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Hello,I wanted to reach out and ask you all a question that I've been having issues with and I was hoping someone could provide a clear solution.I would like to know if the word "Sirens" needs to be capitalized.The Sirens I am writing about is not an organization, but the mystical creatures of the deep. I was also curious if the singular form, Siren, also needs to be capitalized.Contradicting answers ive gotten thus far:1) Yes, you would want to capitalize "the Sirens." You must capitalize the names of nationalities, races, and peoples.2) I think that even in the sense of the mythical creatures that lure sailors to their watery deaths, it's a common noun, so not capitalized. I think the usage is no different than "the whales" or "the mermaids."Thanks and much appreciated!

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I wanted to reach out and ask you all a question that I've been having issues with and I was hoping someone could provide a clear solution.

I would like to know if the word "Sirens" needs to be capitalized.

The Sirens I am writing about is not an organization, but the mystical creatures of the deep. I was also curious if the singular form, Siren, also needs to be capitalized.

I find your sentence awkward, because the first part treats 'The Sirens' as a singular proper noun, and the second part treats it as a plural term. I'd prefer to say
eg The 'Sirens' I am writing about is not an organization, but a reference to the mystical creatures of the deep.

Contradicting answers ive gotten thus far:
I feel you can either use a capital, or not.

I'd use one if I were referring to the specific Sirens mentioned in the myths, eg the daughters of the river *** Achelous.

Otherwise, I wouldn't, eg in the same way that you point out we don't capitalize mermaids

I'd say it is not usually capitalized.

1) Yes, you would want to capitalize "the Sirens." You must capitalize the names of nationalities, races, and peoples.

2) I think that even in the sense of the mythical creatures that lure sailors to their watery deaths, it's a common noun, so not capitalized. I think the usage is no different than "the whales" or "the mermaids."

Clive

AskAndAnswer · Answer

Thanks, that works and much appreciated!

AskAndAnswer · Answer

That answer worked for me Clive, but in that case, undines (aka ondines) are water nymphs or water spirits, the elementals of waters should also assume the same rules of capitalization correct?

Specific nymph whose name is Undine.
General nymphs who are called undines.

thanks

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