Rachel Evans
When writing about religious topics, it is important to correctly capitalize religious terms as a sign of respect and to adhere to the style guides of the religion in question. For example, Catholic is capitalized when referring to the religion, but not when used to describe someone with broad interests. Similarly, God is capitalized when referring to the deity in the Abrahamic faiths, but not when referring to a generic god or goddess. In the case of Catholic nuns, the general rule is to capitalize the title Sister or Mother before the nun's name, such as Sister Agnes Rita. However, when referring to nuns in general, the word nuns is typically lowercase, as it is a common noun.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nuns as a general term | Lowercase |
| A particular nun's name with her title | Capitalize |
| Religious titles | Capitalize the title before a name |
| The Bible | Capitalize |
| Catholic | Capitalize in "the Catholic Church" |
| Diocese | Capitalize when part of a proper name |
| Mass | Always capitalize |
| Pope | Capitalize when used as a title before a name |
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What You'll Learn
- 'Nun' is a common noun, so it does not need to be capitalised
- 'Sister' is often capitalised when referring to a Catholic nun
- 'Mother' is capitalised before a Catholic nun's name if applicable
- 'Diocese' should be capitalised when part of a proper name
- 'Apostle' is capitalised when used as an LDS title before a name
'Nun' is a common noun, so it does not need to be capitalised
When writing about religion, it's important to follow the standard rules of capitalization. However, religious terms, such as "heaven," "hell," and "God," don't always follow these rules. For example, "God" is only capitalized in certain cases. When referring to gods and goddesses in general, a lowercase "g" is used: "the Anglo Saxons worshipped the Germanic gods and goddesses."
The word "nun" is a common noun, so it does not need to be capitalized. For example, "the Catholic priest was reading to his congregation from the book of Matthew." Here, "priest" is also a common noun and is not capitalized. Similarly, "nun" would be lowercase when used in a sentence such as "the Catholic nun was reading to her congregation from the book of Matthew."
However, when referring to a specific nun's name, their title is capitalized. For example, "Sister Mary, Abbess Agatha." Additionally, according to the Associated Press, when referring to nuns, capitalize "Sister" or "Mother" before their name: "Sister Agnes Rita." This is consistent with capitalizing religious titles before a name, such as "Cardinal," "Archbishop," "Bishop," "Monsignor," "Priest," and "Deacon."
It's worth noting that some sources offer conflicting guidance on capitalization. For instance, while the Associated Press advises capitalizing "Sister," Merriam-Webster states that "sister" is "often capitalized" when referring to a member of a religious order, but the Chicago Manual of Style takes that "often" as permission to use lowercase: "The sisters left the convent at noon." Ultimately, rules on capitalization can vary, and it's important to follow a specific style guide if one is being used.
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'Sister' is often capitalised when referring to a Catholic nun
The rules for capitalisation can vary depending on the style guide being used. Religious and mythological terms, such as "heaven", "hell", and "god", do not always follow standard rules for capitalisation.
According to the Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition, "sister" is "often capitalised" when referring to a member of a religious order, whether Catholic or otherwise. However, the guide also states that the word can be written in lowercase when used in certain contexts, such as "the sisters left the convent at noon".
The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook, a guide for journalists reporting on religion, advises capitalising "Sister" or "Mother" before a name when referring to a nun. For example, "Sister Agnes Rita" or "Sister Mary Ann Walsh".
It is worth noting that specific religious organisations may have their own in-house approaches to capitalisation. Additionally, if a word is being used as a stand-in for a specific sect, it may be capitalised. For instance, "He was baptised in the Faith" (referring to a specific denomination or sect) as opposed to "she has faith" (lowercase "f").
Ultimately, the decision to capitalise "sister" when referring to a Catholic nun may depend on the style guide being followed or the context in which the word is being used.
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'Mother' is capitalised before a Catholic nun's name if applicable
When writing about Catholic nuns, it is important to follow the correct style guide for capitalization. Capitalization can be a mark of respect, but it can also lead to a lack of clarity, so it is important to be consistent and follow a recognized style. For example, the AP Stylebook advises that "Sister" or "Mother", if applicable, should be capitalized before a nun's name. So, for example, we would write "Mother Teresa of Calcutta" or "Sister Mary Ann Walsh".
However, some style guides, such as the Chicago Manual of Style, suggest that "sister" does not always need to be capitalized and can be written in lower case when referring to nuns in general, for example, "the sisters left the convent at noon".
