Simple question on Upper Case.

[God_Above]

In the body of a story, should it be Mother, or mother? Then Mom or mom. What about Sister or sister?

My sister did this. Or my Sister did that.

Her Mother's dress? Or her mother's dress.

I'm sure there are variations as there always are, but just for general use.

 

[Katie_Mae]

Capitalise unless modified by a personal pronoun.

eg "I put on my mother's dress" or "I put on Mother's dress"

"Yesterday, Mum went to the shops." or "Yesterday, our mum went to the shops."

"Tell your mom." or "I'm going to tell Mom!"

 

[SimonDoom]

You capitalize when it's a substitute for a proper name. So don't use capitals when it's "My mother" or My mom" because in this case it's a common noun that indicates your relationship to her, but when you say, "Hi, Mom!" then "mom" is being used just like a name, and capitals are required.

Easiest way to tell: Is there a word in front of "mom" like "the" or "my" or "our" or something like that, or not? If there is, it's not capitalized. If there's no word, it generally is.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I call my mother Mom.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I call my mother Mom.

Simon calls his mom, "Honey."

 

[Bramblethorn]

You capitalize when it's a substitute for a proper name. So don't use capitals when it's "My mother" or My mom" because in this case it's a common noun that indicates your relationship to her, but when you say, "Hi, Mom!" then "mom" is being used just like a name, and capitals are required.

Easiest way to tell: Is there a word in front of "mom" like "the" or "my" or "our" or something like that, or not? If there is, it's not capitalized. If there's no word, it generally is.

Or just try switching a proper name back in and see whether the sentence works.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Simon calls his mom, "Honey."

She calls him by his brother's name.

jk, Simon

 

[SimonDoom]

She calls him by his brother's name.

jk, Simon

She jests at scars that never felt a wound.

 

[Britva415]

I call my mother Mom.

But is she "your Mom" or is she "your mom" when you aren't naming her Mom and you're using "mom" as a regular noun?

 

[Voyeurkenneth]

In dialogue, I’ve used capitalized “Bro” as a substitute name for a character’s brother.

But I’ve also used lowercase “bro” in dialogue as a general label when someone’s talking to a non-sibling.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

But is she "your Mom" or is she "your mom" when you aren't naming her Mom and you're using "mom" as a regular noun?

LIke @Bramblethorn wrote, try swapping in a name. In the sentence "Your mom said hello to me at the store," sub in "Nancy". Does "Your Nancy said hello to me" make sense to you? No? Then it takes no capital letter.

Try "Mom encouraged me to try out for basketball in high school." Can you sub in Nancy? "Nancy encouraged me ..." Yeah, makes sense, so capitalize it as "Mom".

-Billie

 

[XerXesXu]

Does "Your Nancy said hello to me" make sense to you? No?

That's a common usage in British English.

 

[Britva415]

That's a common usage in British English.

Capitalization depends, though, whether we're talking about a nancy person of your acquaintance, or, a person named Nancy.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

Capitalization depends, though, whether we're talking about a nancy person of your acquaintance, or, a person named Nancy.

@XerXesXu is right, though. A Brit can refer to "Our Bob" meaning a member of their family by that name. If a Brit is doing that, then a capital letter would apply.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

@XerXesXu is right, though. A Brit can refer to "Our Bob" meaning a member of their family by that name. If a Brit is doing that, then a capital letter would apply.

"Ooh, you should have heard what our Bob said about your Nancy! Her ears should be burning!"

Leading to an argument that always ends in the playground insult, "Your mum!" Exactly why it's an insult and what it implies about your mum is lost to history. But it's possibly the worst insult available, in a culture where "you fucking cunt" is often mere banter.

 

[StillStunned]

"Ooh, you should have heard what our Bob said about your Nancy! Her ears should be burning!"

Leading to an argument that always ends in the playground insult, "Your mum!" Exactly why it's an insult and what it implies about your mum is lost to history. But it's possibly the worst insult available, in a culture where "you fucking cunt" is often mere banter.

This gives me an idea for a story: "Shall I Be Mother?" About a tea party. No mothers involved, just to confuse the rest of the world.

 

[ElectricBlue]

This gives me an idea for a story: "Shall I Be Mother?" About a tea party. No mothers involved, just to confuse the rest of the world.

You'll have a fight with Simon. Just saying .

 

[Britva415]

Exactly why it's an insult and what it implies about your mum is lost to history

Not really. Only half the time is a specific insult about someone’s mum not stated out loud. It’s insulting enough just to bring someone’s mum into a pissing contest between two men at all. Even without coming right out and saying how diseased and promiscuous someone’s mum is, it’s disrespectful to even suggest going there.

 

[summer_reine]

Capital when it's being used in place of a name, lower case when it's a description of the person. My mom's name is Marion. She was always busy as a mom. She wanted to be called Mommy. Sometimes Mom is too busy to make lunch. (I think this is a constant in American English, as has been written above British English has more exceptions.)

 

[jehoram]

In the body of a story, should it be Mother, or mother? Then Mom or mom. What about Sister or sister?

My sister did this. Or my Sister did that.

Her Mother's dress? Or her mother's dress.

I'm sure there are variations as there always are, but just for general use.

Like what's been said, if it's used as a title or term of address, capitalize. Otherwise, not.
The only exceptions I can think of is when "Brother" and "Sister" and "Mother" and "Father" are used as religious titles. Then, it's expected that you'll write:

When the novena was over at the convent, the Sisters retired to their dormitory.

James and Simon, the two Fathers of the Saint Leo's Church, were the only attendees at the fundraiser.

...and so on.