Capitalizing ‘God’

[Trionyx]

The word ‘god’ when used as a common noun is not capitalized. For example: These people only believe in one god.
When used as a name, it should be capitalized. For example: Please give me strength, God.

If someone is in the throes of sexual activity and is calling out “oh dear god”, “god, oh god, oh god”, or something similar, are they talking in general terms (not capitalized) or are they calling on a specific god (capitalized)?

 

[Blind_Justice]

Since we're talking dialogue, you can allow yourself some leeway. It probably boils down to the individual in question if they're generic or specific.

I know, not very helpful...

 

[Demiurging]

I doubt you'll have angry monotheists knocking at your door either way, but I'd say just use the lowercase. If I'm reading that and it's capitalized each time, I think I'd be tripped up a little.

Unless, you know, they're literally fucking God, in which case probably use the capitalized form.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Conventionally a "My God" would capitalised in print, but once you get to multiples, less so.

I tend to have it uncapitalised for most characters but have it used both rarely and capitalised for a character who is actually a believing Christian. The ex-Catholic would generally have it uncapitalised except when talking about the God he was raised to believe in.

No complaints so far.

 

[TheRedChamber]

Question was more nuanced that I was expecting...

Assuming your protagonists are from a Christian culture (even if they are athiests themselves) I'd say capitalize it. It looks wrong to me otherwise.

 

[Winter_Fare]

I don't capitalise unless actually talking about God. That's what most style guides recommend I think.

 

[Rustyoznail]

I look at it the same way as capitalising Mom/mom.

"Your mom looks hot."

"My Mom is hot."

"Oh God, save me from this rampant penis!"

"Oh god oh god oh god."

 

[KeithD]

The word ‘god’ when used as a common noun is not capitalized. For example: These people only believe in one god.
When used as a name, it should be capitalized. For example: Please give me strength, God.

If someone is in the throes of sexual activity and is calling out “oh dear god”, “god, oh god, oh god”, or something similar, are they talking in general terms (not capitalized) or are they calling on a specific god (capitalized)?

Agree with the distinction made in the first paragraph. The wrinkle I put to it in my stories, though, is that when I'm using "god" as a form of exclamation, like "oh god" the same as "oh shit," I don't cap it. It has to be the actual recognized deity of the character using the term to be capped.

Spellcheck doesn't agree with me, but there are a lot of things about the use of English that spellcheck doesn't know.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I look at it the same way as capitalising Mom/mom.

"Your mom looks hot."

"My Mom is hot."

"Oh God, save me from this rampant penis!"

"Oh god oh god oh god."

Didn't know your mum was American, Rusty. Or are you selling out your Australian heritage?

 

[KeithD]

I look at it the same way as capitalising Mom/mom.

"Your mom looks hot."

"My Mom is hot."

"Oh God, save me from this rampant penis!"

"Oh god oh god oh god."

The "my" in "My mom is hot," makes it generic, so it wouldn't be capped. "I must say that Mom is hot" would be capped. (direct name substitution)

And, as noted, I would write "Oh, god, save me from this rampant penis!" because I just can't see calling on the actual God when invoking the name this way. Same with using a variation of the "Oh, christ almighty" casual exclamation. Just the way I'd do it to reduce the profanity of it.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

I'd never write Christ without a capital. It's a name. Same with Jesus. But 'jeez' would work.

'God' has become a generic interjection in a way that other terms haven't, but still seems religious to some people, as opposed to 'goodbye' which has lost all religious sentiment.

I agree that "My mom is hot" vs "My, Mom is hot!" would be the correct choices, assuming one's mother is hot and from the West Midlands or some foreign place where the word Mom is used.

 

[Rustyoznail]

EB, mate, I'm just playing to the audience. You know what Yanks are like...

I was actually thinking about a nun or a very religious woman who's about to be ravaged.

See, it's all about context. Which I didn't supply.

 

[RejectReality]

An additional Lit wrinkle is that I've found people are far more likely to be offended by capitalizing it when used as an exclamation than not. People complain that you're pushing your religion on them because it's capitalized.

Beginning of a sentence ( which I do my best to avoid, often by replacing it with "Gawd" for younger characters. ) or if it's explicitly referencing God as used by a character who is a believer.

