Do I Capitalize someone's role?












2















Do I use capitals when referring to someone's position within an institution or company? And is it the same for all levels of employee?



i.e in the following sentence, should the words in bold be capitalized?
[As a double check, am I right in thinking the 'Prof', being his title. should be capitalized?]



Discussion with my head of department, Prof. F. Bloggs, has indicated...



Cheers










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  • There's a lot of guidance about this available on-line, although you may have to check a few different sites to get an answer to your specific example.

    – J.R.
    Oct 24 '14 at 12:58








  • 1





    As an aside, this has nothing to do with grammar. There are no capital letters in speech.

    – RegDwigнt
    Oct 24 '14 at 13:19











  • @RegDwigнt, when my grandfather was training to be a gardener, he noted that the words Head Gardener were always pronounced with capitals.

    – Brian Hooper
    Oct 24 '14 at 14:10






  • 1





    As @ JR states, there's no dearth of guidance. Title case conventions can vary among different authors,publications, style guides...simple rule is to pick a style and be consistent.

    – Misti
    Oct 24 '14 at 14:17
















2















Do I use capitals when referring to someone's position within an institution or company? And is it the same for all levels of employee?



i.e in the following sentence, should the words in bold be capitalized?
[As a double check, am I right in thinking the 'Prof', being his title. should be capitalized?]



Discussion with my head of department, Prof. F. Bloggs, has indicated...



Cheers










share|improve this question























  • There's a lot of guidance about this available on-line, although you may have to check a few different sites to get an answer to your specific example.

    – J.R.
    Oct 24 '14 at 12:58








  • 1





    As an aside, this has nothing to do with grammar. There are no capital letters in speech.

    – RegDwigнt
    Oct 24 '14 at 13:19











  • @RegDwigнt, when my grandfather was training to be a gardener, he noted that the words Head Gardener were always pronounced with capitals.

    – Brian Hooper
    Oct 24 '14 at 14:10






  • 1





    As @ JR states, there's no dearth of guidance. Title case conventions can vary among different authors,publications, style guides...simple rule is to pick a style and be consistent.

    – Misti
    Oct 24 '14 at 14:17














2












2








2








Do I use capitals when referring to someone's position within an institution or company? And is it the same for all levels of employee?



i.e in the following sentence, should the words in bold be capitalized?
[As a double check, am I right in thinking the 'Prof', being his title. should be capitalized?]



Discussion with my head of department, Prof. F. Bloggs, has indicated...



Cheers










share|improve this question














Do I use capitals when referring to someone's position within an institution or company? And is it the same for all levels of employee?



i.e in the following sentence, should the words in bold be capitalized?
[As a double check, am I right in thinking the 'Prof', being his title. should be capitalized?]



Discussion with my head of department, Prof. F. Bloggs, has indicated...



Cheers







grammar capitalization






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asked Oct 24 '14 at 12:50









user2696225user2696225

2538




2538













  • There's a lot of guidance about this available on-line, although you may have to check a few different sites to get an answer to your specific example.

    – J.R.
    Oct 24 '14 at 12:58








  • 1





    As an aside, this has nothing to do with grammar. There are no capital letters in speech.

    – RegDwigнt
    Oct 24 '14 at 13:19











  • @RegDwigнt, when my grandfather was training to be a gardener, he noted that the words Head Gardener were always pronounced with capitals.

    – Brian Hooper
    Oct 24 '14 at 14:10






  • 1





    As @ JR states, there's no dearth of guidance. Title case conventions can vary among different authors,publications, style guides...simple rule is to pick a style and be consistent.

    – Misti
    Oct 24 '14 at 14:17



















  • There's a lot of guidance about this available on-line, although you may have to check a few different sites to get an answer to your specific example.

    – J.R.
    Oct 24 '14 at 12:58








  • 1





    As an aside, this has nothing to do with grammar. There are no capital letters in speech.

    – RegDwigнt
    Oct 24 '14 at 13:19











  • @RegDwigнt, when my grandfather was training to be a gardener, he noted that the words Head Gardener were always pronounced with capitals.

    – Brian Hooper
    Oct 24 '14 at 14:10






  • 1





    As @ JR states, there's no dearth of guidance. Title case conventions can vary among different authors,publications, style guides...simple rule is to pick a style and be consistent.

