Do You Capitalize The Words “Grandpa” and “Grandma”?

Many people get confused when it comes to capitalization of “Grandpa” and “Grandma.” This is because, in various contexts, they are either capitalized or not. So, what is the way forward? Capitalize or not capitalize?

Example:

• My grandpa says, hello? – Should grandpa be capitalized

In the sentence above, you don’t have to capitalize “grandpa.” This is because “grandpa” is used to describing the individual you refer to, but not as a replacement for his name. However, if “grandpa” is used as a name or replaces an individual’s name, you should capitalize on it. And this is the rule for the kinship names such as father, mother, cousin, aunt, and brother.

Capitalizing kinship names such as “grandpa” and “grandma” depends on various factors. It all starts with what they refer to, where they are placed, their roles in the conversation, and the noun credentials. They can be capitalized if they play the proper nouns roles in a sentence, but if they play the common noun’s position, they can’t be capitalized.

“Grandpa” and “Grandma” at the Start of a Sentence

Like every other sentence, the start of sentences should be in capital letters. “Grandpa” and “Grandma” are not exceptional; they should be capitalized at the beginning of a sentence.

Example:

• Grandma’s house is on fire.
• Grandpa’s cow hates raw corn; I fear for the worst.
• Grandma’s car is in good condition, try it.
• Grandpa’s house is so big.

“Grandpa” and “Grandma” in Literary Work

When it comes to literary work titles, “grandpa” and “grandma” are capitalized. But what is literally work? Literary work can be described as a literature branch that deals with words to create ideas, pictures, or stories.

When “Grandma” and “Grandpa” are part of literary work’s title, they are capitalized.

Example:

• Grandma Courage in Wisconsin
• Grandpa Retreats Out of Reach
• Grandpa Rules Dominates Salvador Streets
• Grandma Pure Knowledge of Wisdom

“Grandpa” and “Grandma” Personal Rules

In some cases, a user is allowed to have personal rules in his or her writing. But the rules should be subject to enhancing the grammatical composition of the conversation. For instance, one can capitalize kinship words in a question mark sentence when talking about a specific person.

Example:

• Does the car belong to Grandma?
• Who asked for the pipe? Grandpa or Grandma?
• What is the fuss about? Grandma, or what?
• You want to see Grandpa or Grandma?

“Grandpa” and “grandma” Capitalization Rules

One should observe some rules when it comes to capitalizing on “grandpa” and “grandma.” If the two words are used to express the individual you are talking about, don’t capitalize with or without the individual’s name. Such uses come after pronouns like her, their, our, his, or my.

Example:

• My grandma is in the next car.
• Have you seen his grandpa today?
• My kids always accept gifts from their grandpa.
• Their grandma lives just down from Lisa’s place.
• They walked down to the store with Grandma Cindy.

The above sentences “grandpa” and “grandma” are not directly addressed but spoken about; hence, the kin title is not capitalized. A possessive pronoun or an article is used before the family title.

If “grandma” or “grandpa” is used in the position of a person’s name and is used as a proper noun, capitalize it.

Example:

• You should call Grandpa when you get there.
• We waited all along for Grandpa to arrive.
• Hi Grandpa. How have you been recuperating?
• I love spending my evenings with Grandpa Moses.
• She is on the phone with Grandma Monica.

In these examples, “Grandpa” and “Grandma” are capitalized because they play the name role not nicknames. In other words, you can replace them with exact names without altering the rest part of the sentence.

If “grandma” or “grandpa” is a general word to describe anyone but not someone specific. It should not be capitalized.

Example:

• That boy needs a grandma
• He wishes he had a grandpa
• Older grandpas can be annoying

When it comes to quoting a conversation, you should find whether the person is directly referred to in the conversation.

Example:

• “We will always remember Grandma Priscila for her generosity attitude,” Victor said- (Direct reference that is why it’s capitalized)
• “I really feel what victor feels,” said Ammon. “Everyone knows her grandma’s generosity”- (Indirect reference that is why it’s not capitalized)

“Grandpa” and “grandma” Apostrophe’s Approach

It must be noted that apostrophes are used to show possession of amounts and time. The apostrophe’s approach can affect the capitalization of some words such as “Grandpa” and “Grandma.”

