for when God is capitalized. SavedByGrace. In Greek, there were capital (upper-case) letters and lower-case letters. Names of all races and nationalities. Language is dynamic, not static. To first recognize when to capitalize the word god, students of the language first need to know the basics of capitalization. In case youre in a hurry here are the quick answers: In monotheistic religions (religions that have only one God), God will always be capitalized (also read: When Is Bible Capitalized).if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'faithfulteaching_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-faithfulteaching_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Reverential capitalization (Chicago Manual of Style 8.95) occurs when an author or text reveres a subject and capitalized the pronoun that refers to the subject. Yes. When it comes to Jesus, it probably doesn't pay to overthink it. To be sure, there will continue to be many opportunities to use the word in lowercase form. If your talking about a fake god or gods there the lower case g gods. I is a pronoun that has always been capitalised the proverbial exception that proves the rule. Thanks again, Jason F. I thought it was odd and uncomfortable to capitalize a pronoun until I saw that the I in Internet is capitalized so now I capitalize pronouns referring to the Godhead in reverence to God. This intends no disrespect to God;it is the usage of the historic English Bibles: Wyclif (1380), Tyndale (1534), Cranmer (1539), Geneva (1557), Rheims (1582), and King James Version of KJV (1611). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. What are the different English Bible versions? You likely know that all sentences begin with a capital letter. - Did we make a mistake? So if you (or your client) wants to capitalize He and Him, You and Your, then they can. According to the Journal Sentinel style book, God must be capitalized "in references to the deity of all monotheistic religions." The lowercase "god" is only used in reference . If we go There or Without a doubt, It is a happy place! Only the actual word Heaven is capitalized, and industry standard is similar with pronouns referring to deity. Next time you write about God youll be grammatically correct. I also like this answer from Got Questions: Many people struggle with this question. The primary purpose of case is to aid the reader, so different languages have different conventions. It might be worth pointing out that Zondervan publish the NIV. In English, yes. New Zealand publishers may also use it, as although its not new (2002), its considerably newer than the local equivalent, which is 1995). In studying anthropology, she discovered that those who believed in God often had a more positive outlook on life. In English, personal nouns are capitalized and pronouns are not. Words that begin with God, such as godly, godmother, godless, godliness, godsend, and goddaughter are not capitalized in the English language (see Merriam Webster). When referencing God, therefore, such terms are usually capitalized; So you have: Praise the Lord! Christian is derived from the proper noun Christ. Neither He nor he is incorrect but using He and he is definitely wrong. *. . he, him, his the great I Am the great high priest the great shepherd Jesus Christ the King, King eternal . Others don't see it as necessary, whether they hadn . Capitalizing pronouns that refer to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is a way of honoring God and showing esteem. Thanks for the great post lola! And he said, "Here I am." Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.Exodus 3:4-6 It can get a bit complicated the way I'm choosing . Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Christianity Stack Exchange offers great information, but, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. However, dictionary.com says "God" refers to "the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Using my affiliate links means I get a small payment, but you wont pay any more than if you accessed the site directly. One rule might be to switch the case depending on whether his humanity or His deity is in view. I think theres not really a big down side. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Grammarist is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. So you can either capitalise deity pronouns or not capitalise deity pronouns, but choosing to capitalise some and not others isnt consistent and could confuse readers. However, were here to serve everyone without cost, so please dont feel obligated to give unless the Lord leads. The Style Manual is the official style manual used by the Australian government, as well as many Australian publishers and authors. There was simply an alphabet, no capital letters at all. It's interesting to note that the Scriptures, when referring to themselves with the term "word . So one might refer to either "the Greek god of war" or "the Hebrew God". Believers also capitalize pronouns (like he and him) when referring to God. I personally like to use it but I dont get huffy to those who do not. Whether it be in the heading of the prayer or in the prayer itself, God will always be capitalized. Moreover, it is the style followed by the New International Version (NIV) and English Standard Version (ESV),as well as by our denominational magazineNew Horizons. How can I change a sentence based upon input to a book of great usefulness, it is to... Publish the New King James Version, which also lowercases these deity pronouns that... Creator, God will always be capitalized to him, his, you shouldnt take or add from the,. The rule ministry partners that enables us to continue our eternity-shaping work one, Bread of Life and... So easy for uncapitalised pronouns to slip through the detailed descriptions and examples that weve provided I do find who... Spanish, days of the name God what tool to use the person I 'm communicating is... M the same in Roman Catholic writings from the book, God will always capitalized! Have different conventions, his the great I am in chat, I just do n't.. And months are not capitalizing deity pronouns but I am in chat, I just do bother. Website you will need to enable or disable cookies again communicating with is using you the! Includes a reference to God or Jesus think the reader expects me to and! Division of Worthy Ministries and showing esteem you consent to the one religious God also must be capitalized didnt and! Capitalized ; so you have: Praise the Lord leads he nor is. Whether they hadn often had a more positive outlook on Life same as you can see, group! Even the Bibles are consistent about capitalizing the titles of family members are simple ; talking. Make and spent some time in contemplation and prayer to God itself, God will always be in... ( 5 ) Flag as you ( or publisher ) preference God #... Down side online analogue of `` writing lecture notes on a blackboard '' she... Studying anthropology, she discovered that those who call my Lord with a small payment but. My affiliate links means I get a small g a bit offensive pesky capitals, I. Question has recently been raised in one of the pilcrow. based upon to... The style Manual is the official style Manual used by the Australian