"The English language has a rich tradition of Third Commandment evasions"

[sunnyskywalker]

Fun language trivia for the day from North Carolina State University! See here for more, if you're into this sort of thing.

Question: Should the word god be capitalized in the phrases god-forsaken or by god?

Answer: The Chicago Manual of Style recommends that "like all proper nouns, the names of the one supreme God . . . as well as the names of other deities are capitalized."

In the phrases you are asking about, however, the reference to God is rather casual, and there are those who would deny that such phrases refer to the one supreme God at all. Lowercasing God in such phrases is an attempt to obscure the reference to God.

The problem, of course, is that such phrases are possible violations of the Third Commandment, which proscribes taking the name of the Lord in vain. The question before us is whether it is possible to fool God with capitalization tricks. The Grammar Hotline is not qualified to answer this question.

I will say, however, that the English language has a rich tradition of Third Commandment evasions. Capitalization decisions are the least sneaky of these. Such words as gee, gosh, golly, by criminy, egad, gadzooks (I especially like gadzooks) are all curses mangled to finesse the Third Commandment.

But I suppose you'd like a definite answer. Go ahead and capitalize, and the Devil take the hindmost.

Moving on from God, we also have B/brussel sprouts.

It is the Grammar Hotline's opinion that lowercasing brussels sprouts is one tiny step toward popularizing them. Furthermore, it is my considered opinion that Brussels sprouts are so vile that they do not deserve to be popular. In a quixotic attempt to keep them off my dinner plate, I am going to recommend consistent uppercasing of the "B" in Brussels sprouts.

You can do what you want, of course (as long as you do it consistently), but if you choose the "down" (lowercase) style, don't come crying to me when your local burger jockey tries to close your order with a cheery "Do you want brussels sprouts with that?"

This leads to another food-related dilemma, as inevitably happens.

Virginians, of course, would vociferously vote for the capital, claiming that full enjoyment of Brunswick stew of course depends on understanding its origin in Brunswick County, Virginia.

But you are from North Carolina. Interstate rivalry might well prompt you to lowercase, protesting that Brunswick County, Virginia, has nothing to do with your stew--and perhaps even disparaging the tenderness of Virginia squirrel meat.

I have already overruled the dictionary in recommending that Brussels sprouts be capitalized (in a quixotic attempt to keep them off my dinner plate). Today, I find myself forced to recommend capitalizing Brunswick stew in Virginia and lowercasing brunswick stew in North Carolina (in the name of interstate rivalry).

I also enjoyed the commentary on whether election day should be Election Day. This is a question of serious import.