Example:

• I am excited about my grandma’s return.
• The boys are looking for grandpa’s jacket.
• The road to my grandpa’s place is so bushy.

But when showing ownership, the last noun should be possessive. Concerning individual rights, each noun should be possessive.

• I always enjoyed Grandpa and Grandma’s radio show- (shows the ownership of the show; hence, Grandpa and Grandma occupies the possessive noun’s space)
• Grandpa’s and Grandma’s coats are hanging there- (shows the individual possession and grandma and grandpa occupies the possession space)

“Grandma” and “Grandpa” Professional Titles

This is one of the open debates in English class corridors regarding the capitalization of “Grandpa” and “Grandma.” On professional titles, the user is required to capitalize if the nouns precede proper nouns.

It’s obvious to capitalize on some titles such as Senator Clinton, President Trump, and Doctor Kennedy, but don’t capitalize if they don’t precede the proper nouns.

Now to the elephant in the room, what if one’s “grandpa” or “grandma” occupies the prescribed titles? And the individual uses the entanglement relationship in a sentence. Can the two words be capitalized in the sentence?

Example:

• My Grandma is the Human Resource Manager of the company.
• Grandpa is the Director of Project Management at California University
• My Grandma was appointed as a member of the Body of Trustee.
• The Chief Executive of Kudo is my Grandpa.

Types of “Grandpa” and “Grandma” Sentence Structures

“Grand” and “Grandma” Simple Sentences

“Grandpa” simple sentence contains only a subject and a verb, and it can also have modifiers and objects. And it only has one independent clause.

Example:

• Grandpa is coming soon
• Grandma is taking a single course
• Grandpa is going to the UK on Monday.

“Grandpa” and “Grandma” Compound Sentences

“Grandpa” or “Grandma” compound sentences have at least two independent clauses. The clauses are joined by a conjunction, semicolon, and comma.

Example:

• By the way, our Grandpa is sick; they diagnosed him with a respiratory condition.
• The issue is with his grandma; she always bulldozes things.
• The Power Of Grandma is one of the books that you should read.

“Grandpa” or “Grandma” Complex Sentences

“Grandpa” or “Grandma” complex sentences include at least one dependent clause and an independent clause. Dependent clauses refer to a subject who and which, sequence or time, which is since or while, and casual elements, because of the independent clause.

• She is going to her Grandma’s place, expect fireworks, she will lecture her like nobody.
• Grandma bought the dog that is barking; she picks her dogs from the right sources.

 “Grandma” and “Grandpa” Compound-Complex Sentences

This is a combination of compound and complex sentences. The sentences have at least one dependent clause and two independent clauses.

Example:

• The Grandma’s shopping list is funny; imagine she is demanding more beef than vegetables; what an irony with his age.

Other Sentence Examples of “Grandpa” and “Grandma”

• Victor still remembers Grandpa and Grandma.
• Grandma always made the best apple pie, and Grandpa would tell us stories of his adventures in the navy.
• Grandma and grandpa have been married for over 50 years, and they still hold hands and act like newlyweds.
• I love visiting my grandparents’ house on holidays and spending time with both Grandma and Grandpa.
• John is married, has three sons, and recently became a grandpa.
• Is Sally with Grandma Rose today?
• Grandpa usually has what it takes to be the governor; why don’t you trust him?
• Grandpa and Grandma are celebrating their birthdays in November.
• My grandpa accomplished the ninth decade today.
• When grandpa had a heart attack, he had to find alternative medicine, which was risky.
• My grandpa has stomach churning complications, kindly pray for her.
• You won the election due to the Grandma’s sympathy.

Final Thoughts

Capitalization of “Grandpa” and “Grandma” needs some clear rules. Some rules are standard, like at the start of the sentence is a clear grammatical rule. Others you have to read, and the article has really dug deeper to develop profound insights. You should use the mentioned tips in your capitalization.