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Posts: 7715

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Q: A question for ESL teachers...

Why don't we capitalise names of the seasons - summer, winter, spring, autumn.... but, we capitalise the days of the week, the months of the year.. and of course, other unque names?

 

Obviously, answers of 'no why' are unacceptable!

9 years 45 weeks ago in  Teaching & Learning - China

 
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Posts: 19790

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'Cause seasons are not proper nouns, and days and months are named after the Norse gods, so they are proper nouns.

 

I do cap. seasons, and till now I didn't know that's not necessary. 

sorrel:

top marks for the cat in the large apartment 

that's what i would have said too

 

9 years 45 weeks ago
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icnif77:

I'm not that good!Today is my off day, so I guess I had to 'teach' somebody some Grammar.

This Q is widely discussed on Internet.

 

Capital Letters and the Seasons

The four seasons are not normally written with capital letters. However, if a season is given a human trait (i.e., personified), then – under an old ruling – it can be given a capital letter.

Examples:

 He was touched by Winter's icy breath.  
(winter given a human trait - use a capital letter) 

 Where are you going this winter?  
(no human trait - use a lowercase letter) 

 The leaves had been subjected to Autumn's touch.  
(human trait -A is correct) 

 The trees were all the colours of autumn.  
(no human trait -a is correct) 

 This is the second time I have been skiing this Winter. 
(no human trait -W should be w)
Read more at http://www.grammar-monster.com/lessons/capital_letters_spring_summer_autumn_winter_seasons.htm#7APxLAXcERfq3vmr.99

9 years 45 weeks ago
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Shining_brow:

However, isn't a 'proper noun' almost an arbitrary feature? 'No', you say, but if days and months ARE, then logically, so should the seasons!! I'm not seeing a logical reason for why a season isn't considered to have a proper name!

9 years 45 weeks ago
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icnif77:

Because sun and moon were considered gods, and days and months are named after the gods, and seasons aren't. Add-it: 'Go to Church, now!'

9 years 45 weeks ago
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Shining_brow:

Months... while Jan - Aug are named after people/gods, Sept-Dec are purely numeric...

9 years 45 weeks ago
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icnif77:

Good Q! I really learned few things here!

9 years 45 weeks ago
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9 years 45 weeks ago
 
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Seasons are not proper nouns (capitalized) because they are informal names for a period  of time between solstices (Summer and Winter) and equinoxes (Spring and Autumnal) - note the caps there. 

Shining_brow:

I do note the caps - and that's part of my point!

9 years 45 weeks ago
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Sinobear:

THE Winter Solstice, THE Summer Solstice, THE Vernal Equinox, THE Autumnal Equinox.

...summer, winter, spring, autumn, equinox, solstice.

9 years 45 weeks ago
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9 years 45 weeks ago
 
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