Whether Mississippi should be capitalized is an interesting debate, and an important one to have as it broaches the question of what should and should not be considered as proper nouns. On one hand, Mississippi is the proper name of a state and, generally speaking, any proper name is capitalized. On the other hand, this name is informal and is based on a river – something that ordinarily is not capitalized. To delve into the debate, let’s take a look into the background of the matter.
The Mississippi River is a major river in North America, extending from its source at Lake Itasca in the north to the Gulf of Mexico. The name \”Mississippi\” was derived from a Native American word meaning \”Great River.\” The river is the second longest in the United States, after the Yellowstone River. Its basin covers 30 states, including the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
When referring to the river itself, the term \”Mississippi\” is not capitalized. However, when referring to the state whose name is derived from the river, the term is always capitalized. This is because the state is a proper noun. The same principle applies to any state – all of the United States are named with proper nouns (Texas, New York, etc.) and are therefore capitalized.
The guide in the United States on language and grammar is the Associated Press Stylebook. According to the stylebook, which is an authority for many different publishers, “Mississippi” should be capitalized when referring to the state. The Chicago Manual of Style is in agreement, as are the MLA (Modern Language Association) and APA (American Psychological Association) publications. In the world of standard written English, Mississippi should always be capitalized when referring to the state.
At the same time, there are some who argue that the name Mississippi should not be capitalized as it is an informal name. They argue that Mississippi was an informal name that derived from the Native Americans and should not be given the same status as proper nouns to distinguish it from the river.
In conclusion, Mississippi should be capitalized when referring to the state, as it is a proper noun. However, when referring to the river itself, it should not be capitalized.
Expert Perspectives
When it comes to the topic of whether Mississippi should be capitalized, perspectives from experts in the field of language and grammar vary. Most tend to agree that as Mississippi is the proper name of a state, that it should be capitalized. Grammar and Stylebooks from the APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association) and The Chicago Manual of Style symbolize the general consensus that Mississippi should be capitalized when it is referring to the state.
Language experts, such as Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com, have also stated that the term “Mississippi” should be capitalized when referring to the state. Merriam-Webster states : \”When used to refer to the state, the word Mississippi is capitalized.\” Dictionary.com states: \”Mississippi is the name of a state in the United States and is always capitalized.\”
However, there is a vocal minority of highly regarded academics and experts who remain unconvinced that Mississippi should necessarily be capitalized. They argue that Mississippi is an informal name and should not necessarily be considered a proper noun and therefore should not necessarily be capitalized.
History of the Name Mississippi
The name, Mississippi, has its roots in history. The word is derived from a Native American word meaning \”Great River.\” The river was originally referred to by the French who, in 1699, referred to it as \”Rivière des Messipi.\” The French word was translated into English and became the Mississippi River.
The first use of \”Mississippi\” to refer to the state came from the Mississippi Territory, established in 1798. Although the term was never officially adopted to refer to the state, it has since become accepted and is the most popular name for the state.
By the early 19th century, the name Mississippi was being used as a proper noun to refer to the state in official documents. The name was officially adopted in 1817, when the state was admitted to the union. It has been used ever since as the official name of the state.
Usage of ‘Mississippi’ Across the World
In the United States, the term \”Mississippi\” is used to refer to the state, and it is always capitalized. However, in other countries, the term may be used differently. In the United Kingdom and Canada, for example, the term is used to refer to both the state and the river. In these countries, the term is not capitalized except when referring to the state.
An example of this usage can be seen in the following sentence: \”My cousin lives in the Mississippi river valley in Canada. She lives on a farm near the Mississippi river.\” In this sentence, the term \”Mississippi\” is used both to refer to the river and to the state, however, it is only capitalized when it is used to refer to the state.
Argument for the Capitalization of Mississippi
Proponents of the argument that Mississippi should be capitalized point out that the term is the proper name of the state and should therefore be capitalized in accordance with standard grammar rules. They argue that the term became the official name of the state when it was admitted to the union and should be respected as such.
They also point out that there are other terms based on rivers that are capitalized when referring to the related states, such as Ohio and Missouri. For example, the Ohio River is referred to as the Ohio River when referring to the river itself and Ohio when referring to the state. Thus, they argue, the same principle should apply to Mississippi.
Argument Against the Capitalization of Mississippi
Opponents of the argument that Mississippi should be capitalized point to the fact that the name is derived from a Native American word, and thus is not a proper noun. They argue that as it is an informal name, it should not necessarily be given the same status as other proper nouns, such as the states Texas or New York.
They also point out that the majority of other names based on rivers are not capitalized, such as the Colorado river, the Fraser river, and the Rio Grande. Therefore, they argue, the same principle should apply to Mississippi.
Mississippi Capitalization in Literature
The issue of whether Mississippi should be capitalized has been an issue in the literary world for some time. Early authors followed the pattern of capitalizing the term, however, in recent years many authors have chosen to not capitalize it. For example, Anne Tyler, whose book A Spool of Blue Thread was published in 2015, chose to not capitalize \”Mississippi\” when referring to the river in her book.
In other publications, such as college essays and articles, writers tend to be more consistent in their capitalization. The majority of articles published in academic journals and newspapers, for example, adhere to the grammatical rule of always capitalizing Mississippi, as do college instructors.
What Does the Future Hold?
The debate of whether Mississippi should be capitalized or not remains a contentious issue. The majority of language and grammar experts uphold the traditional rule of capitalizing proper nouns and maintain that Mississippi should be capitalized when referring to the state.
At the same time, the issue remains contested in the literary world, where authors such as Anne Tyler have chosen to not capitalize the term. Ultimately, it is up to individual writers to decide whether to capitalize Mississippi or not. So long as writers remain consistent in their usage, their decision is ultimately up to individual preference and style.