    – Misti
    Oct 24 '14 at 14:17

















There's a lot of guidance about this available on-line, although you may have to check a few different sites to get an answer to your specific example.

– J.R.
Oct 24 '14 at 12:58







There's a lot of guidance about this available on-line, although you may have to check a few different sites to get an answer to your specific example.

– J.R.
Oct 24 '14 at 12:58






1




1





As an aside, this has nothing to do with grammar. There are no capital letters in speech.

– RegDwigнt
Oct 24 '14 at 13:19





As an aside, this has nothing to do with grammar. There are no capital letters in speech.

– RegDwigнt
Oct 24 '14 at 13:19













@RegDwigнt, when my grandfather was training to be a gardener, he noted that the words Head Gardener were always pronounced with capitals.

– Brian Hooper
Oct 24 '14 at 14:10





@RegDwigнt, when my grandfather was training to be a gardener, he noted that the words Head Gardener were always pronounced with capitals.

– Brian Hooper
Oct 24 '14 at 14:10




1




1





As @ JR states, there's no dearth of guidance. Title case conventions can vary among different authors,publications, style guides...simple rule is to pick a style and be consistent.

– Misti
Oct 24 '14 at 14:17





As @ JR states, there's no dearth of guidance. Title case conventions can vary among different authors,publications, style guides...simple rule is to pick a style and be consistent.

– Misti
Oct 24 '14 at 14:17










1 Answer
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1














No, not in British English. Capitalise job titles but not roles.



The Guardian style guide says:




capitals




  • jobs all lc, eg prime minister, US secretary of state, chief rabbi, editor of the Guardian.


  • titles cap up titles, but not job description, eg President Barack Obama (but the US president, Barack Obama, and Obama on subsequent mention); the Duke of Westminster (the duke at second mention); Pope Francis but the pope.





http://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-c



The Economist style guide says:




Capitals



A balance has to be struck between so many capitals that the eyes dance and so few that the reader is diverted more by our
style than by our substance. The general rule is to dignify with
capital letters organisations and institutions, but not people. More
exact rules are laid out below. Even these, however, leave some
decisions to individual judgment. If in doubt use lower case unless it
looks absurd. And remember that “a foolish consistency is the
hobgoblin of little minds” (Ralph Waldo Emerson).



PEOPLE



Use upper case for ranks and titles when written in conjunction with a name, but lower case when on their own. Thus President Bush, but the president; Vice-President Cheney, but the
vice-president; Colonel Qaddafi, but the colonel; Pope Benedict, but
the pope; Queen Elizabeth, but the queen.

Do not write Prime Minister
Blair
or Defence Secretary Rumsfeld; they are the prime minister, Mr
Blair
, and the defence secretary, Mr Rumsfeld. You may, however, write
Chancellor Schröder.

All office-holders when referred to merely by
their office, not by their name, are lower case: the chancellor of the
exchequer, the foreign secretary, the prime minister, the speaker, the
treasury secretary, the president of the United States, the chairman
of Coca-Cola.



The only exceptions are




  1. a few titles that would look unduly
    peculiar without capitals, eg, Black Rod, Master of the Rolls,
    Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Lord Privy Seal, Lord
    Chancellor.


  2. a few exalted people, such as the Dalai Lama and the
    Aga Khan. Also God and the Prophet.



Some titles serve as names, and
therefore have initial capitals, though they also serve as
descriptions: the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Emir of Kuwait, the
Shah of Iran
. If you want to describe the office rather than the
individual, use lower case: The next archbishop of Canterbury will be
a woman. Since the demise of the ninth duke, there has never been
another duke of Portland.




http://www.economist.com/style-guide/capitals






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    1 Answer
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    active

    oldest

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    1














    No, not in British English. Capitalise job titles but not roles.



    The Guardian style guide says:




    capitals




    • jobs all lc, eg prime minister, US secretary of state, chief rabbi, editor of the Guardian.


