Should an Empire have a capital ?

[Chance1234]

I'm writing a article (read: ramblings to go on my website) and I can't figure whether when using the word empire as in the Roman Empire I should use a capital or not.



Chance,

Filmmaker, gentleman and polla stilo eleous

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
If I recall the rule correctly:
If used generically, as in , "He wanted to build an empire"
no capital is used..If a specific empire, (the Roman Empire) it is capitalized..





To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[sleipnir214]

I agree with Turkbear.

But in case you don't feel comfortable taking our words for it, here is a discussion at the AskOxford.com site of a similar question:

http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/usage/university

Want the best answers? Ask the best questions! TANSTAAFL!

 

[kjv1611]

I'm writing [highlight]a[/highlight] article (read: ramblings to go on my website) and I can't figure whether when using the word empire as in the Roman Empire I should use a capital or not.

First, a grammatical typo is highlighted, since this is MAI.
"a" should be "an"

Next, for the actual question:

I'd say, ask the Romans or whomever else you're talking about. I mean, if they're powerful enough to have their own "empire", then I'd imagine they can either have a capital or not, depending upon what they want. [WINK] Because, who is to tell them otherwise?

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[SantaMufasa]

...if they're powerful enough to have their own "empire", then I'd imagine they can either have a capital...

Regardless of "power", if it is a specific, named empire, (or unnamed, but implied empire) then it is a proper noun, which should have captials (e.g., The Empire (->) or even Mufasa Empire ()).

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[kjv1611]

Hmm, me get mixed up... should've spent more time studying that commonly misused words web site...

I was thinking Capital as in political capital, not Capital Letters. Oops.

So, yes, I'll say no question, use capital letters if referring to a specific political entity.

So for instance..

The Roman Empire was big.
The Empire was huge.

I believe the second would still be okay, as it is speaking specifically of The Roman Empire, if used within that context.

Similarly, we capitalize The President in the U.S., when speaking specifically of the American President, but not when speaking of a business president.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[Chance1234]

cheers for the replies.

And kjv1611 I would start watching your maths in the STC forum if i were you ;-)

Chance,

Filmmaker, gentleman and polla stilo eleous

 

[kjv1611]

Yeah, sometimes my math aint so popular, I guess. Multiplication is so much harder than addition.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[cjelec]

I know that people here have said it, but I'll say it like this:

If its a name of a place or person you use capitals, this makes "The Roman Empire" right, but I think that if you used it in "The Romans had a empire" would make it lower case. I think???

 

[WyldeCarde]

I was wondering if we had a future Palaptine or something in our midst after reading the title. Like he was intending to build an empire and wasn't sure if he need a capital city or not

 

[Chance1234]

Chance,

Filmmaker, gentleman and polla stilo eleous

 

[drlex]

Reminds me of the comment that got Kenny Everett a few laughs:
When we were an Empire, we had an Emperor.
When we were a Kingdom, we had a King.
Now we're a Country, we've got Mrs Thatcher.

soi la, soi carré

 

[2ffat]

I was thinking Capital as in political capital, not Capital Letters.

capital vs. capitol ;-)




James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
^{I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!}

 

[philhege]

drlex, in fark terms, you owe me a new keyboard.

Phil Hegedusich
Senior Programmer/Analyst
IIMAK

http://www.iimak.com

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Not NULL-terminated yet.

 

[SantaMufasa]

Reminds me of the answer I received from a student in a Third Grade class in which I was substitute teaching:

My Question: Who can tell me the capital of Wisconsin?

Student Answer: "W".

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[rosieb]

drlex

Rosie
"Don't try to improve one thing by 100%, try to improve 100 things by 1%

 

[drlex]

rosieb & philhege,
and -no C&C warning, respectively.
Since the comment led in part to Mr Everett's removal from Capital radio, perhaps it is a bit close to an RF here. By way of apology to any persons offended, I will think of kittens and balls of wool for the rest of the day.

soi la, soi carré

 

[philhege]

Oopsie. Sorry for the absence of a NSFW flag. I was focused on the specific term and not the rest of the crud, I mean definitions. My apologies likewise to those offended.

Phil Hegedusich
Senior Programmer/Analyst
IIMAK

http://www.iimak.com

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Not NULL-terminated yet.