QUOTE OF THE DAY
On ‘Episcopal’ vs. ‘Episcopalian’
Why America’s largest cathedral is an Episcopal — not ‘Episcopalian’ — church
My holiday cheer wilts when I see a grammar or usage error in the first sentence of an article. It sinks further if I have to edit the story and it comes from a well-credentialed author who’s ignoring a basic writing rule.
Take the error I’ve seen twice since Thanksgiving: the misuse of the noun Episcopalian as an adjective. It’s turned up in faulty sentences like “She’s an Episcopalian priest” or “He goes to an Episcopalian church.” In both cases the correct word is the adjective Episcopal: “She’s an Episcopal priest” and “He goes to an Episcopal church.”
Apart from grammar: Using the correct religious terms shows respect for the others’ faith traditions. So here’s how the Associated Press Stylebook explains the rule about the words Episcopal and Episcopalian:
“Episcopal is the adjective form; use Episcopalian only as a noun referring to a member of the Episcopal Church: She is an Episcopalian. But: She is an Episcopal priest. Capitalize Episcopal when referring to the Episcopal Church.”
@janiceharayda is an award-winning journalist — and freelance editor — whose work has appeared in many national media.