    • titles cap up titles, but not job description, eg President Barack Obama (but the US president, Barack Obama, and Obama on subsequent mention); the Duke of Westminster (the duke at second mention); Pope Francis but the pope.





    http://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-c



    The Economist style guide says:




    Capitals



    A balance has to be struck between so many capitals that the eyes dance and so few that the reader is diverted more by our
    style than by our substance. The general rule is to dignify with
    capital letters organisations and institutions, but not people. More
    exact rules are laid out below. Even these, however, leave some
    decisions to individual judgment. If in doubt use lower case unless it
    looks absurd. And remember that “a foolish consistency is the
    hobgoblin of little minds” (Ralph Waldo Emerson).



    PEOPLE



    Use upper case for ranks and titles when written in conjunction with a name, but lower case when on their own. Thus President Bush, but the president; Vice-President Cheney, but the
    vice-president; Colonel Qaddafi, but the colonel; Pope Benedict, but
    the pope; Queen Elizabeth, but the queen.

    Do not write Prime Minister
    Blair
    or Defence Secretary Rumsfeld; they are the prime minister, Mr
    Blair
    , and the defence secretary, Mr Rumsfeld. You may, however, write
    Chancellor Schröder.

    All office-holders when referred to merely by
    their office, not by their name, are lower case: the chancellor of the
    exchequer, the foreign secretary, the prime minister, the speaker, the
    treasury secretary, the president of the United States, the chairman
    of Coca-Cola.



    The only exceptions are




    1. a few titles that would look unduly
      peculiar without capitals, eg, Black Rod, Master of the Rolls,
      Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Lord Privy Seal, Lord
      Chancellor.


    2. a few exalted people, such as the Dalai Lama and the
      Aga Khan. Also God and the Prophet.



    Some titles serve as names, and
    therefore have initial capitals, though they also serve as
    descriptions: the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Emir of Kuwait, the
    Shah of Iran
    . If you want to describe the office rather than the
    individual, use lower case: The next archbishop of Canterbury will be
    a woman. Since the demise of the ninth duke, there has never been
    another duke of Portland.




    http://www.economist.com/style-guide/capitals






    share|improve this answer






























      1














      No, not in British English. Capitalise job titles but not roles.



      The Guardian style guide says:




      capitals




      • jobs all lc, eg prime minister, US secretary of state, chief rabbi, editor of the Guardian.


      • titles cap up titles, but not job description, eg President Barack Obama (but the US president, Barack Obama, and Obama on subsequent mention); the Duke of Westminster (the duke at second mention); Pope Francis but the pope.





      http://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-c



      The Economist style guide says:




      Capitals



      A balance has to be struck between so many capitals that the eyes dance and so few that the reader is diverted more by our
      style than by our substance. The general rule is to dignify with
      capital letters organisations and institutions, but not people. More
      exact rules are laid out below. Even these, however, leave some
      decisions to individual judgment. If in doubt use lower case unless it
      looks absurd. And remember that “a foolish consistency is the
      hobgoblin of little minds” (Ralph Waldo Emerson).



      PEOPLE



      Use upper case for ranks and titles when written in conjunction with a name, but lower case when on their own. Thus President Bush, but the president; Vice-President Cheney, but the
      vice-president; Colonel Qaddafi, but the colonel; Pope Benedict, but
      the pope; Queen Elizabeth, but the queen.

      Do not write Prime Minister
      Blair
      or Defence Secretary Rumsfeld; they are the prime minister, Mr
      Blair
      , and the defence secretary, Mr Rumsfeld. You may, however, write
      Chancellor Schröder.

      All office-holders when referred to merely by
      their office, not by their name, are lower case: the chancellor of the
      exchequer, the foreign secretary, the prime minister, the speaker, the
      treasury secretary, the president of the United States, the chairman
      of Coca-Cola.



      The only exceptions are




      1. a few titles that would look unduly
        peculiar without capitals, eg, Black Rod, Master of the Rolls,
        Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Lord Privy Seal, Lord
        Chancellor.


      2. a few exalted people, such as the Dalai Lama and the
        Aga Khan. Also God and the Prophet.



      Some titles serve as names, and
      therefore have initial capitals, though they also serve as
      descriptions: the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Emir of Kuwait, the
      Shah of Iran
      . If you want to describe the office rather than the
      individual, use lower case: The next archbishop of Canterbury will be
      a woman. Since the demise of the ninth duke, there has never been
      another duke of Portland.




      http://www.economist.com/style-guide/capitals






      share|improve this answer




























        1












        1








        1







        No, not in British English. Capitalise job titles but not roles.