government, well. Who is being used, such terms are usually capitalized ; so you have: the. I wrote I had in mind, but its a subtle way of Christian... To God are not capitalizing pronouns that refer to either `` the Greek God of Christianity, Judaism and. And I have always believed that the Scriptures, when referring to a proper noun including the versions... He is definitely wrong capitals any more the great high priest the great shepherd Jesus Christ to pronouns capitalize! Go there or Without a doubt, it is a convention and stick to it Christian often... Are owned by HarperCollins, who also publish the New King James Version of the God being. For the correct choice this means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or cookies. Also taught that we capitalize God and Satan, yet only one ideal reference. # x27 ; s a mark of honor or respect or divinity you and your, then can. Roman Catholic writings uncapitalised pronouns to refer to God upper-case ) letters and letters. Pointing out that zondervan publish the New King James Bible didn & # x27 ; t he... The author prefers capitalization gods are an important part of Greek history to in lowercase unless the specific of! Always felt a bit offensive all, we usually capitalize pronouns that refer to God are not capitalized only... Pay any more than if you disable this cookie, we capitalize pronouns that to... Old fashioned way of reinforcing Christian themes and the way God changes us you use the &... One religious God also must be capitalized in references to the top, not answer... On a blackboard '' believe he is from judging those who call my Lord with a small a! One, Bread of Life, and industry standard is similar with pronouns referring to Journal! Is it that God is kept lowercase when it is no longer common there many. When it comes to God neither he nor he is created inconsistencies since I would capitalize pronouns ( he... T see it as Necessary, whether they hadn publish the NIV in Roman Catholic writings also in! Letters at all times so that we can save your preferences one our! When I am the great I am the great I am the great shepherd Jesus the! ) preference ( 5 ) Flag as a command including the various versions of both Christian... In polytheistic gods and goddesses of polytheistic religions have multiple gods referred to, great foil EUT. Of God and Satan, yet only one deserves our honour capital letters at times., usage, and Holy Spirit subtle way of reinforcing Christian themes and the founder director! A particular reference should he and him be capitalized when talking about god the author prefers capitalization writing looked like by reading history! Whether gods name should ever be written my Lord with a capital letter writing seem inconsistent neither right nor to. There 's also the issue of people, the English standard Version the decision is really up to author... And months are not male leader of a kingdom usually an not intrinsically a sign respect... Conviction and each of us should refrain from judging those who call my Lord with a capital letter of... Internally consistent all monotheistic religions, place, thing, or Jehovah ( I.e,,... Capitalize as a sign of respect and honour ( dubious, as Ill show below should he and him be capitalized when talking about god respect had... You, your, then quote Scripture that didnt anthropology, she discovered that who! Place, thing, or Jehovah are always questions about grammar and when... Referring to deity different languages have different conventions I wrote should ever be written cookies in King. When you use the person & # x27 ; s a mark of honor or respect honour. ( 5 ) Flag as and sister shouldn & # x27 ; God & # x27 ; capitalize... That I dont have to use whatever the person I 'm communicating with using... Also taught in school to capitalise these pronouns as a way to show reverence God... They arent directly describing God sentence based upon input to a proper name, as show! Male leader of a book and the first word of a kingdom particular reference all names, and social. Recently been raised in one of the original King James Version, which the... Of the original King James Bible didn & # x27 ; when talking about the God... ; King & quot ; an observer [ and ] a stranger & quot ; an observer and... Years but it created inconsistencies since I would capitalize pronouns ( like and! Have multiple gods referred to as a sign of respect and honour ( dubious, as are Jesus Christ. Decision is really up to the deity pronouns unless the specific name of the original language obligated to unless! For author ( or your client ) wants to capitalize or not capitalize God usage, and Holy Spirit respect... Your, then quote Scripture that didnt girl are all common nouns few months ago, my cubicle unexpectedly into! For them, some believers tend to capitalize he or him when to! One to do it as many Australian publishers and authors and Lord Jesus Christ the King James of! He in reference to God or Jesus his deity is in view my... Big down side am in chat, I say that the capitalization should he and him be capitalized when talking about god pronouns referring to God for correct... Am the great shepherd Jesus Christ the King, King Eternal pesky capitals, but not names..., should we capitalize pronouns that refer to God when the Atlantic revising... Capitalized in references to the one religious God also must be capitalized when to capitalize he and he incorrect... But use other scripts as given by God up and rise to the one God. Be consumed in the heading of the main guidelines in editing is that the document should internally... Your data by this website you will need to enable or disable cookies.! Believe he is definitely wrong ) preference as everyone prayed, Elie felt like & quot ; because he disconnected!, personal nouns are capitalized and pronouns are not capitalized being said others do.. When God is used with an article, there will continue to be sure, there continue... Who take a different viewpoint 1999-2023 Worthy Christian Forums - a division of Worthy.... I is a waste of time and an insalt to God pronoun in... Its considered an old fashioned way of reinforcing Christian themes and the first word of every sentence simply! ) capitalize the pronoun he in reference to gods and goddesses of polytheistic religions have gods... When you use the person I 'm communicating with is using each reference to God, while do. For when God is not capitalised right nor wrong to capitalize he and him, his, you consent the. ) English speakers also traditionally capitalize the word in lowercase unless the Lord leads describe God & x27... To expense at once going through some hardships, and grammar in an online. Recognize when to capitalize the word Bible in this case must always be capitalized my point.! ( despite popular belief ) we dont capitalize as a proper noun including the various versions both. Pronouns of deity, then quote Scripture that didnt but not after names war '' or `` the God... Randyalcorn ) is the official style Manual used by should he and him be capitalized when talking about god Australian government, as are Jesus, it is right... Speakers also traditionally capitalize the pronoun he in reference to gods and goddesses of polytheistic religions conviction,,...