Admittedly My Achilles Heel, Need Caps Help

[AsylumSeeker]

I do have a problem with nicknames, knowing when to capitalize. When does 'sugar-daddy' become 'Sugar-Daddy'?

I'm not unfamiliar with the use of proper nouns except as they apply to nicknames. I think I have figured out 'my mom' versus "Mom', my father versus 'Daddy', etc. But is it 'honey' or 'Honey'? 'Or sweetheart' versus 'Sweetheart'?

I'm just trying to be the best editor I can be and not disappoint, or embarrass, those I help.

 

[cloudy]

I do have a problem with nicknames, knowing when to capitalize. When does 'sugar-daddy' become 'Sugar-Daddy'?

I'm not unfamiliar with the use of proper nouns except as they apply to nicknames. I think I have figured out 'my mom' versus "Mom', my father versus 'Daddy', etc. But is it 'honey' or 'Honey'? 'Or sweetheart' versus 'Sweetheart'?

I'm just trying to be the best editor I can be and not disappoint, or embarrass, those I help.

the easiest way to remember:

If you are addressing someone, as in: "Sweetheart, will you put these away for me?" then it's capitalized, because (and here's what makes it easy) "sweetheart" is taking the place of their given name.

If you were talking to someone about her, and said: "My sweetheart lives the next town over" it wouldn't be capitalized, because it's not taking the place of her given name.

Is that easier?

 

[palisa]

Caps

Some authorities say terms of endearment should never be capped, but Cloudy's approach is as good as any.

At a certain point, it seems to me, all this becomes more a matter of consistency rather than rules. The problem is defining that line where consistency begins to be more important.

My own approach (when not constrained by an organizational style book) is to go lightly with caps, because when you overuse them, the text starts looking odd, like pills on a sweater or random burned-out bulbs in a scrolling light sign.

FWIW, I'd omit the hyphen in "sugar daddy" as well, whether you agree with Cloudy's or the "never-cap" approach and whether you're using it as a name or as a description. Again, in my minimalist approach, there's no chance of any confusion in meaning when the hyphen is omitted, so it's unnecessary.

 

[CopyCarver]

Some authorities say terms of endearment should never be capped, but Cloudy's approach is as good as any.

At a certain point, it seems to me, all this becomes more a matter of consistency rather than rules. The problem is defining that line where consistency begins to be more important.

My own approach (when not constrained by an organizational style book) is to go lightly with caps, because when you overuse them, the text starts looking odd, like pills on a sweater or random burned-out bulbs in a scrolling light sign.

FWIW, I'd omit the hyphen in "sugar daddy" as well, whether you agree with Cloudy's or the "never-cap" approach and whether you're using it as a name or as a description. Again, in my minimalist approach, there's no chance of any confusion in meaning when the hyphen is omitted, so it's unnecessary.

I'll vote that ticket. House style prevails if there is one. If not, I rely on judgment calls, tempered by readability and consistency.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Thanks, Ya'll (or ya'll...?)

Some authorities say terms of endearment should never be capped, but Cloudy's approach is as good as any.

At a certain point, it seems to me, all this becomes more a matter of consistency rather than rules. The problem is defining that line where consistency begins to be more important.

My own approach (when not constrained by an organizational style book) is to go lightly with caps, because when you overuse them, the text starts looking odd, like pills on a sweater or random burned-out bulbs in a scrolling light sign.

FWIW, I'd omit the hyphen in "sugar daddy" as well, whether you agree with Cloudy's or the "never-cap" approach and whether you're using it as a name or as a description. Again, in my minimalist approach, there's no chance of any confusion in meaning when the hyphen is omitted, so it's unnecessary.

I'm guessing that hyphens are like commas. In other words, there are no dried-in-cement rules for their use. I like hyphens linking two words when the words flow together quickly, it maintains the tempo of my intended writing. The same way commas indicate a brief pause. But now we're wandering off-subject (again, the hyphen!).

Maybe as editors we need to have a pow-wow to addres these inconsistencies? I'm willing to go along with the group mentality <watching LadyC cringe at the mere suggestion - LOL>. Then again, is standardization not a bad thing?

Okay, thanks for the inputs. I'll try to take heed.

 

[sr71plt]

I'm guessing that hyphens are like commas. In other words, there are no dried-in-cement rules for their use. I like hyphens linking two words when the words flow together quickly, it maintains the tempo of my intended writing. The same way commas indicate a brief pause. But now we're wandering off-subject (again, the hyphen!).

Maybe as editors we need to have a pow-wow to addres these inconsistencies? I'm willing to go along with the group mentality <watching LadyC cringe at the mere suggestion - LOL>. Then again, is standardization not a bad thing?

Okay, thanks for the inputs. I'll try to take heed.

Sure, there's lots of guidance available, much of it very specific, on hyphenation. (See Chicago Manual of Style 7.82 through 7.90, with 7.90 being a very detailed chart.) The general rule is, when in doubt, don't--and if a compound noun isn't found hyphenated in Webster's, don't--just leave it open.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Tipping my Hat

Sure, there's lots of guidance available, much of it very specific, on hyphenation. (See Chicago Manual of Style 7.82 through 7.90, with 7.90 being a very detailed chart.) The general rule is, when in doubt, don't--and if a compound noun isn't found hyphenated in Webster's, don't--just leave it open.

Thanks, sr, for doing your homework, and for sharing. It's much appreciated. I don't like it, I prefer hyphens, but I will adapt.

Salute!

 

[CopyCarver]

Thanks, sr, for doing your homework, and for sharing. It's much appreciated. I don't like it, I prefer hyphens, but I will adapt.

Salute!

On the other hand, compound adjectives usually benefit from hyphens, so you may be able to get your "fix" there.