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- 6. COMMON NOUNS
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- LESSON 6 COMMON NOUNS
-
- A "common noun" is an item in a class of a person, place, or thing. Common
- nouns are usually NOT capitalized. Common nouns do not uniquely identify
- an item from others in its class (as a proper noun does) although it may
- refer to a previously mentioned proper noun. ->
-
- I asked the doctor about it. -or- I asked Doctor Smith about it.
- We toured Hoover Dam; the dam is much larger than expected.
-
- Above, the general (common) is contrasted with the specific (proper).
-
- However, DO capitalize common nouns when:
-
- 1. Contained within proper nouns (see Lesson 4) ->
-
- Kansas City (city), The Last Hurrah (hurrah), The River (river),
- The Hall of Fame (hall), American Broadcast Company (company)
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-
- 2. Used in direct address -> After all, Professor, it is relevant.
- -but- I told the professor it was relevant.
-
- <<
- You may travel by plane, train, or auto to that eastern city.
- You may travel by Boeing 777, The B&O, or drive a Geo to New York.
- I enjoy the 777; the plane was designed for passenger comfort.
- Drive through the Holland Tunnel; the tunnel connects to Manhattan.
-
- These titles contain common nouns that are capitalized:
- Far From the Madding Crowd
- All Quiet on the Western Front
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
- Much Ado About Nothing
-
- "Look, Coach, I can't practice today."
- "Why not, Freshman?"
- "I have a chemistry exam with Doctor Jekyll, Coach."
- The coach pondered for a moment, "Hmmm, probably
- Chem 101; don't miss that or Jekyll will have your hide!"
-
- What is "irony"?
- Irony is the use of words to mean something
- different from what they appear. In doing so,
- it conveys the point more effectively than
- had the meaning been put forth directly.
-
- "And Brutus is an honorable man."
- Despite sounding complimentary, by frequently injecting this
- phrase, Mark Antony, addressing the Roman masses, conveys
- to the audience that Brutus is, ironically, dishonorable.
- {Source: "Julius Ceasar", play, Shakespeare}
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