"Literary studies are..." or "Literary studies is..."?
March 21, 2015 11:58 PM Subscribe
"Literary studies are..." or "Literary studies is..."? This is for an academic book written in US English.
Also, would one refer to literary studies as 'they' or 'it'? I have no idea where to start looking. Thanks!
Also, would one refer to literary studies as 'they' or 'it'? I have no idea where to start looking. Thanks!
What does your style guide say? What style guide are you using?
posted by klangklangston at 12:39 AM on March 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by klangklangston at 12:39 AM on March 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
My opinion is that for a specific book or class called "Literary Studies" - a title that could be put in quotes/capitalized - it would be correct to say, "Of all my classes, 'Literary Studies' IS the best of all," but if the subject is literary studies in general, the correct form would be, "literary studies ARE humdrum."
posted by aryma at 1:06 AM on March 22, 2015
posted by aryma at 1:06 AM on March 22, 2015
Yes, just decide whether you are talking about one thing (a particular field of study) or lots of things (lots of different studies about literature).
posted by stellathon at 1:26 AM on March 22, 2015
posted by stellathon at 1:26 AM on March 22, 2015
I think it's "is" and "it". Like linguistics or mathematics. You would never refer to mathematics as "they". But my opinion is irrelevant. Your publisher or series editor will be able to tell you what their style guide requires.
posted by lollusc at 1:36 AM on March 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by lollusc at 1:36 AM on March 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Are you saying "The study of literature is amazing" or "Many studies of literature are amazing"?
posted by bleep at 2:27 AM on March 22, 2015
posted by bleep at 2:27 AM on March 22, 2015
That is to say, if you're actually saying "The study of literature", then just say "The study of literature". Much less awkward.
posted by bleep at 2:28 AM on March 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by bleep at 2:28 AM on March 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
You could maybe increase your confidence in your choice by saying 'The field/discipline of Literary Studies is...'? or similar? But yeah, it's a discipline with the name 'literary studies', not a bunch of individual literary studies, and it's a singular thing. 'Literary studies are humdrum' would refer to more than one individual studies of literature, not the academic field (or whatever) known as Literary Studies.
If you go looking through other texts referring to it, you might find some examples of how other people have solved the awkwardness problem.
posted by you must supply a verb at 2:29 AM on March 22, 2015
If you go looking through other texts referring to it, you might find some examples of how other people have solved the awkwardness problem.
posted by you must supply a verb at 2:29 AM on March 22, 2015
You could maybe increase your confidence in your choice by saying 'The field/discipline of Literary Studies is...'? or similar? But yeah, it's a discipline with the name 'literary studies', not a bunch of individual literary studies, and it's a singular thing. 'Literary studies are humdrum' would refer to more than one individual studies of literature, not the academic field (or whatever) known as Literary Studies.
I understand the impulse, but unless it is the official title of a book, course, lecture series, etc., it should be lowercase. In your first example “The field/discipline of literary studies is . . .” (lowercase) would be acceptable. Perhaps for emphasis (if this was the introductory, first occurrence of the term) “literary studies” could be set in italics.
Otherwise, capitalization of this sort is as if someone were writing about Biology and insisted on capitalizing Biology and other Important Words that the Author randomly thinks should be capitalized as a matter of Respect or because they are Important. (Blech. I have edited manuscripts nearly that bad.)
posted by D.C. at 2:59 AM on March 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
I understand the impulse, but unless it is the official title of a book, course, lecture series, etc., it should be lowercase. In your first example “The field/discipline of literary studies is . . .” (lowercase) would be acceptable. Perhaps for emphasis (if this was the introductory, first occurrence of the term) “literary studies” could be set in italics.
Otherwise, capitalization of this sort is as if someone were writing about Biology and insisted on capitalizing Biology and other Important Words that the Author randomly thinks should be capitalized as a matter of Respect or because they are Important. (Blech. I have edited manuscripts nearly that bad.)
posted by D.C. at 2:59 AM on March 22, 2015 [3 favorites]
Name of a department/field, singular (as if it were capitalized, even if you don't capitalize it in the context):
Literary Studies is a department in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Literary Studies is the biggest major.
Literary Studies is a growing field.
Literary Studies is my favorite class.
Talking about studying literature in general, plural:
Literary studies are important for a young person.
Talking about several articles, plural:
Literary studies have shown that Author A borrowed techniques from Author B.
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:53 AM on March 22, 2015 [8 favorites]
Literary Studies is a department in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Literary Studies is the biggest major.
Literary Studies is a growing field.
Literary Studies is my favorite class.
Talking about studying literature in general, plural:
Literary studies are important for a young person.
Talking about several articles, plural:
Literary studies have shown that Author A borrowed techniques from Author B.
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:53 AM on March 22, 2015 [8 favorites]
+1 that it depends on the context. If you mean literary studies as a discipline, then chances are you should treat it as singular.
For example: "Literary studies serves as an institutional wedge separating composition and creative writing, compelling most members of those disciplines..." (emphasis added)
From Tim Mayers's (Re)Writing Craft: Composition, Creative Writing, and the Future of English Studies.
You might look at other academic books that discuss literary studies and see if the style differs among publishers.
posted by xenization at 8:01 AM on March 22, 2015
For example: "Literary studies serves as an institutional wedge separating composition and creative writing, compelling most members of those disciplines..." (emphasis added)
From Tim Mayers's (Re)Writing Craft: Composition, Creative Writing, and the Future of English Studies.
You might look at other academic books that discuss literary studies and see if the style differs among publishers.
posted by xenization at 8:01 AM on March 22, 2015
« Older Politely tell former co-worker I'm not interested... | How can I (male) delay orgasm? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by sexyrobot at 12:32 AM on March 22, 2015 [9 favorites]