Frequently Asked Questions
Usage
Do the seasons (summer, autumn etc.) require a capital letter?
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The seasons do not need a capital letter and there is ample support for this usage in the following books: Concise Oxford English Dictionary (2004)
Oxford Dictionary for Writers & Editors (2000)
Oxford Guide to Style (2002)
The last of these says 'capital initial for seasons only when personified', which really amounts to 'only in poetry'. It is all part of the trend to plainer English, which includes fewer capital initials.
Other questions in this section:Assume or presume
Do the seasons (summer, autumn etc.) require a capital letter?
How should the term 'website' be written in official documents and on the web?
Is 'snuck', as the past tense of 'sneak', a real word?
Is it acceptable to use 'backwards' instead of 'backward'?
Pros and cons
Should one say unorganized or disorganized?
What is the correct or more usual written form when writing the time - a.m., am, or A.M.?
What is the difference between these and those?
What is the distinction between enquire and inquire?
When is it appropriate to capitalize 'university'?
Where to place (sic)?
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