Okay, as an author I’m having some trouble determining the ‘proper use’ of a made-up word.
“Mailgirl”
In the past I’ve used it as a noun, verb, and title. I know I’m not the most technical writer but I’m trying to figure out how to standardize the term for our narrow little niche of fiction. Here is how I see the term being used in universe.
MailGirl – this spelling is used exclusively as branding by the fictional company “MailGirl Enterprises”.
Mailgirl – title referring to a specific person. ‘Mailgirl Six’, ‘Mailgirl Nine’, etc.
mailgirl – lower case to show this use is as a position within the company; think ‘postman’, ‘officer’, ‘janitor’. May sometimes be used as a plural instead of a specific: “get some mailgirls down here” as opposed to “get our Mailgirls down here”.
mailgirl (verb) – ‘to mailgirl’, literally to perform the acts of a mailgirl, perform office tasks naked and in a non-personal/professional nature. Possibly “mailgirling” when mailgirls speak amongst themselves.
This is getting confusing. I had to explain the improper use of the F-word to a coworker once as English was not their first language and that work has multiple informal uses. I’m running into the same problem with mailgirl and I hope this place it would be best to workshop it.
I am eagerly looking forward to input from the community as I’m preparing something to publish. Thanks in advance.
I’m not very technical either. Maybe we can ask Blair about this one. I just like mailgirl. I don’t think of it as a verb really, but I’m not opposed to a little informal mailgirling. It was a mailgirl position. She is a mailgirl. Mailgirl’s tend to be naked. Lower case feels more humble and submissive, right?
I’d consider it similar to a word which is both a title and job description such as ‘doctor’.
They are mailgirls, the job is ‘mailgirl’, but when they’re addressed directly that becomes a title / name and a proper noun, so should be capitalized: eg ‘Mailgirl 6’ / ‘Doctor Peters’.
I wouldn’t necessarily use the word as a verb, or use the double capitalized form for the corporate name ‘MailGirl Enterprises’ when ‘Mailgirl Enterprises’ is fine (again, capitalized as a proper noun).
Maybe also use the capitalized form for certain terms like Mailgirl Monitoring Unit or Mailgirl Code.
I use the word in a similar way to you. Capitalized for names (Mailgirl Number Seven) and lowercase when I am referring to them- “the mailgirls could be viewed as they showered.”I also capitalize Mailgirl Monitoring Unit but, in my version, the company is Mailgirl Enterprises without a capital G. In the first mailgirl story, Cambridge Caine called his protagonist “Mailroom Girl #12” while referring to her by her given name throughout the story. While we are on the mailgirl minutia, I also find it interesting that some authors write Mailgirl 5 and others, Mailgirl Five, with the number spelled out. I was taught to always write out numbers but there is something to be said for seeing their name as a number that I enjoy as well. Thanks for this question- I really love analyzing the details of this world…
Greetings,
It looks like everyone is, more or less, on the same page.
First off, I agree entirely with Slice. ‘Mailgirl’ capitalized when it is being used as a title but lowercase when used such that it does not mean a specific mailgirl.
Similarly, I can’t see the use of mailgirl as a verb. “She mailgirled.” So … what exactly did she do? It’s both unclear but also distracting (to my ear). BUT sbjdaniels talks about its potential use in dialogue. I’d be okay with that. Especially, if it is used to distinguish how a certain character talks. Let one of the girls always be talking about ‘mailgirling.’ That would work nicely for me. But in narration, probably not. (just my opinion)
I also agree with arthwys. I believe what he is referring to are what are known as ‘compound proper nouns.’ Example: Eiffel Tower. If they were just ‘compound nouns,’ then not capitalized. Example: ice cream. In other words, there are times when you wouldn’t capitalize. Ordinary compound nouns such as ‘mailgril contract’ or ‘mailgirl entrance’ would not need capitalization.
And then the biggie (haha): MailGirl Enterprises vs. Mailgirl Enterprises. In my opinion, that is and should be author preference. This is fiction, after all. Should my character be named Kerri or Kerry. There’s not really a right answer.
Good topic for discussion. Thanks!
Blair
Only commenting upon the MailGirl Enterprises vs. Mailgirl Enterprises issue. In trademark law, spelling and punctuation matters. The Seahawks learned that when trying to own the term “The 12th Man”. Basically, how it is spelled AND punctuated in articles of incorporation is how it is legally, and thus all contracts where the name is to be reprinted for public records or display “should” spell it that way. Some leeway is given contracts of lesser value which don’t publish the name (agreement for cleaning services, food delivery, etc) and the name can be spelled out all lowercase without involving the lawyers. Artist formerly known as Prince is easier to write than the symbol if you don thae that trademarked font. Savey?