As Mother’s Day approaches each year, people prepare to celebrate the love, dedication, and sacrifices of mothers worldwide. But with the holiday’s arrival, a common question arises: Is Mother’s Day capitalized? Should it be written as Mother’s Day, Mothers’ Day, or Mothers Day? For anyone interested in proper grammar and spelling, this is an important query, especially for those writing about the holiday on cards, in articles, or for social media posts. This article delves deeply into the capitalization, spelling, and grammar rules for Mother’s Day to answer this question thoroughly.
Mother’s Day has an intriguing history rooted in ancient customs and has evolved over the centuries. From its official recognition as a U.S. holiday in 1914 to its modern global celebration, understanding the correct way to write and capitalize Mother’s Day helps preserve the holiday’s tradition and ensures our messages of appreciation come across correctly.
The Origin and Evolution of Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day, as we know it today, was established by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and was made an official holiday in the United States in 1914. Jarvis envisioned Mother’s Day as a time to honor mothers’ individual sacrifices and contributions. However, the history of honoring mothers goes much further back, dating to ancient celebrations like those of the Greeks and Romans. Early Christians in Europe had a tradition called Mothering Sunday, observed on the fourth Sunday in Lent. This day was initially about returning to one’s “mother church,” but it eventually shifted to celebrating mothers more broadly.
As this tradition evolved, it led to today’s Mother’s Day celebration. Jarvis’s vision was for a personal day that highlighted the unique bond between a mother and her child, which is why the spelling Mother’s Day was specifically chosen to focus on the singular possessive. However, questions around spelling and grammar persist, leading to confusion about how to correctly refer to the holiday.
Is It Mother’s Day, Mothers’ Day, or Mothers Day?
One of the main points of confusion regarding the holiday lies in whether it should be Mother’s Day, Mothers’ Day, or Mothers Day. Here’s a breakdown of each option:
- Mother’s Day: This is the officially recognized spelling, denoting a singular possessive form. The holiday is meant to celebrate each individual mother, focusing on the unique bond and significance of a single mother-child relationship. This is why both The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and The Associated Press Stylebook (AP) recommend using Mother’s Day.
- Mothers’ Day: Although this spelling makes sense logically, implying a day belonging to all mothers collectively, it is not the endorsed spelling by style guides or language authorities.
- Mothers Day: This version omits the apostrophe entirely, potentially implying the word “Mothers” functions as an adjective. However, CMOS and AP style guides view this as incorrect, as the apostrophe is necessary to denote possession.
The correct spelling is Mother’s Day, with a singular possessive apostrophe. This form aligns with the holiday’s intended meaning of recognizing each mother individually.
Why the Apostrophe Matters in Mother’s Day
The apostrophe in Mother’s Day holds significant importance because it clarifies the meaning and purpose of the holiday. Here are a few reasons why the apostrophe is essential:
- Singular Possession: The apostrophe in Mother’s Day signifies that the day is specifically for honoring a single mother, making the celebration more personal. Anna Jarvis, who advocated for the holiday, chose this form to focus on each person’s relationship with their own mother.
- Consistency with Other Holidays: Many other holidays use the singular possessive form, such as Father’s Day and New Year’s Day. This follows standard grammar practices that use possessive forms to denote days dedicated to specific people or occasions.
- Avoiding Ambiguity: Using the apostrophe clarifies that the day is for mothers rather than simply a generic “mothers day.” This differentiation makes the intention and meaning of the day clearer.
In sum, Mother’s Day should always be written with an apostrophe before the “s” to follow grammatical conventions and honor the original meaning intended by its creator.
Is Mother’s Day Capitalized?
Another important aspect to consider when writing Mother’s Day is capitalization. When we refer to Mother’s Day as the official holiday, it should always be capitalized. Here’s why:
- Proper Noun Usage: Mother’s Day is a holiday name, making it a proper noun, which should always be capitalized. Proper nouns include specific names of people, places, and holidays, setting them apart from common nouns.
- Context Matters: When referring to the holiday specifically, both Mother and Day should be capitalized. For example, “Our family has a tradition of visiting the park on Mother’s Day.”
- General References: When using the term generically, such as in “a mother’s day of relaxation,” capitalization is unnecessary since it isn’t referring to the official holiday.
In short, the answer to “Is Mother’s Day capitalized?” is yes, but only when referring to the official holiday.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Is Mother’s Day Capitalized?
Q1: Why is Mother’s Day written with an apostrophe?
A1: The apostrophe in Mother’s Day denotes singular possession, emphasizing that the day is for each individual mother, aligning with the holiday’s original intent by Anna Jarvis.
Q2: Is Mother’s Day considered a proper noun?
A2: Yes, Mother’s Day is a proper noun because it’s the name of a specific holiday, and therefore, it should always be capitalized.
Q3: What’s the difference between Mother’s Day and Mothers’ Day?
A3: Mother’s Day with a singular possessive apostrophe is correct, while Mothers’ Day would imply the day belongs to all mothers collectively, which is not the intended or official spelling.
Q4: Is it incorrect to write Mothers Day without an apostrophe?
A4: Yes, without an apostrophe, Mothers Day can be confusing, as it does not convey possession, which is crucial for accurately describing the holiday.
Q5: Should Father’s Day also be capitalized and written with an apostrophe?
A5: Yes, Father’s Day follows the same grammatical rules as Mother’s Day—capitalized and written as a singular possessive.
Q6: Does the capitalization of Mother’s Day apply universally?
A6: Yes, when referring to the official holiday, the capitalization and possessive form are standard in American English and internationally recognized.
Q7: Can “Mother’s Day” be used in a general sense without capitalization?
A7: Yes, when referring to a general concept of a mother’s day, rather than the holiday, it doesn’t require capitalization.
Q8: Do different style guides agree on the capitalization of Mother’s Day?
A8: Yes, major style guides like CMOS and AP agree on capitalizing Mother’s Day when it refers to the holiday and using the singular possessive form.
Quick Recap: The Rules for Writing Mother’s Day Correctly
- Use the singular possessive form: Write it as Mother’s Day with an apostrophe before the “s.”
- Capitalize both words: When referring to the holiday, both Mother and Day should be capitalized.
- Follow consistent style guidelines: CMOS and AP Stylebook both endorse Mother’s Day as the correct form.
A Comparison Table of Mother’s Day, Mothers’ Day, and Mothers Day
| Spelling | Apostrophe Placement | Intended Meaning | Style Guide Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother’s Day | Singular possessive | Honors each individual mother | Recommended by CMOS & AP |
| Mothers’ Day | Plural possessive | Implies celebration of all mothers | Not recommended |
| Mothers Day | No apostrophe | Generic; lacks possessive meaning | Not recommended |
Conclusion: Is Mother’s Day Capitalized?
So, is Mother’s Day capitalized? Yes, Mother’s Day is capitalized when referring to the holiday because it is a proper noun. The correct spelling includes an apostrophe to reflect the singular possessive, honoring each mother individually. Writing it as Mother’s Day with both capitalization and possessive form captures the spirit and personal significance of the holiday. Following these guidelines helps maintain the holiday’s tradition while ensuring clear, grammatically correct communication. Whether writing a greeting card, drafting a social media post, or preparing an article, these simple rules will ensure Mother’s Day is recognized and respected in the way it was meant to be.