As a language expert with a deep understanding of English grammar and usage, I'm here to help clarify the rules regarding the capitalization of family titles. The capitalization of family titles can be a nuanced topic, but I'll break it down into clear guidelines for you.
When terms denoting family relationships are used as proper nouns (as names), they are capitalized. This is because proper nouns refer to specific individuals and are always capitalized in English. For example, if you are referring to a specific person named "John" in the context of your family, you would write "my brother John." Here, "John" is a proper noun because it is a specific name given to an individual.
On the other hand, when these terms are used as common nouns (not as names), they are not capitalized. Common nouns are general terms that can refer to any member of a group or category. In English, common nouns are typically not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence or are part of a title. For instance, if you are talking about any brother in a general sense, you would write "my brother is coming to visit." In this case, "brother" is a common noun and remains lowercase.
It's important to note that the context in which the family title is used will determine whether it should be capitalized. Here are some examples to illustrate the point:

1. Proper Noun Usage: "I am meeting my Uncle George for dinner tonight." Here, "Uncle George" is a specific person, so "Uncle" is capitalized as part of the proper noun.

2. Common Noun Usage: "I have three uncles, and my favorite is the one who lives in Canada." In this sentence, "uncles" is a common noun because it refers to a general category of relatives, not specific individuals.

3. Beginning of a Sentence: "Uncle George is my father's brother." Even though "Uncle George" is a proper noun, "Uncle" is not capitalized here because it does not start the sentence.

4. Part of a Title: "The movie 'Uncle Buck' is a classic." In this case, "Uncle" is part of the title of a creative work, so it is capitalized.

5. Direct Address: "Please pass the salt, Aunt Sarah." When directly addressing someone by a family title, it is common to capitalize it out of respect, even though it is not a proper noun.

6. Middle of a Sentence: "My mom always says to wear a jacket when it's cold outside." Here, "mom" is a common noun and remains lowercase, even though it is used in a personal context.
In summary, the capitalization of family titles in English depends on whether the term is being used as a proper noun (specific to an individual) or a common noun (referring to a general category). Proper nouns are capitalized, while common nouns are not, unless they are at the beginning of a sentence, part of a title, or used in direct address. Understanding these rules can help you use family titles correctly and effectively in your writing.
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When terms denoting family relationships are used as proper nouns (as names), they are capitalized. However, when the terms are used as common nouns (not as names), they're not capitalized. ... It's easy to get confused about whether you should capitalize family names in your writing.read more >>