American Army or American army?

[Rel]

How do you feel about usernames that aren't capitalised? hong, swrushing, irdeggman, shilsen? What if they're the first word in a sentence?

-Hyp.

Clearly they have a lack of self esteem. I don't capitalize such names out of respect for their lack of self esteem.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Clearly they have a lack of self esteem. I don't capitalize such names out of respect for their lack of self esteem.

I do the exact same thing. I figure if they want uncapitalized names, who am I to argue? Right, werk?

Now, what do we do about abbreviations? Eh, PC, Hyp?

 

[Krieg]

It's fine to disagree with someone's opinion, but claiming that they haven't thought it through comes across as rude.

Sorry I was deliberately replying to OPs opening ..."I don't think".

...and yes I was being a bit of a jerk about it.

Interestingly enough, I've always thought of Marines as belonging to that one specific branch. I've always thought of soldiers as possibly belonging to the Army, or the National Guard, or to a guerrilla troop. . . just as I've thought of sailor as applying to the Coast Guard, the Navy, the Merchant Marine, and really anyone who makes his living on the sea. I suspect that's why Marine gets capitalized and the others don't.

Don't underestimate the value of having good PR.

 

[Thunderfoot]

Oops, I didn't mean to create a fire storm here...

However, as of recent post it is now PROPER to Cap. Soldier, Sailor and Airman (as well as Marine) and if you read anything in the news, it should listed as such. Don't think the Press hold sway over language?

The Army uses a standard three letter all capital abbreviation for all of its ranks (with the exception of Brigadier General - thats just BG) so Private is PVT, Staff Sergeant is SSG, Colonel is COL, etc. However, when printed in format for public release, the AP standard is used so Private becomes Pvt., Staff Sergant becomes SSgt, First Sergant becomes 1st Sgt, etc.

This isn't a DoD propaganda thing by the way, it is a standardization, because as stated by Kreig Marine has always been capitalized, why because you don't call a Soldier and Armyman, you call a Sailor a Navyman, but Marine is a proper noun in both usages, just as the title Soldier, Sailor and Airman are, clear? I really do appologize for causing the stink, it wasn;t my intention, just thought I would pass along a little knowledge, shows what I get for thinking I guess.

 

[Piratecat]

How do you feel about usernames that aren't capitalised? hong, swrushing, irdeggman, shilsen? What if they're the first word in a sentence?

Seriously? They only bug me a tiny bit, and abbreviations don't bother me in the least. Individual people can call themselves whatever they like. But I do think I mentally capitalize them, and I know I capitalize them at the start of a sentence if I'm addressing them.

I twitch a lot more when I read a user name with an accidental typo in it. Deliberate stylistic choices are cool, accidental and embarrassing mistakes less so. Someone once registered the name "Rougesrule." You see my point.

Changes like this are like Sean Coombs wanting to be called "P-Diddy" or Madonna not using her last name; not really a big deal to me, because it's a personal choice. Changes like "Soldier" rankle because it indicates that someone is having the temerity to try and change the rules of grammar for everyone, just to promote their own agenda. That really gets my hackles up, whether I'm in favor of that agenda or not.

One thing, though, Hyp.; you really ought to learn how to spell "capitalized."

 

[Umbran]

However, as of recent post it is now PROPER to Cap. Soldier, Sailor and Airman (as well as Marine) and if you read anything in the news, it should listed as such. Don't think the Press hold sway over language?

Nope. My evidence is that very few people actually speak or write as the press does. News coverage is given in a form with its own conventions that is not followed by academia, fiction authors, or the populace in general.

... but Marine is a proper noun in both usages

Gotta love English. It may be "proper" in the sense that it is acceptable. But that doesn't make it a "proper noun".

Technically, a proper noun is a name given to a particular individual, place, or thing. When a word is used to denote membership in a broad class then the word isn't being used as a proper noun. "The Marines" is proper, as the name of an organization. "Marine Corporal Smith" is proper, as the title is part of the name of the individual. "A bunch of soldiers walked by," is not using a proper noun, no matter what the DoD says.

The English language is rather like a long-running D&D campaign - rife with exceptions to the basic rules. I will take no umbrage if the military asks me to make an exception to the standard useage out of respect.

 

[Dog Moon]

I twitch a lot more when I read a user name with an accidental typo in it. Deliberate stylistic choices are cool, accidental and embarrassing mistakes less so. Someone once registered the name "Rougesrule." You see my point.

Maybe that person just likes the color rouge and thought it ruled. Ever thought of that?

 

[Hypersmurf]

That really gets my hackles up, whether I'm in favor of that agenda or not.

One thing, though, Hyp.; you really ought to learn how to spell "capitalized."

... says the man who can't spell 'favour'

-Hyp.

 

[Infiniti2000]

I twitch a lot more when I read a user name with an accidental typo in it. Deliberate stylistic choices are cool, accidental and embarrassing mistakes less so. Someone once registered the name "Rougesrule." You see my point.

It would be impossible for me not to delete such a user. I would, in fact, welcome the opportunity for the user to re-register the account over and over again. I'm sure I'm not the only one, too.

... says the man who can't spell 'favour'

He's not a man, he's a cat! And be careful before he makes you walk the plank.

 

[Piratecat]

He's not a man, he's a cat! And be careful before he makes you walk the plank.

Actually, knowing Hyp., I'd quantum to walk the planck.