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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

Tattered · Accepted Answer

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 (and other) sentences, you can avoid the repetition of words by instead saying, "People at this university have an advantage over those at (say) Oxford or Cambridge University." (removed second "University") This is because it is an assumed list, as well as relatively common knowledge.

Hope it helped!

Clive · Answer

Hi,

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

Best wishes, Clive

Tattered · Answer

and Cambridge University is actually the University of Cambridge.

Technially.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

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

Clive

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