Page:The practice of typography; correct composition; a treatise on spelling, abbreviations, the compounding and division of words, the proper use of figures and nummerals by De Vinne, Theodore Low, 1828-1914.djvu/124

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Capitals for certain pronouns

"represent the words substituted by Jewish custom for the ineffable Name,"[1] are presented in capitals and small capitals, as is here shown; but the gods and lords of the heathen have not this distinction. The pronouns Thee, Thou, and Thy, He, Him, and His, specifying God, always begin with a lower-case letter in the Bible, but in hymnbooks and other manuals of devotion it is usual to give to them a capital letter. The pronouns that, which, who, whose, and whom, referring to Deity or divine attributes, do not take a capital letter. The capitalizing of a pronoun is contrary to the general rules of English grammar, but for this purpose capitals have found approval for many years, and when a compositor or proof-reader finds such pronouns consistently capitalized in manuscript he should not make or suggest their alteration to lower-case letters.

The pronoun I and the interjection O always take a capital letter in English writing, but oh does not, except when it begins a sentence. This rule does not always apply to Latin, in which the denouncing or appealing O should appear in the form of a lower-case letter.[2] Sometimes the capital O has been used in famous editions of the classics, but this usage is not approved by the best scholars. The compositor should select the lower-case character.

  1. Preface to Revised Version, 16mo, p. vi, edition of 1885.
  2. Hoceine seclum! o scelera! o genera sacrilega! o hominem impium! Terence, Adelphi, III, ii, 6.
    Adestes o Maria, o Angele, o Patroni castitatis meae.Libellus Precum.