It is worth noting that different religious organizations may have their own in-house approaches to capitalization, so it is always worth checking for specific guidelines. For example, the Catholic Church may have different capitalization rules compared to other Christian denominations or religions such as Buddhism.
In addition, when writing about religious figures, it is customary to capitalize titles when they are used before a name. For example, "Pope Benedict XVI" or "the Venerable Fulton Sheen". However, when the title is not used before the name, it should be written in lower case, for example, "the pope emeritus" or "Fulton Sheen, the venerable teacher".
Finally, when referring to common nouns within a church, such as "priest", there is no need to capitalize unless it is used as a formal title before a name, for example, "the Rev. John Smith".
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'Diocese' should be capitalised when part of a proper name
When writing about Catholicism, it's important to follow the correct style guidelines for capitalisation. While religious and mythological terms like "heaven", "hell", and "god" do not always follow standard rules for capitalisation, specific guidelines should be followed when referring to Catholic organisations and titles.
The word "diocese" should be capitalised when it is part of a proper name. A diocese is defined as "a portion of the people of God which is entrusted to a bishop for him to shepherd with the cooperation of the presbyterium". In modern usage, a diocese refers to the sphere of a bishop's jurisdiction. Dioceses are ecclesiastical districts defined by geographical territory and are often grouped into ecclesiastical provinces for greater cooperation and common action among regional dioceses. Certain Lutheran denominations, such as the Church of Sweden, have individual dioceses similar to those of Roman Catholics. These dioceses are under the government of a bishop.
It is important to note that the rules for capitalisation can vary depending on the style guide being followed. For example, the term "curia" is usually capitalised when referring to the Roman Curia, but it is not capitalised when referring to a diocesan curia unless it is part of a full proper name. Similarly, the term "priest" is generally not capitalised as it is a common noun, but it may be capitalised when referring to a specific priest by name, such as "Venerable Fulton Sheen".
In summary, when writing about Catholicism, it is important to capitalise "diocese" when it is part of a proper name, such as in "the Diocese of Rome". This capitalisation rule helps to distinguish the specific diocese being referenced and emphasises its significance within the Catholic Church.
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'Apostle' is capitalised when used as an LDS title before a name
The capitalisation of religious terms can be tricky, as there are often no strict rules, and different style guides may give varying advice. When referring to a Catholic nun, the term "sister" is often capitalised when used as a formal title before a name, although this is not always the case. For example, "We visited Sister Catherine, a Catholic nun, yesterday." However, in a sentence without a name, the word "sister" would not be capitalised: "The sisters left the convent at noon."
Now, regarding your specific question about the LDS title "Apostle", it is generally capitalised when used as a formal title before an individual's name. For example, "Apostle Russell M. Nelson". This follows the standard rule of capitalising formal titles when they appear before a name. Additionally, when referring to the group of apostles, it is also capitalised: "the Twelve Apostles".
It is worth noting that the LDS Church, or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, considers "apostle" to be a formal title for its highest-ranking members, who belong to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The senior-most or longest-serving apostle serves as the church president and is referred to as "President", which is also capitalised before their name.
When it comes to other religious titles, such as "prophet", there is some variation in usage. While "the Prophet Jeremiah" is more common, "the apostle John" and "the Apostle John" are both acceptable, although "John the Apostle" seems to be the most prevalent form. Ultimately, as long as you are consistent in your usage within a text, it may come down to a matter of preference or the guidelines of a specific style guide.
Additionally, it is important to note that religious terms that have second meanings should only be capitalised when used in a religious context. For example, "Catholic" is capitalised when referring to the Catholic Church, but not when used to describe someone with broad interests ("catholic"). Similarly, "Diocese" is capitalised when it is part of a proper name.
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Frequently asked questions
Common nouns like "priest" and "nun" do not need to be capitalized. However, if the nun has taken on a religious name, such as "Sister," it is proper to capitalize this title when used before their name.
According to the Chicago Manual of Style, "sister" is "often capitalized" when referring to a member of a religious order, Catholic or otherwise. However, they interpret "often" as permission to also use lowercase when referring to Catholic nuns indirectly, e.g., "The sisters left the convent at noon."
If you're following a specific style guide, refer to it for advice as rules on capitalization can vary. If you want to capitalize religious terms as a mark of respect and it doesn't hinder clarity, you may do so. Additionally, capitalize "Catholic" when referring to the religion but not when it means "all-embracing."
