Should I capitalize the "j" in John when referring to a toilet as "the john." The same goes for lazy Susan and other words that are also names.
asked Jun 27, 2018 at 14:53
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It's six of one and half-a-dozen of the other.– FumbleFingersJun 27, 2018 at 14:58
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...or seven of one, baker's half-dozen of the other. Generally, though "john" for "toilet" is generally not capitalized. Similarly, the item called a "lazy susan" isn't capitalized either.– tautophileJun 27, 2018 at 16:03
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1 Answer
Since the john is not a proper noun, lower case is more useful for clarity. This way, you could avoid ambiguity in situations like...
When John arrived at work, he headed straight for the john.
answered Jun 27, 2018 at 14:58
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1Right, and the Brits say loo and we all say head, if we are used to being on and around boats. And there's a famous joke: Rest room? Who's tired? Where's the can?– LambieJun 27, 2018 at 15:32
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I once played the role in Michael Frayn's "Noises Off" of a geriatric burglar who kept eluding residents by posing as a plumber. It gave me a special appreciation for British potty language =) Jun 27, 2018 at 18:33