Expert: Maria - 11/21/2004

Question
I'm wanting to use the Latin "de novo" in a name and wonder how capitalization is handled in Latin. Would I capitalize the de as well as the novo? Or should I capitalize the de only, since I believe the two words sort of function as one (with the meaning "renew")?

P.S. I don't mind if my question is posted to the Ancient Languages site. I'm not sure how to say so (I did not click "private question").

Answer
Hello,

The Latin expression ‘de novo' means “again”, or in a UK legal context: "starting afresh”.
  .
It is composed of two words, i.e. the preposition ‘de' which takes the ablative, and the adjective ‘novo' just in the ablative case ( nominative case: ‘novus').

So, if you want to  capitalize this adverbial expression, you must write “De novo”.

In Latin in fact you need to capitalize the preposition (De) followed by the adjective(novo).

This happens  of course not in a context (see the first phrase below), but only at the beginning of a phrase after  a full stop(second sentence below).

For example:

1-“Cum eo loquar  de novo”(I will speak  to him again).

2-« Cum eo locutus iam  est. De novo tamen loquetur »
(He already spoke to him. But he will speak again).

Best regards
Maria