Capitals | Page 2

in usage in different printing offices and by different writers. The same tendency is observable here which is so evident in style and in punctuation. Direct statements, simple sentences as free from involution and complication as possible, are more and more taking the place of the involved, complicated, and obscure sentences of old times. The ideal style of to-day consists of simple words simply arranged. Such a style needs little pointing. The reader is quite able to find his way through the paragraph without constant direction. Punctuation marks are directions at the crossroads of thought. Consequently the punctuation mark is now much more sparingly used than formerly.
Just as we have found out that well chosen words can tell their story with very few marks of interpretation so we have found out that they can tell their story with very few marks of emphasis. The use of capitals has decreased greatly during the last two centuries and is constantly decreasing, and this tendency is likely to go still further. The great DeVinne whose books on The Practice of Typography, written ten to fifteen years ago, are still of the highest authority was thoroughly up-to-date in his methods and was remarkable for the restrained and refined good taste which characterized all his recommendations, but in some points restraint in the use of capitals has gone even beyond his precepts.
It is worth while to remember that the real implement of English speech is the word, not the point nor the letter form. Just to the extent that we rely on marks of punctuation and emphasis to convey our meaning we betray our ignorance of the really significant elements of the language. The schoolgirl says she "had a perfectly splendid time" at the dance, when she tells about it in her letter to her dearest friend. If "perfectly splendid" were a proper term to use in such a connection, which it is not, the words themselves would carry all the emphasis possible. Nothing could really be added to them by any typographical device. In the same way the common use of profanity among ignorant people probably arises mainly from a feeling that the ordinary words with which they are familiar are colorless and do not express their thoughts with sufficient emphasis.
Just as emphasis in style is difficult when one habitually uses the strongest words and emphasis in voice is difficult when one habitually shouts, so emphasis in print is difficult when one habitually uses large capitals, display type, and italics. Loud printing is as objectionable as loud talking.

USE OF FULL CAPITALS
General uses:
1. Use a capital letter to begin every sentence and every word or group of words punctuated as a sentence.
Welcome! We are glad to see you.
This rule does not apply to literal reproductions of matter not originally conforming to it.
2. Use a capital letter to begin every line of poetry.
The Lord hates a quitter, But he doesn't hate him, son, When the quitter's quitting something He shouldn't have begun. [that
This rule does not apply to turned over lines like the third line in the stanza just preceding.
3. Use a capital letter to begin every quotation consisting of a complete sentence.
Ben Franklin says, "Honesty is the best policy." The campaign was "a punitive expedition for the suppression of brigandage."
Capitalize:
1. Names of the Deity, of the members of the Trinity, of the Virgin Mary, and of the Devil, when a personal devil is referred to.
When the word devil is used as a general term or as an expletive the capital is not used.
2. Nouns and adjectives used to designate the Deity or any member of the Trinity:
the Almighty, the Ruler of the Universe, the Supreme Architect of the Universe, the Creator, Providence (personified), Heaven (personified, e. g., Heaven forbid!), Father, Son, Holy Ghost, Spirit, Messiah, and the like.
The following list of words of this sort to be capitalized, taken from Mr. William Dana Orcutt's The Writer's Desk Book (Frederick A. Stokes, New York) will be found useful:
Almighty Authorized Version Common Version Creator Deity Father God Holy Bible Holy Spirit Holy Writ Jehovah Jesus Christ King Logos Lord Messiah Passover Pentecost Redeemer Revised Version Sabbath Saviour Scriptures Son of Man Son Spirit The Trinity The Virgin Mary Word
Care needs to be taken with words of this class. Particular attention should be paid to the wording of rule 2, just given. The same words in other senses or other connections are not capitalized. Heaven and hell and derived adjectives are not capitalized in their ordinary uses:
Adjectives and other derivatives from these words are not capitalized. We write Messiah, but messianic and messiahship; Christology but christological, fatherhood, sonship, and the like.
Such words as deity, god, and the like are not capitalized where any but the God of the Bible is referred to.
3. Pronouns referring to God, Christ, or