Grammar queen

[ciphergoth]

English usage question arising out of a discussion on a wiki. I have my own opinion, but I don't want to bias the poll, so here it is...

[Poll #681358]

Comments

[zbyszek.livejournal.com]

I agree with mskala. If "pilot" is a proper noun, it should be capitalised. Since it is used with an article, it cannot be a proper noun. If it were a title, it should be capitalised, but then it would still not be used with an article and would be more natural in the given quote as a prefix to a name, e.g. "He asked Pilot [Wiggins] where they were."