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Capitalize with Capital I’s

Capitalize your I’s.

Every time you use the word I, as in the singular first person subject pronoun, the word needs to be capitalized.  If you’re contracting the word I with am, have, had, would, etc., I still needs to be capital.

It should also be noted that proper nouns, including the names of products, are usually capitalized.  I said usually because Apple makes several products whose names begin with the lower-case i.

When writing the name of your Apple product, even though it is the name of a product (proper noun), and even though the name contains the pronoun I, you are allowed, on these isolated instances, to use a lower-case i.

Example: I’m listening to my iPod.

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Tags: How To, Just Plain Helpful, Writing by Debra
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Commenters’ Corrections from 1-5-11

On 1/5/11, I posted 4 comments with grammar errors for you to analyze.  Here are the corrections:

  1. MY EARS ARE BURNING AND MY EYES TO. = Using all caps indicates a loud, yelling tone.  I recommend avoiding all caps at all costs.  The word “to” at the end should be “too” which means the same as “also”.  Correct:  My ears are burning and my eyes, too.
  2. Thumb’s up = This isn’t necessarily incorrect, but using the apostrophe means the ‘s represents a contraction of the verb is.  This person is actually saying “Thumb is up.” If only one thumb is up, you need an article or quantifier (My thumb’s up – or – One thumb’s up).  Not to mention, the phrase “Thumbs up” refers to sticking up two thumbs, meaning you like something a lot.  If you put up only one thumb, it’s only good, but not great.  Also, in some cultures putting any thumbs up is considered offensive, so use this gesture with caution.
  3. Anyone noticed Drake in the video? = A common past simple tense error has occurred.  The person put the main verb in the past tense when forming a question instead of using the auxiliary did.  Correct:  Did anyone notice Drake in the video?
  4. fal = Spelling fail correctly would get this person’s point across better.  Correct:  Fail. (Stylistically, I think adding the period puts more emphasis on the statement, although unfortunately in comments, punctuation is often collateral damage in the standard usage massacre we see online everyday).

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Commenters’ Corrections.  More to come on Friday!

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Tags: Critical Thinking, ESL Quick Lessons, Grammar, Punctuation, Reading, Writing by Debra
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