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The Devil

TheOldMole Mar 06 2011 08:32 AM

Does anyone understand this? -- from http://www.libraryonline.com/default.asp?pID=48 Devil - Capitalize all names for the Devil Examples: · Devil · Satan · Adversary · Father of Lies · Evil One · Lucifer · Prince of Darkness · Beelzebub (meaning Satan) ...* Do not capitalize when used in a general sense or as an expletive. (Example: The devil is a formidable adversary.) Why is their example "used in a general sense"? Isn't it THE Devil that's a formidable adversary? And if it's like "the president" -- any time you use it with an article in front of it, that makes it a general sense, how can they say "Capitalize all names for the Devil"?

The Second Spitter Mar 06 2011 08:37 AM Re: The Devil

Bad example -- probably should have used something like "we had a devil of a time"

Edgy DC Mar 06 2011 11:11 AM Re: The Devil

I agree that the issue is a terrible example.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 06 2011 11:15 AM Re: The Devil

"The" makes it specific. "A" would make it general. Poor editing sucks. Poorly-edited stylebooks suck doubly hard.