When do you capitalise “mum” and “dad”?

In a manuscript I recently edited, the author talked about her mum and dad. In some places, she referred to “my Mum” and “dad’s cooking”. I changed these to “my mum” and “Dad’s cooking”. I explained the change in my editorial report and thought others would find the explanation helpful too.

“Mum” can be used as a title (in place of her first name) or as a common noun. When it’s used as a title, it’s capitalised. When it’s used as a common noun, it’s lower case.

Common nouns are names of everyday things or ideas, such as cows, cats, and capitalism.

Titles only need to be capitalised when they come directly before a name or when they’re used as a term of address.

Mums and dads can be common nouns, but they can also be titles.

Try these two methods to tell if you’re using “mum” as a common noun or title.

1. If there is a pronoun in front of “mum”, then that “mum” is a common noun, so it’s lower case: 

• my mum 
• your mum
• our mum
• his mum

2. If you can replace the “mum” with her first name, then it’s being used as a title, that is, in place of her first name.

Let’s see this in context:

• When it’s a hot day, Mum takes us to the beach. [Title]
• When it’s a hot day, Jane takes us to the beach. [Title]
• When it’s a hot day, my mum takes us to the beach. [Common noun]
• When it’s a hot day, my mum Jane takes us to the beach. [Common noun]
• When it’s a hot day, our mums take us to the beach. [Common noun]
• When it’s a hot day, Jane and Glenda take us to the beach. [Title]

The same applies to “dad”, but granddad, grandma, aunt, and uncle can be treated slightly differently.

When to capitalise granddad, grandma, aunt, and uncle

Granddad, grandma, granny, grandpa, aunt, and uncle can be used in the same way as “mum” and “dad”, but they can also be used as titles before the person’s name. When they’re used as title immediately before the name, then they’re capitalised.

• During the holidays my grandma taught me how to fish. [Common noun]
• During the holidays Grandma Susan taught me how to fish. [Title and name]
• During the holidays Grandma taught me how to fish. [Title]

• I stayed at my aunt’s house during the holidays. [Common noun]
• I stayed at my aunt Louise’s house during the holidays. [Common noun then name]
• I stayed at Aunt Louise’s house during the holidays. [Title and name]
• I stayed at my aunty’s house during the holidays. [Common noun]
• I stayed at Aunty’s house during the holidays. [Title]

Your turn

Check whether you’re using “mum” in place of her first name, or whether you’re using a pronoun in front of “mum”, and you’ll be able to work out whether to capitalise it or not. Like many aspects of English, the reasoning is not always obvious but there is usually a logic to it!

And if you’re ready for editing and want to work with me, contact me and we can start a conversation.

References

The Magic of Fiction, by Beth Hill, 2016. Page 374

When to Capitalize ‘Mom’ and Other Nicknames and Terms of Endearment, by Mignon Fogarty, 10 May, 2018. Quick and Dirty Tips. https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/capitalize-mom-nicknames-terms-of-endearment?page=2

The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition. Section 8.36.