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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Capitals

My grasp of grammar is generally okay, yet I consistently stumble over what should be such a simple issue.

My problem is with proper nouns. In the following should I use "this University" (as I'm referring to a specific place) or "this university" (since I'm not actually naming the place)?

"People at this university have an advantage over those at (say) Oxford University or Cambridge's university."

Thanks!

Gareth
  

Top answer

Because it is not being used as a proper name, university is not capitalized. " (removed second "University") This is because it is an assumed list, as well as relatively common knowledge. Hope it helped!

  • Because it is not being used as a proper name, university is not capitalized.
  • " (removed second "University") This is because it is an assumed list, as well as relatively common knowledge.
  • Hope it helped!
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4 Answers
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Because it is not being used as a proper name, university is not capitalized.

An example where it is: "People at Emory University have an advantage over those at (say) Oxford University or Cambridge University." (notice I removed the 's from Cambridge, as the university is referred to without it, and capitalized the U)

Also in this
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Hi,

As a minor and irrelevant aside, the proper name for the university at Oxford is the University of Oxford.

Best wishes, Clive
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and Cambridge University is actually the University of Cambridge. Emotion: smile Technially.
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Hi,

Or, as Oxford people say, 'That place in the Fens'.

Clive

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