Capitalization in Quotes

Capitalize the First Word in a Sentence that Is a Direct Quote

When quoting, the first word of a complete sentence should be capitalized, regardless of its placement within the main sentence.

Matthew said, “In that case, I’m going out for a walk!”

Since grade school, we’ve learned that capitalization is reserved for the beginnings of sentences, so when we see a capital letter mid-sentence, it can make us feel as though there’s an error. When using quotations, though, capitalization in mid-sentence is common. More specifically, when quotations form complete sentences, they must be capitalized no matter where they appear in the main sentence. All of the sentences below are correct, for example:

“We are not amused.” – Queen Victoria

Neil Young’s admonishment “It’s better to burn out than it is to rust” is not appreciated by everyone.

Don’t Capitalize Quotes that Are Only Partial Sentences

Quotations within a sentence aren’t always capitalized, however. When the quote is a piece of a bigger quote or a sentence fragment, no capitalization is necessary. Consider the sentences below, and note the lack of capitalization in quotes within these sentences:

William Butler Yeats said that education should not be passive and dull, but that it should be seen as “… lighting a fire.”

When accused, Richard Nixon maintained that he was “not a crook.”

Historic vs. Historical—Which Should I Use?

• Historic describes something momentous or important in history.
• Historical simply describes something that belongs to an earlier period of history.

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Historic and historical are two adjectives that have very similar meanings; so similar that it’s no wonder they are often confused. Still, they are not simply two spellings for the same word, so you should know when to use which.

When to Use Historic

Historic is an adjective that comes in handy when we speak about people, places, or events that existed or happened in the past. But we can’t use the adjective for everything that relates to the past—only those things and people that have a prominent place in history are called historic:

We used a historic map to learn about the history of our town.

The effects of the historic Battle of Hastings can still be seen in the English language.

When to Use Historical

For other people or places that existed in the past, or for things that relate to history, we use the adjective historical:

We used a historical map to learn about the history of our town.

The meeting between the two countries’ leaders was a historical occasion.

Examples

These battlefields and military installations were declared a National Historic Landmark in 1985.

Forbes

Chanel has said it will leave a historic perfume site in France if plans for a high-speed train line affecting its jasmine fields go ahead.

BBC

Gladden said Alda Clark founded the historical society after the death of her husband, former Howard County Circuit Court Judge James Clark Sr., in 1955.

The Baltimore Sun

Scientists have pieced together historical records to reconstruct Arctic sea ice extent over the past 125 years.

The Guardian

Using the Future Continuous Tense

The future continuous tense, sometimes also referred to as the future progressive tense, is a verb tense that indicates that something will occur in the future and continue for an expected length of time. It is formed using the construction will + be + the present participle (the root verb + -ing).

The simple future tense is a verb tense that is used when an action is expected to occur in the future and be completed. For example, let’s suppose you have a meeting tomorrow at five o’clock.

I will arrive at five o’clock.

I will arrive is the simple future tense of the verb to arrive. You arrive once; beyond that, you can’t keep on arriving. However, once you get there, you may be doing something that goes on continuously, at least for a certain period of time.

At five o’clock, I will be meeting with the management about my raise.

Will be meeting is the future continuous tense of the verb to meet. The construction will + be + the present participle meeting indicates that the meeting isn’t going to happen in an instant, all at once. It will have a duration. The will + be + present participle construction always indicates the future continuous tense.

Michael will be running a marathon this Saturday.

Eric will be competing against Michael in the race.

I will be watching Michael and Eric race.

The Future Continuous Tense Is for Action Verbs Only

It is important to note that the future continuous tense is only used with action verbs, because it is possible to do them for a duration. (Action verbs describe activities like running, thinking, and seeing. Stative verbs describe states of existence, like being, seeming, and knowing.) To use the will + be + present participle construction with a stative verb would sound very odd indeed.

I will be being stressed tomorrow during my science test.

I will be stressed tomorrow during my science test.

When the sun comes out tomorrow, winter will be seeming like a distant memory.

When the sun comes out tomorrow, winter will seem like a distant memory.

After I study, I will be knowing all the answers for the test.

After I study, I will know all the answers for the test.

As you can see, only the simple future tense is suited to stative verbs like to be and to seem.

Modal Verbs–Definition and Usage

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs (also called helping verbs) like can, will, could, shall, must, would, might, and should. After a modal verb, the root form of a verb is generally used. The word to should not appear after a modal verb. An exception is the phrase ought to, which is considered a modal verb.

Modal verbs add meaning to the main verb in a sentence by expressing possibility, ability, permission, or obligation.

You must turn in your assignment on time.

He might be the love of my life.

The doctor can see you now.

When a modal verb precedes the main verb in a sentence or clause, use the root of the verb rather than the infinitive, which contains the word to.

The doctor can to see you now.

The one case in which we deviate from this rule and use the full infinitive form of a verb is with the modal phrase “ought to”

The doctor ought to see you now. (You’ve waited long enough.)

To Do as a Modal Verb

The verb to do can be used as a modal verb or a main verb. In this sentence, to do is being used as a main verb and can is being used as a modal verb.

You can do it.

Whereas in this example, do is used as a modal verb.

You do know how to sing!

Remember, however, that do can be used as a modal verb only if there is no other modal verb present in the sentence.

Thank you, I can do sing.

Thank you, I do sing.

Thank you, I can sing.

What Does Afk Mean?

• Afk is an abbreviation for away from keyboard.
• It lets people know that you will not be at your keyboard for a while, or that you will not be online for a period of time.

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If you’re chatting online or playing an MMO, afk lets your friends know that you are stepping away from the keyboard.

The Meaning of Afk

Afk means away from keyboard, a phrase that lets others know that you won’t be at your computer for a while. It’s commonly used with another abbreviation—brb (be right back)—to indicate that you’re taking a short break.

The term afk developed as a bit of chat room etiquette in the 1990s, when IRC was at its peak. It was later adopted by the gaming community, especially in MMOs (massively multiplayer online games).

How to Use Afk

Afk is an Internet slang word, and as such, it might be best to avoid it in formal conversations. That being said, it’s not uncommon to use it in workplaces that foster a less formal atmosphere, as the phrase is purely informational. You can write afk in uppercase and in lowercase.

Examples

I’m going afk, my dinner is ready.

Has he gone afk in the middle of a raid?

I’ll be afk until the exam season passes.