Can anyone tell me which of the following is correct?
Stephen's uncle Tom was delighted to help.
Stephen's Uncle Tom was delighted to help.
Any help would be much appreciated.
The second one. You would only capitalize uncle when it's the first word of the sentence or if it's someone's name or if it's stressed in a quote.
-- My dog's name is Uncle.
-- My bitch of a sister twisted my arm behind my back until I yelled "Uncle!!"
-- Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a book called Uncle Tom's Cabin
Same goes for parents, mother, father, sister, brother, etc.
Many thanks for your help, it is much appreciated.
Oh, one more thing.. if you said
"Uncle Tom said he'd be delighted to help." Stephen told his mother.
then yes you would capitalize. The example I used of my dog's name being Uncle was a sorry example :( :(
The idea of a little dog called Uncle is quite appealing. Especially when you have to chastise him, "Uncle, stop chewing the carpet!" or "Uncle, stop rolling around in the mud!"
Once again thanks.