[miriel361]

As I have now been corrected both ways, I would like to know if anyone knows the actual rule.

I always believed that my lord or my lady were written small although they are a tilte. Only if used directly with a name should they take a capital i.e. Lady Arwen.

However, I have been corrected by Americans who tell me that it should always be My Lady or My Lord or Sire.

LIkewise with titles, I believe a capital is only necessary when refering to a direct title. i.e. Supervisor of the Acccounts Department or Warden of the West March but 'the supervisor of the Accounts Department walked over to the door and opened it.' or 'he was the warden of this march.'

Let me know what you think.

I would appreciate any reference to a grammar book and a statement as to whether you are following British or American rules.

Thanks

[sindohte]

Miriel,

Since I am not at home with my various reference books, I am just pulling this out of my imaginary etiquette book. When using the term "my lord" or "my lady," I was taught to never capitalize it, because a specific person is not being referred to. (I am a product of the American public school system). So you are correct that Elrond's daughter would be referred to as Lady Arwen, if her first name was being used. And if she was just being referred to in general, she would be called my lady.

As for the business of you being told by Americans that you need to capitalize the "My" in my lady, I think they are incorrect. You would write "My Lady" if you were writing a letter to Arwen, because that would your salutation. However in the course of general conversation, it would be "my lady."

This website http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/OTHERREFERENCE/FORMSOFADDRESS/SpkWritFrmsAddr.html which appears to be American in origin, provides some clarification as to the whole written vs. spoken issue. But it still does not clarify the "My Lady" vs. "my lady" issue. I will have to do some more investigating to see what I can turn up.

That is a great question by the way.

[Moralanqua]

I wondered this too! Bloody Vocative Case or Acusative?!!

As far as i can tell (and i have never been corrected), its My Lord as a direct greeting "My Lords!" or reference "The Lords of the West" but as a general "Yes, my lord." its lower case.



http://www.geocities.com/deannascott_uncp/grammarguide.html

This lesson is from an American.

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Accusative-case

This is more general.

[Viv]

Weird that the majority of sources cited so far are Americans. That's kind of like asking someone from Guatemala how to make haggis, ain't it? Be interesting to see what some English folks have to say on the subject. Or some of those Regency romance novel fans; I hear that genre takes methods of address very seriously.

[BellemaineChercoeur]

I love a good regency, although I am not quite as fanatical as some about the historical accuracy of every minor detail. That said, rank is not a little thing in some stories, as it can impact directly on plot, so it counts to make sure that your titles are correct!

For titles per se (the short version):
http://www.susannahcarleton.com/regency.html#Ranks_Titles_and_Forms_of_Address

For titles and use of various social situations (the long and quite exhausting version):
http://www.chinet.com/~laura/html/titles12.html

Hope they help!

[miriel361]

Thanka for all your help!

[Idhril]

miriel361, I generally use "my lord" or "my lady." Not because it's grammarically correct, but because I believe that the only lord whose title should be capitalized is the Lord I worship as a Christian. That's just my opinion, though.

[LuthienTinuviel]

I'm a product of Malaysian British English, btw... and I thought that my Lady was supposed to be written with a capital at the Lady since it was a referrence to, however general, a person or the lady itself.

Is it correct?