My grandad, Grandad

Posted by ESC on April 28, 2003

In Reply to: Capitals posted by holly on April 28, 2003

: Do the titles Gran and Grandad take capitals when not followed by a name?

Capitalize if using Gran or Grandad as a substitution for their proper names. From the Associated Press Stylebook:

family names -- Capitalize words denoting family relationships only when they precede the name of a person or when they stand unmodified as a substitute for a person's name: I wrote to Grandfather Smith. I wrote Mother a letter. I wrote my mother a letter.

So it would be:
In good weather my grandad likes to take walks.
In good weather Grandad likes to take walks.
In good weather Grandad Smith likes to take walks.