[Grammar] Great-Grandfather

[MomDee]

If you refer to someone as Great-Grandfather in your story should you continue to refer to him as Great-Grandfather?
Example: I'm going to see my Great-Grandfather Bill. Would you have to continue that way or thereafter could you simply say Grandfather Bill throughout the rest of your story?

 

[emsr2d2]

If you refer to someone as Great-Grandfather in your story, should you continue to refer to him as Great-Grandfather?
Example: I'm going to see my great-grandfather Bill. Would you have to continue that way or thereafter could you simply say "Grandfather Bill" throughout the rest of your story?

First, let's clear up the potential confusion over whether to capitalise it or not. When you're using it as a common noun, don't capitalise it: He is my great-grandfather.
When you're using it as a proper noun (as a direct/indirect form of address), capitalise it: I'm going to visit Great-grandfather Bill. (Note that we capitalise only the first "G".)

As to your other question, no, you can't call him "Grandfather Bill" if he's not your grandfather. You've already stated that he's your great-grandfather so that's what you'll have to use.

 

[teechar]

You can, after one or two instances of great-grandfather, also drop the title and simply refer to him as Bill.

 

[MomDee]

Thank you for your response. Would it be correct to refer to Great-Grandfather Bill as simply Grandfather?

 

[probus]

Hasn't that question already been answered? Also please note that I have moved this thread to Editing and Writing Topics since you mentioned it's part of a story.

 

[Rover_KE]

In real life, older relatives are given nicknames for the convenience of young children, like 'Nan', 'Gramps', 'Pop-Pop' etc. These often persist as the children grow up – even into adulthood.

You can use these in your story, having established the formal relationship earlier.

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you for your response. Would it be correct to refer to Great-Grandfather Bill as simply Grandfather?

Read the final two sentences of my reply in post #2.