Page 1015 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing
P. 1015
Mr. Benton, the music professor, told Khadijah that she had a
musical-sounding name.
Family Relationships
Family relationships can be complicated, but the rules defining
capitalization of family designations are simple and straightforward.
Family Designations Used in Place of a
Name
Capitalize a family designation used in place of a name. To make sure
that the word is used as a name, try substituting a name for the word.
If it is used as a name, the substitution will sound natural.
Example of Substitution to Check
Correctness
I drove Mother to her doctor’s appointment.
I drove Mother Ella Satterfield to her doctor’s appointment.
“I drove Ella Satterfield to her doctor’s appointment” sounds natural,
so the capitalization of Mother is correct.
