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Author
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Topic: Name and capitalization of Earth's moon
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Explorer1
Member Posts: 202
From: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Registered: Apr 2019
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posted 04-11-2020 05:25 AM
  
When we make reference to the moon in any kind of writing we almost always spell "moon" with a small case "m". Why do we do this when the name of the "moon" is Moon? |
Philip
Member Posts: 6012
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 04-11-2020 05:37 AM
All heavenly bodies start with a capital letter in most languages. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2046
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 04-11-2020 06:15 AM
That may be so, and correct, but in my experience most book publishers insist on it being written as moon, with a lower case m. Including the University of Nebraska Press, editors work strictly to the Chicago Style Guide, which is interpreted as moon being with the lower case spelling. Then, again, another publisher I write for insists on it being written as Moon! Very confusing. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43671
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-11-2020 07:30 AM
Many, if not most U.S. news publications follow the Associated Press (AP) Style Guide, which states: AP capitalizes the proper names of planets, including Earth, stars, constellations, etc., but lowercases sun and moon. NASA's style guide for NASA history authors and editors states: Capitalize "Moon" when referring to Earth's Moon; otherwise, lowercase "moon" (e.g., "The Moon orbits Earth," "Jupiter's moons"). The late lunar scientist Paul Spudis wrote an essay on this topic for Air & Space magazine in 2009, where he argued for moon to be capitalized: Simply put, the AP Stylebook is wrong. When referring to "the Moon" – that is, our Moon, Luna, site of Neil Armstrong's landing in 1969 – the word should be capitalized. When referring to any moon, such as in "the moons of Jupiter", it becomes a generic descriptor and hence, should not be capitalized. For what it's worth, collectSPACE mostly follows AP Style, so moon is lowercase. |
ManInSpace
Member Posts: 140
From: Brooklin, ON Canada
Registered: Feb 2018
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posted 04-11-2020 04:17 PM
Speaking of spelling, can anyone explain why the UK newspapers refer to NASA as "Nasa" in their articles. This appears to be the standard publication selection as opposed to an exception. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2046
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 04-11-2020 04:30 PM
NASA is an acronym, just like the airline I once worked for, QANTAS. I do not know how or when this mix of upper and lower case began to evolve into common usage, but do you ever see other acronyms such as SCUBA and LASER in their proper form any more? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43671
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-11-2020 04:42 PM
Not that I agree with it, but the way I have heard it explained is that UK-style is to differentiate acronyms from initialisms. The earlier are abbreviations that you can pronounce; the latter are spoken letter by letter (e.g. FBI, BBC).Acronyms are treated like formal nouns, with only their first letter capitalized. Initialisms are fully capitalized. So NASA becomes "Nasa" and ESA becomes "Esa" but CSA (Canadian Space Agency) remains "CSA." |
ManInSpace
Member Posts: 140
From: Brooklin, ON Canada
Registered: Feb 2018
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posted 04-12-2020 10:11 AM
My thanks to both of you for taking the time to respond to my inquiry. The knowledge and experiences that come from this forum's world wide membership, is a fantastic resource. |
LM1
Member Posts: 688
From: New York, NY
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 04-13-2020 07:02 AM
When I was Editor of the IASP's EXPLORER and the Space Unit's ASTROPHILE I actually typed all of the articles myself. As I recall, I often typed the word moon as Moon when referring directly to the Earth's moon because that is the name of Earth's moon. The moons of the other planets were referred to as moons because each of them has a name - Europa, etc. The Earth's moon should have a name. This would probably be the work of the organization that names all of the moons in our Solar System or there could be a contest to name the Earth's moon. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43671
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-13-2020 07:54 AM
The International Astronomical Union (IAU), which overseas naming celestial bodies, recommends the name of Earth's moon be "Moon." The designation of our Moon is, therefore, the Moon, with a capital M and used as a name (a proper noun). The same applies to the designation of our planet — the Earth, of our Solar System (IAU Style Manual, 1989) and to all the other major planets. At first, it may seem these much-treasured celestial objects don't have "proper" names. However, it is just the opposite. Calling our Moon the Moon and our Solar System the Solar System reinforces their importance to humanity — they are not just any moon or solar system. |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 989
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 04-13-2020 08:07 AM
quote:
Originally posted by LM1:
The Earth's moon should have a name.
