Capitalization of eponyms?

You are not logged in. [Log In] Wordsmith Talk » Forums » General Topics » Q&A about words » Capitalization of eponyms?

Page 1 of 3

Topic Options

#176759 - 05/09/08 07:13 AM Capitalization of eponyms?
SBK SBK stranger Registered: 05/09/08 Posts: 1	A question re: capitalization of eponyms - Is there a rule? It seems that in some cases (possibly when they're a direct usage of the person or character's name) an eponym capitalized, where in others it is not. I note that in the example sentences, Pantagruelian is capitalized, but his fathers name is not treated with the same respect in Gargantuan.
Top

#176760 - 05/09/08 07:47 AM Re: Capitalization of eponyms? [Re: SBK]
Faldage Faldage Carpal Tunnel Registered: 12/01/00 Posts: 11596	I suspect that the capitalization wears off after a while. How long it takes is more measured by mileage than by time. The word gargantuan is more commonly used than is the word Pantagruelian. I also think that modern coinages are less likely to be capitalized. A quick google shows borked capitalized only in headlines where every major word is capitalized.
Top

#176765 - 05/09/08 09:22 AM Re: Capitalization of eponyms? [Re: Faldage]
The Pook The Pook old hand Registered: 02/20/08 Posts: 707 Loc: Tasmania	QED Lilliputian and Brobdingnagian. So many eponyms have to do with size don't they? Wonder why.
Top

#176783 - 05/09/08 06:08 PM Re: Capitalization of eponyms? [Re: The Pook]
Faldage Faldage Carpal Tunnel Registered: 12/01/00 Posts: 11596	Lynch, bork, boycott.
Top

#176797 - 05/09/08 10:34 PM Re: Capitalization of eponyms? [Re: Faldage]
The Pook The Pook old hand Registered: 02/20/08 Posts: 707 Loc: Tasmania	bork - never heard that one before, obviously from American politics. Whilst we have many past and present politicians who would fit the bill of being a Robert Bork, I don't think any of them have given their names to a propensity to vituperatively attack your opposition (...though one ex-Prime Minister's idiolect is referred to as Hawkespeak).
Top

#176800 - 05/09/08 10:45 PM Re: Capitalization of eponyms? [Re: The Pook]
of troy of troy Carpal Tunnel Registered: 10/17/00 Posts: 5394 Loc: rego park	mercerize, mesmerize, some eponyns are so well established, we forget there origins _________________________ my other obsession
Top

#176801 - 05/09/08 10:54 PM Re: Capitalization of eponyms? [Re: of troy]
The Pook The Pook old hand Registered: 02/20/08 Posts: 707 Loc: Tasmania	There is at least one country that is an eponym.
Top

#176825 - 05/10/08 09:38 PM Re: Capitalization of eponyms? [Re: The Pook]
Jackie Jackie Carpal Tunnel Registered: 03/15/00 Posts: 9643 Loc: Louisville, Kentucky	Greenland?
Top

#176830 - 05/11/08 07:01 AM Re: Capitalization of eponyms? [Re: Jackie]
Faldage Faldage Carpal Tunnel Registered: 12/01/00 Posts: 11596	The A in USA is eponymic.
Top

#176837 - 05/11/08 12:18 PM Re: Capitalization of eponyms? [Re: Jackie]
The Pook The Pook old hand Registered: 02/20/08 Posts: 707 Loc: Tasmania	No, Greenland isn't named after Mr Green, lol The country I'm thinking of is named after a man whose first name was Simon.
Top

Page 1 of 3

Previous Topic View All Topics

Hop to:

Forum Stats

6630 Members
16 Forums
12173 Topics
178716 Posts

Max Online: 853 @ 10/23/07 11:39 AM


	Wordsmith Talk		About Us \| What's New \| Search \| Site Map \| Contact Us