Government of Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

A Mari usque ad Mare

Question:

What does the motto A Mari usque ad Mare mean? And should this phrase be in italics?

Answer:

The Latin phrase a mari usque ad mare means “from sea to sea.” It comes from a verse in Psalm 72, translated as “he shall have dominion from sea to sea.” In addition to providing the Canadian motto, this verse apparently inspired the choice of Dominion as the title for Canada.

A Mari usque ad Mare has been the official motto of the Dominion of Canada for nearly a century; it is inscribed on the Canadian coat of arms approved by King George V in 1921.

The Oxford Guide to Canadian English Usage (2007) states that this Latin phrase is placed in italics in formal writing and may be written with or without capitals.