Latin ~ Luna, Greek ~ Selene. |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 417
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 04-13-2020 08:02 PM
This discussion reminds me of the debate around the capitalization of the seasons — which are names of course but almost always lowercase. So we write spring, summer, fall and winter and do not capitalize them except in those circumstances like "Summer Olympics" as part of a title. "So the Moon in spring didn't look at all like a Spring moon." [grin] |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2463
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 04-15-2020 01:12 AM
Only one thing wrong with this statement. There is no such season as "fall." The correct name is "autumn." I can only assume that you Yanks call it "fall" as you seem to have trouble spelling common English words — thru instead of through; color instead of colour. And you drive on the wrong side of the road too.  |
Colin Anderton
Member Posts: 163
From: Great Britain
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted 04-16-2020 05:32 AM
I too love the Americans, but I do wish (nicely) that they would use our language correctly! And the spellings are atrocious! For example, doesn't the word "colour" look better with a "u"? |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3337
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 04-16-2020 08:57 AM
One that irks me is "Kennedy Space Centre" instead of "Kennedy Space Center" in articles. |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1684
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 04-16-2020 10:45 AM
Oh come on, you Brits use the term boot for the trunk of a car. Boots are what you put feet in. Trunks are for putting stuff in. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3172
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-16-2020 11:23 AM
I am in a particularly good position to comment on this, as I have had to learn to "think American" while writing my Ron Evans biography for Nebraska University Press. I am now quite good at typing "color", "labor," "maneuver" etc. I do have to grit my teeth typing "gotten" but I certainly agree with LM-12's comment about "Kennedy Space Center" (which is a classic "when in Rome..." situation!) However, I do grind my teeth when I see Americans referring to the Apollo 15 command module as "Endeavor", and the same applies to space shuttle "Endeavour." Anyone who knows the derivation of the names should hono(u)r the British English spelling.To sum up, when Nebraska U.P. tells me to jump, my only question is "How high?" (Did I get that right, Colin?) |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43671
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-16-2020 11:26 AM
Here's a common mistake, regardless of what side of the pond you're from: it is not "the Earth."It is very common to hear people say, and write, "the Earth," as in, "Astronauts from the Earth landed on the moon." But that is wrong; the correct version is, "Astronauts from Earth landed on the moon." Think of it this way, you wouldn't say or write "the Mars" or "the Jupiter," so you shouldn't do the same with Earth. The only time "the earth" (lowercase "e") is correct is when you're referring to the soil or ground (e.g. "The farmer plowed the earth before planting the crop."). I have made this error and I see it in print (and on this forum) frequently, so save yourself some typing and drop the "the." |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1684
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 04-16-2020 02:49 PM
The earth from Earth was sent to the ISS. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3172
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-17-2020 03:19 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
....It is very common to hear people say, and write, "the Earth," as in, "Astronauts from the Earth landed on the moon"
Robert, I agree with you, but could I draw your attention to a potential source of the confusion? See the Apollo 8 voice transcript, from 086:06:56 GET, also recognized as Genesis 1:1 . There are multiple references to "the earth" in the first chapter of Genesis and although the early references seem to refer simply to "the ground" it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that later references to "the earth" refer to the whole world. I must stress that I am not trying to mount a theological debate here. What I am suggesting is that Genesis 1 is widely known and the first verse ("In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth") is very widely known, and that is probably responsible for the widespread use of "the Earth." |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 417
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 04-18-2020 01:08 PM
I am not a professor of the English language but it seems that the trouble is that we shift between proper nouns (names) and general nouns (objects, etc.) and confuse ourselves (of course, I'm talking broader than just the people who post on this thread).So the Genesis references seems to be referring to Earth as a particular object (because of the article "the") and as Robert points out we don't do that with the other planets although we do blend object/name in the case of using the phrases "the planet Jupiter" or "the planet Saturn"... so similar usage for Earth would be "the planet Earth" -- which is exactly how it is handled on the plaque left on the Moon on Apollo 11's LM. Now to confuse us further I will point out that we do say "The Milky Way" almost all the time except when referring to the candy bar. I'm confused but this has been a fun thread! |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3172
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-18-2020 05:58 PM
Agreed! After all, nobody would call themselves "the Robert" or "the Neil" or "the Eugene" or "the Donald," .....would they? |
oly
Member Posts: 1000
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 04-19-2020 12:33 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Jonnyed:
Now to confuse us further I will point out that we do say "The Milky Way" almost all the time except when referring to the candy bar.