 

[MrPixel]

Hmm... likewise, more or less. I use "gawd" exclusively in the exclamation context. Twelve years of childhood churchgoing just won't let me do otherwise. In a section of my main series not published yet I do have one semi-authority character who uses "God" twice in dialog, but like you say, it's as an apparent believer.

I do use "god" or "gods" in generic situations, such as, "Here. SPF50. You don't want to anger the sunburn gods."

 

[SimonDoom]

If the word is being used in a nonspecific way, I don't think capitalization is necessary. In an exclamation, for instance, where it's not meant as an actual prayer to a specific deity:

"Oh my god," he said, after she had come for the second time.

"Oh god oh god oh god," he cried out in the throes of passion.

But

"My God, help me," he said.

It's different from the "mum/mom" rule in this respect. "My mom/mum" but "Hi Mum/Mom!"

I think this is a "rule" I forget to follow a lot, but I'm going to check.

 

[lovecraft68]

Because I don't believe I never capitalize it. I think part of that is due to when I look at people who do, but then see the horrific shit show the world is, then if he were real he wouldn't deserve the respect of a capital. If that's the merciful father someone needs to get in touch with DCYF.

Petty? Yup., grammatically correct? Not all the time. Do I care its not grammatically correct? Nope.

 

[Winter_Fare]

Because I don't believe I never capitalize it. I think part of that is due to when I look at people who do, but then see the horrific shit show the world is, then if he were real he wouldn't deserve the respect of a capital. If that's the merciful father someone needs to get in touch with DCYF.

Petty? Yup., grammatically correct? Not all the time. Do I care its not grammatically correct? Nope.

I'm just going to come out and say it. Why don't you capitalise your name?

 

[lovecraft68]

I'm just going to come out and say it. Why don't you capitalise your name?

Typo when my wife set up the account.

Were you expecting something more thought provoking?

I could probably get it changed, but I don't care enough to.

 

[Winter_Fare]

Typo when my wife set up the account.

Were you expecting something more thought provoking?

I could probably get it changed, but I don't care enough to.

It doesn't stand out at all normally, it's only funny next to your god comment.

 

[8letters]

I'd never write Christ without a capital. It's a name. Same with Jesus. But 'jeez' would work.

Actually, "Christ" is a title. It really should be "Jesus the Christ". It has a similar meaning to "Jesus the Messiah" or "Jesus the Anointed One".

 

[lovecraft68]

It doesn't stand out at all normally, it's only funny next to your god comment.

Well unlike your make believe god, I guess I'm not vain enough to need my name capitalized, and the 17k+ readers who faved me over the years don't seem to mind. But if it makes you think you're funny glad I could help, seems like you need all you can get.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Actually, "Christ" is a title. It really should be "Jesus the Christ". It has a similar meaning to "Jesus the Messiah" or "Jesus the Anointed One".

Yeah, but in English it functions like a surname. Enabling interjections such as "Jesus H. Christ!" and quality humour such as the innkeeper in school nativity plays apologising there's no booking for any Mr & Mrs Christ...

(local very multi-ethnic school community has agreed nativity plays are a proper British tradition acceptable to all religions, as long as the nature of Jesus is glossed over - he gets called a Very Important Baby a lot...)

Were you expecting something more thought provoking?

Come on, lovecraft, the juxtaposition was a bit funny. Winterfare never even mentioned their own beliefs, so why the smackdown?

 

[Winter_Fare]

Come on, lovecraft, the juxtaposition was a bit funny. Winterfare never even mentioned their own beliefs, so why the smackdown?

Angry aggravated atheist announces animosity acerbically.

 

[Winter_Fare]

Well unlike your make believe god, I guess I'm not vain enough to need my name capitalized, and the 17k+ readers who faved me over the years don't seem to mind. But if it makes you think you're funny glad I could help, seems like you need all you can get.

If we're going by follower counts, Jesus has more!

 

[Smuttyandfun]

Agree with the distinction made in the first paragraph. The wrinkle I put to it in my stories, though, is that when I'm using "god" as a form of exclamation, like "oh god" the same as "oh shit," I don't cap it. It has to be the actual recognized deity of the character using the term to be capped.

Spellcheck doesn't agree with me, but there are a lot of things about the use of English that spellcheck doesn't know.

Likewise. Normally, I don't use caps, especially when they're in the throes of passion. Unless I start a sentence with it, I leave it small case.