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Mitsuo23 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

how to name out of common nouns

Please click the "click to enlarge" to see the whole picture. There you'll see "Please switch off your mobile phone when you are near the priority seats" at the bottom. and "Priority Seat" in the center.


http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2012/03/17/our-lives/super-priority-seats-what-will-they-do...


My question is, sounds a bit silly but I am seriously wondering, are there any ground rules that can be applied to create proper nouns out of common nouns by capitalizing the initial letters?


I mean, I am wondering, if that was OK to name the seats as "The Priority Seat" instead of just "Priority Seat"? Is that godparent's preference, with or without "the"?


Thank you,

M
  

Top answer

Capitals (Priority Seats) suggest that there is some reason for this to be a proper noun, ie a name. There are really no rules about this, but a company should be consistent in the use of such names (and capitals). There should also be something special abut Priority Seats, for example in how they are charged for or in how they are to be used.

— Clive

  • Capitals (Priority Seats) suggest that there is some reason for this to be a proper noun, ie a name.
  • There are really no rules about this, but a company should be consistent in the use of such names (and capitals).
  • There should also be something special abut Priority Seats, for example in how they are charged for or in how they are to be used.
  • As you say, the screen usage of this phrase has no consistency.
  • I think the web-site creator just thought capitals looked better at that part of the screen.
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39 Answers
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Capitals (Priority Seats) suggest that there is some reason for this to be a proper noun, ie a name.
There are really no rules about this, but a company should be consistent in the use of such names (and capitals).
There should also be something special abut Priority Seats, for example i
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Have you click the "CLICK TO ENLARGE" near the pic? I wasn't talking about the website.


On the sign, you'll see "Please switch off your mobile phone when you are near the priority seats" at the bottom. and "Priority Seat" in the center. (which is clearly used as the name of that kind of seats.)

And I am wondering why this "Priority Seat" doesn't read "The Priority Seat".
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What do you mean by 'the godparent'? It's not a suitable word here.

Names do not usually begin with 'The . . . '., although there is no rule against it. I think that the designer of the site just didn't give it much thought, and was not consistent.

Clive
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mitsuwao23And I am wondering why this "Priority Seat" doesn't read "The Priority Seat".
This sign is presumably adjacent to one of the priority seats, identifying it as such. "The Priority Seat" would seem strange in this context, as if this particular seat was notable or well-known, or as if there was only one such seat in existence.
mit
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CliveWhat do you mean by 'the godparent'? It's not a suitable word here.
I meant someone who gives a name.
CliveNames do not usually begin with 'The . . . '., although there is no rule against it. I think that the designer of the site just didn't give it much thought, and was n
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GPY "The Priority Seat" would seem strange in this context, as if this particular seat was notable or well-known, or as if there was only one such seat in existence.
I see your point. What about "Priority Seats" or "The Priority Seats"? ("A Priority Seat" looks strange even to me so I don't ask.)

Also would you tell me what a seat is exactly? I mean,
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A godparent refers to someone who is in a special relationship to a child. Usually a friend of the parents. That's all. The word does not mean 'anyone who assigns a name to anything'. The godfather does not even usually assign the name to a child.

If 'The' is part of the official name of something, it takes a capital
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mitsuwao23I see your point. What about "Priority Seats" or "The Priority Seats"? ("A Priority Seat" looks strange even to me so I don't ask.)
"Priority Seats" would be fine if the notice applies to several seats. "The Priority Seats" has the same problem as I mentioned for "The Priority Seat". (Just to be clear, this problem arises because it is a label n
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Cive,

I asked about the sign of the website because the name of "the priority seats" seemed more proper to me if they were "The Priority Seats" not "Priority Seat."


I would like to understand when "the" is or isn't required to create proper nouns.


I have a grammar book that is written by an american professor who teaches English in Japan. And he explains, "the"
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GPY"Priority Seats" would be fine if the notice applies to several seats. "The Priority Seats" has the same problem as I mentioned for "The Priority Seat". (Just to be clear, this problem arises because it is a label naming or identifying the seats. The same applies generally to such cases. For example, if you go into a shop you might see a section named "Cakes". It would
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