"The Milky Way" term is used to describe a generalised (generalized) location greater then just one place, like "the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean," "the English countryside," "the Outback." |
Kite
Member Posts: 861
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 04-23-2020 04:07 PM
This has been a most entertaining thread and educational.I recall at an event in Pontefract when I asked a question, to whom I cannot recall but an American astronaut, and mentioned an EVA but pronounced it as Eva (the same as a girls name). I had a puzzled look from the stage and immediate corrections from members of the audience and in my embarrassment quickly rephrased to E V A. I was surprised as when reading it always seemed easier to think of it as in the girls name pronunciation. I also recall that the predecessor of NASA was always called the N.A.C.A. and never as an acronym. Once I did read why this was so but after checking many book indexes I can't find which one. Perhaps a member can tell me. |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 417
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 04-24-2020 07:55 AM
Well as has been discussed earlier, it does seem that the confusion all swirls around evolving from taking the term for a particular object (e.g., the store, the central park, our moon) and transitioning that to a proper noun name like New York City's "Central Park."Same thing happened to the moon as it certainly doesn't have a name in the sense that "Io," "Titan," "Europa" have names, although picking up on the previous post I do like "Eva," since "Earth and Eva" has a nice ring to it.  Maybe we could name the Moon "Apollo" along the same historical precedent as "America?" OK, better stick with "Moon." English is a fun but quirky language. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43671
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-24-2020 08:29 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Kite:
...was always called the N.A.C.A. and never as an acronym.
From NASA SP-4308, Spaceflight Revolution: Although foreigners tended to pronounce it as a two-syllable word, "Nacka," within the United States the organization was always known by its four individual letters, "the N-A-C-A." Veterans of the NACA assumed that the same would be true for NASA. Into the 1990s, NACA veterans could usually be identified by the way they treated the NASA acronym as individual letters. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3172
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-24-2020 04:55 PM
I think there might be a similar division between those who refer to the "Vertical Assembly Building" and those who refer to the "Vehicle Assembly Building." I suppose it depends on whether you worked on/in it before the official name change. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2463
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 04-25-2020 12:31 AM
V-A-B surely. |
ManInSpace
Member Posts: 140
From: Brooklin, ON Canada
Registered: Feb 2018
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posted 04-25-2020 01:31 PM
Interesting, this is the first reference to "Vertical"; that I have come across regarding the V.A.B. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3172
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-25-2020 04:49 PM
Up until 3rd February, 1965, it was known as the VERTICAL Assembly Building. As from that date it was officially the VEHICLE Assembly Building. Of course, as Eddie (Moorouge) has pointed out, the initials V.A.B. remained the same. Some of the old-timers apparently continued to call it the Vertical Assembly Building and I certainly remember hearing the odd reference to "Vertical" during news coverage of the Apollo missions. |
Headshot
Member Posts: 900
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 04-26-2020 02:45 PM
Boy do I feel out of it. I had no idea the name had been changed to Vehicle Assembly Building, and back in 1965 at that. I still refer to it as Vertical Assembly Building. Guess it is hardwired in me now.And I still can't stand that damn NASA inchworm logo. |
ManInSpace
Member Posts: 140
From: Brooklin, ON Canada
Registered: Feb 2018
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posted 04-26-2020 04:16 PM
Once again, my thanks to all who commented on my V.A.B. observation. New knowledge is always a bonus.(Agree with Headshot about the inchworm logo!) |
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