Inspired by yesterday’s Space X launch of a Dragon spacecraft to deliver supplies to the International Space Station, we are going to examine a grammar question. When, if ever, do you capitalize Earth?
This is also inspired by a Face Time call I received about a month ago from my daughter. She wanted to prove to her boyfriend, who apparently hadn’t realized how seriously we Tomiaks take our grammar, that Earth must be capitalized in certain situations. He doubted her logic. She called me in for back up.
According to Dictionary.com, when you are referring to Earth as a proper noun, as a specific heavenly body, you capitalize it. You also usually omit “the”. For example, “Following an on-time liftoff, the Falcon 9’s first stage will return to Earth.” Proper nouns, which name a specific person, place, or thing, are always capitalized.
However, if you are using earth as a common noun, as in the ground or soil, you keep it lowercase. For example, “The job will be expensive because there is a lot of earth to move on the site.” You can also use lowercase earth when you are referring to it as the planet we live on, e.g. “The earth rotates on an axis.”
So, should you capitalize Earth? Like so many things in life and grammar, it depends on the situation. 😉
And if you haven’t, check out the article about the launch. The SpaceX Dragon carried all kinds of interesting things to the International Space Station, including kidney stones and squid paralarvae!
Thanks for getting nerdy with me!
I think I’ve done it automatically all my life, Julia. Proper nouns are capitalized. Period. Maybe the problem is some people don’t recognize what a proper noun is? Hmmm..
Oh – I also cap it when I say “Earth Day.”
Of course you are clear on grammar! That’s why we follow each other. Thanks Debbie! 😉 And I agree about Earth Day.