Is Continental Breakfast Capitalized?
The debate over whether “continental breakfast” should be capitalized has been a topic of discussion among linguists, editors, and style guides for years. While some argue that it should be capitalized to emphasize its importance, others believe that it should remain lowercase to maintain consistency with common usage. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind both perspectives and determine the most appropriate way to capitalize this phrase.
Proponents of capitalizing “continental breakfast” argue that it is a proper noun, referring to a specific type of meal. They believe that capitalizing the term helps to distinguish it from other breakfast options, such as an American breakfast or a full English breakfast. Furthermore, they contend that capitalizing the term acknowledges its origins in the term “Continental,” which refers to the European continent and implies a European-style breakfast.
On the other hand, opponents of capitalizing “continental breakfast” argue that the phrase is a generic term for a particular type of meal, and therefore should not be capitalized. They contend that capitalizing the term would be akin to capitalizing “breakfast” itself, which is not the norm. Additionally, they argue that capitalizing the term could lead to inconsistencies in writing, as other breakfast options would not be capitalized.
To further understand the issue, let’s examine the guidelines provided by some of the most prominent style guides:
1. The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook recommends using lowercase for “continental breakfast” in most instances. The AP argues that the term is a generic description of a meal and should not be capitalized.
2. The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) also suggests using lowercase for “continental breakfast.” The CMS states that the term is a common noun and should not be capitalized unless it is part of a title or heading.
3. The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, on the other hand, does not explicitly address the capitalization of “continental breakfast.” However, the MLA’s general rule for capitalizing common nouns is to use lowercase unless the noun is the first word in a sentence, part of a title, or a proper noun.
Based on these guidelines, it seems that the majority of style guides recommend using lowercase for “continental breakfast.” While some may argue that capitalizing the term could be appropriate in certain contexts, such as in a title or heading, the general consensus is that the term should remain lowercase to maintain consistency and adhere to common usage.
In conclusion, the debate over whether “continental breakfast” should be capitalized ultimately boils down to a matter of style and consistency. While some may prefer to capitalize the term to emphasize its importance or origins, the majority of style guides and common usage suggest using lowercase. Therefore, it is advisable to follow these guidelines when writing about this phrase in most contexts.
