Okay, maybe this is a weird one, but I'm seriously confused. When I'm writing, should I be capitalizing the names of the branches of the military? Like, is it 'the army' or 'the Army'? 'the navy' or 'the Navy'? Thanks in advance for any clarity!
In English grammar rules, the names of the military branches should be capitalized when referring to a nation's military force. For instance, it is appropriate to write 'the Army' or 'the Navy' when referring to the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. Similarly, 'Space Force', 'Air Force', 'Marine Corps', and 'Coast Guard' should also be capitalized.
To be more specific, these names are capitalized because they are proper nouns. However, if you're using these words in a more general sense, such as saying 'an army of ants', then the term 'army' wouldn't need to be capitalized. But when you're referencing the military institutions, capitalize. It is always 'the U.S. Army fought in the battle,' never 'the U.S. army fought in the battle.' But remember, when in doubt, it's always polite to err on the side of respect by capitalizing.
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