Why are nouns in the U.S. Constitution capitalized?? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Fearless_Hyena · 12-03-2003, 05:37 PM

I know this is pretty random, but I figured someone here might know -- I'm curious why all the nouns in the Constitution of the United States begin with a capital letter. Does anyone know?? I was just reading the transcript at:

http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Constitution.html

Is that just how we used to write English, or official documents back then? It's almost like the German language (they also use the double-S), where they do that with nouns as well. Anyway, I just noticed that...I'd be interested to know if anyone can enlighten me!

Easytiger · 12-03-2003, 06:12 PM

You're basically right- it's just how they used to do things, and it has a lot to do with the influence German had on English.

shakran · 12-03-2003, 10:07 PM

yup. That's just how they wrote back then. Grab a photo of a newspaper from the 1770's. all F's look like S's.

Bloodslick · 12-04-2003, 08:10 AM

Besides, spelling was a bit arbitrary back then.

Rodney · 12-04-2003, 11:50 AM

People still capitalize common nouns for emphasis, even though it's wrong -- I guess they think it punches up the sentence or is more formal, even though it looks stupid to me. I used to have a copy-editing job on a very low-rent newspaper than ran a lot of news releases from local organizations, gov't agencies in such in lieu actually writing its own news, and my job was to put all the PR releases in shape to publish in the paper. Those amateur and small-time PR guys would capitalize any damn thing. "The Flip City Lions Club will hold a Party honoring Long Time Members who have been of great service to the Community...." Jeez. And of course, it was my job to pull out all the extraneous capitals. Well, at least their bad grammar made a paying job for me.

Rudel73 · 12-04-2003, 03:57 PM

Like Easytiger said, it was probably brought over from German. In german ALL nouns are capitalized so...maybe

sailor · 12-04-2003, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudel73
Like Easytiger said, it was probably brought over from German. In german ALL nouns are capitalized so...maybe

Yep.

thingstodo · 12-05-2003, 05:15 AM

i love facts and this was a good one. thanks!

thingstodo · 12-05-2003, 05:16 AM

off the subject, but did you know you can only fold a piece of paper on itself seven times?

rsl12 · 12-05-2003, 11:45 AM

huh? you can only fold a piece of paper 7 times? you're nuts if you believe that.

what size of paper are we talking about???

Chingal0 · 12-05-2003, 10:08 PM

YOu can TO do it 7 times! Here is my proof!

1

2

4

6

7

Yea, i have too much time on my hands, but hey.

Now 9 folds.. that is a different story!

Fearless_Hyena · 12-05-2003, 10:57 PM

OK so while we're off on a tangent here, who else learned the Preamble from Schoolhouse Rock??

Chingal0 · 12-05-2003, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fearless_Hyena
OK so while we're off on a tangent here, who else learned the Preamble from Schoolhouse Rock??

Hahahha... After my post I scrolled up to the top of the thread and read the thread topic and wondered to myself, how did a us constitution post turn into this shit?!

Glad I'm not the only one haha. Anyways, Schoolhouse Rock, not me.. sorry!

Fearless_Hyena · 12-06-2003, 12:01 AM

Saturday morning cartoons, if you grew up in the 80's. Or 70's actually.....Schoolhouse Rock was these educational things in between cartoons and that's probably the only reason i even know the preamble...

alkaloid · 12-06-2003, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by thingstodo
off the subject, but did you know you can only fold a piece of paper on itself seven times?

Wow. This is pretty cool! I have only a small piece of paper so I could make it fold only 6 times. But this is very fascinating. The paper would have to get very very large and very very thin to be able to fold 8 times. But paper probably cannot go beyond certain minimum thickness otherwise it will fall apart.

I wish you would have started a new thread about this though.

