Can someone finally tell me once and for all, have i capitalised the word 'mum' correctly in all these instances?

'Hello, Mum,' I said.

I waved and called hello to Mum.

I waved and called hello to my mum.

Or, should only the one in speech be capitalized??

Cheers.

Yes, what you've put is right.

What Pops said.

If in doubt, swap in an actual name:

'Hello, Milly,' I said.

I waved and called hello to Milly.

I waved and called hello to my sister.

Emma

Thanks, both of you.

What about:

'Hello, babes.'

Should it be Babes?? It is a term of affection. Like, um..

'Hello, Darling' - or would that be 'Hello, darling'

??

Cheers.

I wouldn't put capitals anywhere, just to put a spanner in the works.

This is what an editor told me, about some of the above example, Jem, and it threw me, rather.

Maybe it's something flexible that's down to an editor's personal taste?

Yeah, I always struggle with those. I think Jem's right - no capitals.

I agree your original 'Mum/mum examples were right, Casey. And I would never use capitals for dear, love, darling, sweetheart, etc. - but probably would if someone called someone else an actual pet name like Cinderella or Moptop or... well, er, like Popsicle, really.

Not that any of my characters would be seen dead calling one another such names, I hasten to add. Cough.

R x

Thanks, sausage

What's wrong with Popsicle??? Humph.

I agree with what you put too, Casey!

Cath

Ah, great, Cath. I'm always chuffed to finally master a grammar point

What's wrong with Popsicle??? Humph.

Nothing whatever, Sweetknees.

R x

Wouldn't that be 'sweetknees', pumpkin?

<Added>

Actually, no, it wouldn't . . duh