Pet Peeve #15 - Poetry Capitalization
Two years ago, if you would have called me a poet, I would have backed away shaking my head. One year ago, I would have smiled and nodded. I may have not been writing poetry for long, but in my short time writing and critiquing it, a few pet peeves have arisen.
While capitalizing the first letter of the first word on every line may be a stylistic poetry, I’ve never seen it used in a way I’d know it was a stylistic choice instead of a mistake.
In my experience, capitalizing in that way in poetry shows one of three things:
a.) you didn’t take the time to check it over after you typed it in your word processor
b.) you’re new to poetry
or
c.) both
If you hate the tediousness of going back and correcting the capitalization, Microsoft Word has a way to turn it off and on as you please.
At the top of the screen, go to “Tools” and then “AutoCorrect Options” in the drop down menu.
It’s worth the correction, not only to show you care about your own work but that you have respect for your readers.
March 21st, 2007 at 8:27 pm
I always capitalize the first word of every new line….. Hmmm, ah, oops, whistle :S
March 21st, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Hehe. Well now you know.
March 22nd, 2007 at 3:08 am
or d) you have umpteen teachers that insist you capitalize the first line even after they have given up on the whole “You must indent every second line to put it in Poetic Form.” meh.
March 22nd, 2007 at 3:09 am
Oy. No thank you, teacher.