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In a university project which I am writing I have been reprimanded at least 10 times for using the word scuba in lower case. i.e. Scuba tank, Scuba diving etc. Is this permissible and can I tell my tutor that I will stick with my preference of lower case scuba.

Michael Owen
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    If that's what your tutor wants, do what he tells you. No point in being reprimanded. Once he's no longer your tutor, do what you will. – Andrew Leach Jul 27 '14 at 09:59
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    However: Oxford Dictionary Online. I really don't recommend using that in the circumstances. – Andrew Leach Jul 27 '14 at 10:00
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    Related: http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/6064/when-does-an-acronym-lose-its-capitalization-e-g-radar-radar – Andrew Leach Jul 27 '14 at 10:05
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    I disagree with @AndrewLeach in this case. Ask your tutor if I used a laser welder to fix my SCUBA tank is OK. If he says 'yes', ask why laser is acceptable but scuba isn't. If you are feeling particularly belligerent you could suggest he was a member of 'The acronym Gestapo' (although he could correct you to GESTAPO). On another note - I don't think you should write Scuba with a capital S unless the sentence structure requires it. – Frank Jul 27 '14 at 10:55
  • "Scuba", with the first letter capitalized, is definitely wrong unless it's the first word of a sentence. "SCUBA" as the acronym, or "scuba" now that it has become an accepted and well-known word, are both more acceptable. – keshlam Jul 27 '14 at 15:58
  • "Gestapo" is a poor choice of counterexample as it is always written in lowercase, even in German, as it's formed from just two words. (Only nouns and perhaps verbs tend to be capitalized in initialisms, leading to such expressions as GmbH for a limited liability corporation, where the "mb" are a preposition and adjective, respectively.) – aeismail Jul 27 '14 at 17:02

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