Question e-mailed by Atty. Stephen Monsanto, Forum guest (April 23, 2014):
How the heck should these names be written?
Leila de Lima or Leila De Lima
Jose del Castillo or Jose Del Castillo
Pedro del Mar or Pedro Del Mar
Fe delos Santos or Fe Delos Santos
Tess de Castro or Tess De Castro
Thank you.
My reply to Atty. Monsanto:
Dear SL,
The Spanish linking appellations "de" and "del" mean "from" or "of," and are always spelled with a lower-case "d." When "de" is followed by the masculine definite article "el," then the two words are combined and shortened to "del." You won't go wrong ever by doing that (except, of course, when you are using all upper-case letters for the name).
Rejoinder by Atty. Monsanto (April 25, 2017):
Thanks. Always happy to hear from the expert.
