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  EDline Vol. 8, no. 41   (15 April 2003)

  Editorial mailing list (digest version)
  Published by the Electric Editors
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  Contents:

         Q & A
  [2xv]  Should _space_ be capitalised?

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---[2]-- Q & A --------------------------------------------------

         Date: Mon, 14 April 2003
         From: Biddy Greene, fbgreene@mweb.co.za

I am editing a science textbook for Grade 4, i.e. approx 9
year-olds. We have more or less decided to go with both "Earth
and "the Earth", depending on context (though comments on this
would be welcome). I have a problem in the section on planets
etc. viz. Does _space_ get a capital? Is it a proper name?

Examples:

  This is a photograph of [the] Earth taken from Space. Mark
  Shuttleworth was the first African in Space; the picture shows
  what he saw when he travelled into Space in 2002.

Here is is without the caps:

  This is a photograph of [the] Earth taken from space. Mark
  Shuttleworth was the first African in space; the picture shows
  what he saw when he travelled into space in 2002.

They both look wrong to me!  HELP!


         ------------------------
         Date: Mon, 14 April 2003
         From: Tracey Dooley, Tracey.Dooley@lycos.co.uk

There are so many discrepancies, and personal preferences,
concerning capitalization to distinguish proper nouns from other
words. Personally, I would only capitalize Earth, Moon and Sun
only if confusion with another earth, moon or sun might occur.
Likewise, I would keep space, universe and galaxy to lower case.
You could always check the style recommendations set out by the
International Astronomical Union.

I think the main thing to consider is to strive for consistency
(create a style sheet showing capitalization choices). 

The word space describes a medium through which matter passes or
exists -- it is the extent of an area, and a common noun, not a
proper noun.


         ------------------------
         Date: Mon, 14 April 2003
         From: Jo Rudd, jorudd@askaussie.com

I'm an amateur astronomer from way back and I wouldn't spell
'space' with a capital S. I can understand your dilemma, but I've
never seen it written with a cap.

In this context, I don't really think it matters too much whether
you capitalise or not - as long as you're consistent throughout.


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