Scientific names 12. The name of a phylum, class, order, family, or genus is capitalized; the name of a species is not capitalized, even though derived from a proper name. Arthropoda (phylum), Crustacea (class), Hypoparia (order), Agnostidae (family), Agnostus (genus) Agnostus canadensis; Aconitum wilsoni; Epigaea repens (genus and species) (a) In scientific descriptions coined terms derived from proper names are not capitalized. aviculoid; menodontine (b) A plural formed by adding s to a Latin generic name is capitalized. Rhynchonellas; Spirifers (c) Other scientific terms also are capitalized or not in conformity with accepted scientific usage. In case of doubt copy should be followed. (For lists of geologic and physiographic terms, see p. 149.) (d) The words sun, moon, and earth are capitalized only if used in association with the names of other astronomical bodies that are capitalized. The nine known planets, in the order of distance from the Sun, are Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Fanciful appellations 13. A fanciful appellation used with or for a proper name is capitalized. the Big Four the Hub Personifications the Keystone State 14. A personification in a figure of speech is capitalized. The Chair recognized the gentleman from New York. Religious terms All are architects of Fate Working in these walls of Time. 15. All words denoting the Deity except who, whose, and whom, all names for the Bible and other sacred writings, and the names of confessions of faith and of religious bodies and their adherents are capitalized. Heavenly Father; the Almighty. Trust Him who rules all things. Apostles' Creed; Augsburg Confession Episcopal Church; an Episcopalian; Catholicism; a Protestant Christian; also Christendom; Christianity; Christianize Black Friars; Brother(s); King's Daughters; Daughter (s); Ursuline Sisters; Titles of persons TITLES 16. Any title or designation preceding a name is capitalized. (See also rule 36.) President Roosevelt King George Ambassador Gibson Chairman Smith Professor Leverett Lieutenant Fowler (a) A title immediately following the name of a person or used alone as the substitute for the name of a person, which is most often regarded as a common noun, is capitalized only in certain specified instances to indicate preeminence or distinction. (See list on pp. 24-40, and also rule 36.) Title of a head or assistant head of state: Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States: the President; the President-elect; the Executive; the Chief Magistrate; the Commander in Chief; similarly the Vice President Albert C. Ritchie, Governor of Maryland: the Governor of Maryland; Title of a head or assistant head of a national governmental unit: Hugh S. Gibson, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary: the Gen. Charles P. Summerall, Chief of Staff: the Chief of Staff; but the general (military title standing alone not capitalized) Title of a ruler or prince: George V, King of England: the King; the Crown; His Most Gracious Common-noun titles: Charles F. Hughes, rear admiral, United States Navy: the rear admiral C. H. Eckles, professor of dairy husbandry: the professor (b) A title in the second person is capitalized. Your Excellency Mr. Chairman Mr. Secretary (c) In formal lists of delegates and representatives of governments all titles and descriptive designations immediately following the names should be capitalized if any one must be capitalized under rule 16a. Titles of publications, papers, documents, acts, laws, etc. 17. In the full or short English titles of books, plays, poems, essays, addresses, articles, periodicals, series of publications, reports, historic documents, legal cases, and works of art, the first word and all important words are capitalized. This rule applies also to the titles of parts and chapters of books, plays, etc. (See also rule 4a.) The Outline of History Part XI: Early Thought; but part XI (standing alone: rule 3c) American Journal of Science Saturday Evening Post Monograph 55; Research Paper 123; Circular A; Senate Document No. Declaration of Independence; the Declaration Constitution (United States or with name of country or State); but twelfth amendment (rule 3c) Kellogg Pact; Treaty of Versailles; but treaty of peace, the treaty (de- United States v. Four Hundred Twenty-two Casks of Wine (legal case) (a) In the short or popular titles of acts the first word and all important words are capitalized. Revenue Act of 1926; the Volstead Act; the Panama Canal Act; the Classification Act; but revenue act; act of 1926; the act (b) In titles of legal cases such words as appellant and respondent are not capitalized. De Jager, appellant, v. Attorney General of Natal, respondent (c) The capitalization of the titles of books, etc., written in a foreign language is to conform with national practice. Danish: Kongelig dansk Hof- og Stats-Kalendar Dutch: Jaarboek van het mijnwezen in Nederlandsche Oost-Indië German: Allgemeine deutsche Biographie; Die Homerische Frage Latin: De lege Rhodia et jactu; Bellum Catilinarium Norwegian: Norges geologiske undersøkelse Portuguese: Historia de Portugal; Historia da civilização iberica (d) The capitalization in bibliographies, footnote citations, synonymies, and lists is to conform with rules 17 and 17c unless the particular class of work requires its own established style and the copy is prepared accordingly. (e) The capitalization of catalog cards is to conform with Library of Congress style. First words FORMAL USAGES 18. The first word of a sentence, of an independent clause or phrase, of a direct quotation, of a line of poetry, or of a formally introduced series of items or phrases following a colon is capitalized. The question is, Shall the bill pass? He asked, "And where are you going?" Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime. The assay content was as follows: Gold, 0.5 ounce to the ton; copper, 8 percent; (etc.) (a) The first word of a fragmentary quotation is not capitalized. He objected "to the phraseology, not to the ideas." (b) The first word following a colon, an exclamation point, or an interrogation point is not capitalized if the matter following is merely a supplementary remark making the sense fuller or clearer. Revolutions are not made: they come. Intelligence is not replaced by mechanism: even the televox must be guided by its master's voice. But two months dead! nay, not so much; not two. What is this? Your knees to me? to your corrected son? (c) The first word following Whereas in resolutions, contracts, etc., is not capitalized; the first word following an enacting or resolving clause is capitalized. Whereas the Constitution provides * * *: and Whereas Congress has passed a law * * *. Resolved, That * * * Resolved by the Washington Board of Trade, That * * * * Provided further, That * Ordered, That * * * Be it enacted, That Addresses, salutations, and signatures 19. The first word and all principal words in addresses, salutations, and signatures are capitalized. (For examples, see Date Lines, Addresses, and Signatures.) Interjections 20. The interjection O is always capitalized; other interjections are not capitalized except as indicated in rule 18. Sail on, O Ship of State! For lo! the days are hastening on. Historic papers, documents, etc. 21. In the printing of historic papers, documents, journals, correspondence, etc., the capitalization (and other features of style) of the original text may be followed where historic accuracy is required. GUIDE TO CAPITALIZATION The following list is based on the preceding principles and rules for capitalization. This capitalization applies to both singular and plural forms. Parenthetic references are to rule numbers, but no such references follow common nouns that are lower-cased under the general principle but not under any particular rule. |