If someone calls someone else 'silly' is the 's' capitalized? IE. "What are you doing, silly?" or "What are you doing, Silly?"?

Question

busterwasmycat · Accepted Answer

It depends.  If it is an informal term, you would do just as you would any other such generic term, like pal, buddy, clown, idiot, and not capitalize.  Only if the person was called silly so much that people (including the person himself) would know, without thinking, that you meant that person when you say "Silly", would you capitalize (it would mean that the person has taken on the "name", it is specific to that person, even if it is a nick-name).

RP · Answer

One could capitalize it, but it's not mandatory.

Laurie · Answer

Yes, because you are using it as a proper name.

JOHN · Answer

Not unless the someone's name is actually Silly. Quite possible, though. I once met a Chinese man whose first name was Fok. His surname was Yu.

bluebellbkk · Answer

I understand what you're getting at, but no, we don't capitalize the 's'. We would do that only if 'Silly' was our regular nickname for this person.

Anonymous · Answer

No it is not..........

wobafetty · Answer

Not unless there's somebody nicknamed "Silly".

yet-knish! · Answer

Not capitalized.

If someone calls someone else 'silly' is the 's' capitalized? IE. "What are you doing, silly?" or "What are you doing, Silly?"?

8 Answers