Ah! It's Friday again! Yes, this week flew by, but thanks to Vikki over at Viklit, it's also time to stop and remember all those small, little things that put a smile on our faces this last week and celebrate them.
This week, I'm celebrating:
1) Smores around a fire.
2) A gorgeous new flower growing in my garden. Since I have no idea what the woman living here before us planted, this is always a huge surprise. Fun too.
3) I won a copy of Kyra Lennon's IF I LET YOU GO. Yay to more books!!!
4) My daughter surprised me with a GC for an online shop, so I could buy a sweater I've been eyeing.
So, all in all, it's been a nice week.
But not anymore!!!!
Now, it's time for . . .
While betaing, I stumbled across something, which really threw me for a few minutes.
"What on earth?"
Tiny, little phrase, isn't it? But oh, the headaches it caused me! (Not really. I just thought I'd be dramatic for a second.)
My problem?
Uh...should earth be capitalized? I thought so, but suddenly I wasn't so sure.
Rule 1: When using 'earth' is used as a specific noun (for example--in conjunction with the planets), it's capitalized because it is being used as a name.
The three planets closet to the sun are Mercury, Venus and Earth.
Easy, peasy, right?
Rule 2: When using 'earth' in the sense as the planet we live on and with 'the', it isn't capitalized, since this is treated as a common noun.
Scientists try to determine the exact age of the earth.
The earth rotates on an axis.
Rule 3: When earth means dirt, it is not capitalized.
He let the earth seep through his fingers.
This one is pretty straight forward too.
So, what happens to our 'What on earth/Earth'?"
It is commonly accepted that 'earth' in this instance is not capitalized, since it is seen as the planet we live on, and not naming it exactly.
Where on earth are you going?
We'll travel to the ends of the earth.
There are so many things to discover between earth and sky.
What wonderful things are you celebrating this week? Are you a smore fan? Have you traveled to the ends of the earth, or would you like to go beyond?
