As a writer, do you ever think about capitalization, or do you just whip the words out the way they feel and look “right” to you? The rules for capitalization and their usage demonstrate just how tough written English can be. For example, which of these is correct? And why?
“My auto insurance agent tells me adding rv insurance will boost my policy premiums quite a bit.”
“My auto insurance agent tells me adding RV insurance will boost my policy premiums quite a bit.”
When used as an abbreviation for “recreational vehicles,” should you write “rv” or “RV”? And I will quickly tell you, I could not find a definitive answer to that question. I think I’ve seen it usually as “RV,” but poking around in our outdated edition of the AP Stylebook really didn’t clarify the issue.
The AP has two or three pages (our older edition does anyway) devoted to capitalization. Within those pages are references to other entries in the book listing specific examples of capitalization — including a reference to their listing for “abbreviations and acronyms.” Maybe I simply missed it, but I saw nothing when I scanned through all those pages and entries specifically showing “rv”/”RV.”
On a wild and desperate hunch, I checked the “Sports Guidelines” section of the stylebook — and found no answer there.
Then I remembered our old friend the dictionary (in this case Miriam-Webster’s “Tenth Collegiate”), and there I found “RV” listed and defined as “recreational vehicle.” The style in the dictionary was “RV,” not “rv.” Also, it really seemed odd to me that the dictionary entry for “recreational vehicle” didn’t include “RV” as an acceptable abbreviation?
See what I meant by the title of this post? Capitalization is only one of the many, many oddities of English grammar and style that make our good language downright tough for writers.
If you’re more dedicated as a writer than I — and you undoubtedly are — you probably put in lots of hours at the computer most days, tap, tap, tapping away at the old keyboard, adding words to your great works. Over the weeks and months, those words build up and your great works reach various stages of completion, maybe even publication.
Whether you keep such an idea writing schedule or not, I encourage you to take a break once in awhile. You really deserve it, and a serious break from your writing may even improve your perspective and sort of freshen up the old brain.
My wife and I took just such a break over an extended weekend. We went to a city about 200 miles from our hometown and simply hung out. Did a little driving, a lot of sleeping, relationship building/sharing stuff, the whole works. It was a great way to renew my outlook on everything from blogging to fiction writing to affiliate marketing. (I also discovered what an effective fat burner it can be to stay on the top floor of a three-story hotel that has no elevator. Ugh. Stairs.)
I encourage you again, take such a weekend break, or weekday break if that fits your schedule better, and enjoy some rest and renewal for the old brain. Your writing will thank you for it.
Having gone to college in an era well before the Internet was invented, I never had the option of something as exciting as Western Governors University (WGU), with the many educational advantages they offer as an online university — not just any online university, but one praised and recommended by such sources as “TIME” magazine and NBC Nightly News.
You’ll see some exciting things looking around the WGU website. The first feature I saw that would have been extremely helpful during my degree seeking days was the incredible convenience of studying in MY location, rather than the route I was forced to take: I had to move 600+ miles to the campus I wanted to attend. WGU online students can study and learn where and when it fits into their busy lives.
The university offers courses and degrees for a perfect range of useful, practical career paths: They have a Teachers’ College, a College of Business (including a degree path to an excellent online mba), a College of Business, and a College of Health Professions. Many news reports and surveys in recent years in the U.S. target education, business, IT, and health professions as the career growth areas in coming years.
WGU’s history revolves around the university’s name — it was founded by 19 U.S. state governors, and is supported by more than 20 major corporations and foundations who are committed to the school’s success. Tuition and fees are very competitive, and WGU offers a number of scholarships as well as other financial aid programs.
If you’re looking for the flexibility of online education and want an experience that challenging and personalized to meet your career needs — I recommend you take a close look at Western Governors University.
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