A writerly question about capitalization...

[michchick98]

Well, this is the Authors' Hangout, right? I couldn't find this answer after searching so I thought I'd ask here.

I'm editing one of my old stories and there's a carnival scene in it. I'm curious if the actual names of rides would be capitalized.

Ones like:

Tilt-a-whirl (or would it be Tilt-A-Whir?l)
Merry-go-round (or would it be Merry-Go-Round?)
House of Mirrors
Ferris Wheel
The Scrambler
The Zipper (although with this one and the one above, 'the' wouldn't be capitalized, right?)

I don't have any of them capitalized now, but I'm not sure if I should or just leave them as is.

 

[sweetness6280]

Well, this is the Authors' Hangout, right? I couldn't find this answer after searching so I thought I'd ask here.

I'm editing one of my old stories and there's a carnival scene in it. I'm curious if the actual names of rides would be capitalized.

Ones like:

Tilt-a-whirl (or would it be Tilt-A-Whir?l)
Merry-go-round (or would it be Merry-Go-Round?)
House of Mirrors
Ferris Wheel
The Scrambler
The Zipper (although with this one and the one above, 'the' wouldn't be capitalized, right?)

I don't have any of them capitalized now, but I'm not sure if I should or just leave them as is.

I know this only because I wrote a paper that included most of these, and the prof and I went round and round about it:

Tilt-A-Whirl
Merry-Go-Round
house of mirrors
Ferris Wheel or Ferris wheel (either appears acceptable)
the Scrambler
the Zipper

At least, that is what the concensus was among the profs. As to whether you should change them now, your call.

 

[michchick98]

I know this only because I wrote a paper that included most of these, and the prof and I went round and round about it:

Tilt-A-Whirl
Merry-Go-Round
house of mirrors
Ferris Wheel or Ferris wheel (either appears acceptable)
the Scrambler
the Zipper

At least, that is what the concensus was among the profs. As to whether you should change them now, your call.

Well, the story was originally published here, but I've since pulled it for polishing to eventually publish with Excessica. So I want to get it right. Yeah, I know, it should be right here, but I figure a few slips on a free site can be excused, as long as the published-for-money version is correct.

Thanks.

Oh and one more:

Bumper Cars or bumper cars?

 

[Stella_Omega]

Some of your rides are generic, like "merry-go-round."Others are "named" like The Zipper, The Scrambler. "The" is part of the name. the Ferris Wheel is named after some dude name of Ferris...

You know that at the carnival itself, all the rides' banners are chock full of capitalization-- and lots of exclamation! points! as well, to keep the mood frenetic and the marks moving. Capitalising them in your story would, I think, contribute to the atmosphere and remind people that they are in a fairground, standing in line for
!The SCRAMBLER!

with all that noise and din around them... or the whispering ghosts of hilarity, as the case might be.

 

[sweetness6280]

Well, the story was originally published here, but I've since pulled it for polishing to eventually publish with Excessica. So I want to get it right. Yeah, I know, it should be right here, but I figure a few slips on a free site can be excused, as long as the published-for-money version is correct.

Thanks.

Oh and one more:

Bumper Cars or bumper cars?

bumper cars

A note about Merry-Go-Round vs. merry-go-round: either would work. My profs stuck with the former, and I kind of blocked out the discussion concerning the why, LOL. The patented or named rides are definitely capitalized.

 

[michchick98]

Some of your rides are generic, like "merry-go-round."Others are "named" like The Zipper, The Scrambler. "The" is part of the name. the Ferris Wheel is named after some dude name of Ferris...

You know that at the carnival itself, all the rides' banners are chock full of capitalization-- and lots of exclamation! points! as well, to keep the mood frenetic and the marks moving. Capitalising them in your story would, I think, contribute to the atmosphere and remind people that they are in a fairground, standing in line for
!The SCRAMBLER!

with all that noise and din around them... or the whispering ghosts of hilarity, as the case might be.

bumper cars

A note about Merry-Go-Round vs. merry-go-round: either would work. My profs stuck with the former, and I kind of blocked out the discussion concerning the why, LOL. The patented or named rides are definitely capitalized.

Thanks ladies! You've been very helpful!