Thanks

gowingnut007 · 12-07-2003, 04:00 AM

school house rock...man, that brings back some memories

tedrlord · 12-11-2003, 01:41 AM

That reminds me of a philosophy-major friend of mine that capitalizes phrases for emphasis in writings to make them sound more important. The funny thing is that he never explains what the phrases mean, so you never really understand what he's talking about. He seems to be of the idea that capitalization can take the place of a constructed idea. Which is probably true in philosophy.

12-03-2003, 05:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
Fearless_Hyena Hello, good evening, and bollocks. Location: near DC	Why are nouns in the U.S. Constitution capitalized?? I know this is pretty random, but I figured someone here might know -- I'm curious why all the nouns in the Constitution of the United States begin with a capital letter. Does anyone know?? I was just reading the transcript at: http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Constitution.html Is that just how we used to write English, or official documents back then? It's almost like the German language (they also use the double-S), where they do that with nouns as well. Anyway, I just noticed that...I'd be interested to know if anyone can enlighten me!

12-04-2003, 11:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	People still capitalize common nouns for emphasis, even though it's wrong -- I guess they think it punches up the sentence or is more formal, even though it looks stupid to me. I used to have a copy-editing job on a very low-rent newspaper than ran a lot of news releases from local organizations, gov't agencies in such in lieu actually writing its own news, and my job was to put all the PR releases in shape to publish in the paper. Those amateur and small-time PR guys would capitalize any damn thing. "The Flip City Lions Club will hold a Party honoring Long Time Members who have been of great service to the Community...." Jeez. And of course, it was my job to pull out all the extraneous capitals. Well, at least their bad grammar made a paying job for me. Last edited by Rodney; 12-04-2003 at 11:54 AM..

12-05-2003, 05:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	i love facts and this was a good one. thanks! __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.

12-05-2003, 05:16 AM	#9 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	off the subject, but did you know you can only fold a piece of paper on itself seven times? __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.

12-05-2003, 11:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
rsl12 On the lam Location: northern va	huh? you can only fold a piece of paper 7 times? you're nuts if you believe that. what size of paper are we talking about??? __________________ oh baby oh baby, i like gravy.

12-03-2003, 06:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Easytiger Insane Location: Tigerland	You're basically right- it's just how they used to do things, and it has a lot to do with the influence German had on English.

12-03-2003, 10:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	yup. That's just how they wrote back then. Grab a photo of a newspaper from the 1770's. all F's look like S's.

12-04-2003, 08:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
Bloodslick Loser Location: a darkened back alley	Besides, spelling was a bit arbitrary back then.

12-04-2003, 03:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rudel73 Psycho	Like Easytiger said, it was probably brought over from German. In german ALL nouns are capitalized so...maybe

12-05-2003, 10:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
Chingal0 Something like that.. Location: Oreygun.	YOu can TO do it 7 times! Here is my proof! 1 2 4 6 7 Yea, i have too much time on my hands, but hey. Now 9 folds.. that is a different story! __________________ "Eventually I became too sexy for my gym membership fee."

12-05-2003, 10:57 PM	#12 (permalink)
Fearless_Hyena Hello, good evening, and bollocks. Location: near DC	OK so while we're off on a tangent here, who else learned the Preamble from Schoolhouse Rock??

12-06-2003, 12:01 AM	#14 (permalink)
Fearless_Hyena Hello, good evening, and bollocks. Location: near DC	Saturday morning cartoons, if you grew up in the 80's. Or 70's actually.....Schoolhouse Rock was these educational things in between cartoons and that's probably the only reason i even know the preamble...

12-07-2003, 04:00 AM	#16 (permalink)
gowingnut007 Psycho	school house rock...man, that brings back some memories

12-11-2003, 01:41 AM	#17 (permalink)
tedrlord Crazy Location: Behind you!	That reminds me of a philosophy-major friend of mine that capitalizes phrases for emphasis in writings to make them sound more important. The funny thing is that he never explains what the phrases mean, so you never really understand what he's talking about. He seems to be of the idea that capitalization can take the place of a constructed idea. Which is probably true in philosophy.