Q

Would you capitalise all potion mentions, even if that’s not it’s actual name? E.g. pain potion, healing potion.

A

Capitalisation is something that JK Rowling, her editors, and publishers failed to be consistent with.

When it comes to the capitalisation of potions, ones with exact names should be capitalised (Draught of Living Death, Elixir of Life, Felix Felicis). If you’re making up a potion, its exact name should also be capitalised (Donkey’s Breath, Anxietatemserum).

The capitalisation of general potions is up to you.

In chapter five of Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry says within his narrative, “Mrs Weasley was telling Hermione and Ginny about a Love Potion she’d made as a young girl”, but in chapter nine of Half-Blood Prince, Hermione says, “It’s the most powerful love potion in the world!”

He never capitalized doors. But perhaps scholars don’t capitalize words just because of the shapes they make on the page.

ALIX E. HARROW