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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!

10 years 19 weeks ago in  Teaching & Learning - China

 
Answers (2)
Comments (8)
Posts: 19850

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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

 

10 years 19 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

10 years 19 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!

10 years 19 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!'

10 years 19 weeks ago
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Shining_brow:

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

10 years 19 weeks ago
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icnif77:

Good Q! I really learned few things here!

10 years 19 weeks ago
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10 years 19 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!

10 years 19 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.

10 years 19 weeks ago
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10 years 19 weeks ago
 
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