Why "t" in definite article "the" isn’t capitalized?

[Odessa Dawn]

Why "t" in definite article "the" isn’t capitalized?



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[Barb_D]

It most cases, the "the" isn't capitalized. There are a few companies (I think "The New York Times" is one) where the "The" is part of their name and their style is to always capitalize it, but you don't capitalize the for most landforms - oceans, mountain chains, etc.

[abaka]

Even the Gray Lady, by the way, is often called "the New York Times", even though it is published by "The New York Times Company".

If in any doubt, don't capitalize. Nothing screams illiteracy and fatuous ignorance like the injudicious and excessive use of capitals.

[Tdol]

Nothing screams illiteracy and fatuous ignorance like the injudicious and excessive use of capitals.

Uhhh what about apostrophe misuse?

[5jj]

Uhhh what about apostrophe misuse?

and peeple who cant get there speling write.

[Tdol]

If your not sure speak to 5jj or myself about apostrophe's.

[BobK]

The rule that Barb may have been misrembering is the strange OUP house rule that 'The Times' (that is, the one published in London) is capitalized but other newspapers aren't. This produces some strange bed-fellows like 'the Sun, the Mail, and The Times, or even 'The Times and the New York Times''. I don't know of anyone who applies this 'rule' in day-to-day writing.

b

[Barb_D]

Thanks Bob. I couldn't remember, hence my "I think." The Times, the New York Times.