        The Guardian style guide says:




        capitals




        • jobs all lc, eg prime minister, US secretary of state, chief rabbi, editor of the Guardian.


        • titles cap up titles, but not job description, eg President Barack Obama (but the US president, Barack Obama, and Obama on subsequent mention); the Duke of Westminster (the duke at second mention); Pope Francis but the pope.





        http://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-c



        The Economist style guide says:




        Capitals



        A balance has to be struck between so many capitals that the eyes dance and so few that the reader is diverted more by our
        style than by our substance. The general rule is to dignify with
        capital letters organisations and institutions, but not people. More
        exact rules are laid out below. Even these, however, leave some
        decisions to individual judgment. If in doubt use lower case unless it
        looks absurd. And remember that “a foolish consistency is the
        hobgoblin of little minds” (Ralph Waldo Emerson).



        PEOPLE



        Use upper case for ranks and titles when written in conjunction with a name, but lower case when on their own. Thus President Bush, but the president; Vice-President Cheney, but the
        vice-president; Colonel Qaddafi, but the colonel; Pope Benedict, but
        the pope; Queen Elizabeth, but the queen.

        Do not write Prime Minister
        Blair
        or Defence Secretary Rumsfeld; they are the prime minister, Mr
        Blair
        , and the defence secretary, Mr Rumsfeld. You may, however, write
        Chancellor Schröder.

        All office-holders when referred to merely by
        their office, not by their name, are lower case: the chancellor of the
        exchequer, the foreign secretary, the prime minister, the speaker, the
        treasury secretary, the president of the United States, the chairman
        of Coca-Cola.



        The only exceptions are




        1. a few titles that would look unduly
          peculiar without capitals, eg, Black Rod, Master of the Rolls,
          Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Lord Privy Seal, Lord
          Chancellor.


        2. a few exalted people, such as the Dalai Lama and the
          Aga Khan. Also God and the Prophet.



        Some titles serve as names, and
        therefore have initial capitals, though they also serve as
        descriptions: the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Emir of Kuwait, the
        Shah of Iran
        . If you want to describe the office rather than the
        individual, use lower case: The next archbishop of Canterbury will be
        a woman. Since the demise of the ninth duke, there has never been
        another duke of Portland.




        http://www.economist.com/style-guide/capitals






        share|improve this answer















        No, not in British English. Capitalise job titles but not roles.



        The Guardian style guide says:




        capitals




        • jobs all lc, eg prime minister, US secretary of state, chief rabbi, editor of the Guardian.


        • titles cap up titles, but not job description, eg President Barack Obama (but the US president, Barack Obama, and Obama on subsequent mention); the Duke of Westminster (the duke at second mention); Pope Francis but the pope.





        http://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-c



        The Economist style guide says:




        Capitals



        A balance has to be struck between so many capitals that the eyes dance and so few that the reader is diverted more by our
        style than by our substance. The general rule is to dignify with
        capital letters organisations and institutions, but not people. More
        exact rules are laid out below. Even these, however, leave some
        decisions to individual judgment. If in doubt use lower case unless it
        looks absurd. And remember that “a foolish consistency is the
        hobgoblin of little minds” (Ralph Waldo Emerson).



        PEOPLE



        Use upper case for ranks and titles when written in conjunction with a name, but lower case when on their own. Thus President Bush, but the president; Vice-President Cheney, but the
        vice-president; Colonel Qaddafi, but the colonel; Pope Benedict, but
        the pope; Queen Elizabeth, but the queen.

        Do not write Prime Minister
        Blair
        or Defence Secretary Rumsfeld; they are the prime minister, Mr
        Blair
        , and the defence secretary, Mr Rumsfeld. You may, however, write
        Chancellor Schröder.

        All office-holders when referred to merely by
        their office, not by their name, are lower case: the chancellor of the
        exchequer, the foreign secretary, the prime minister, the speaker, the
        treasury secretary, the president of the United States, the chairman
        of Coca-Cola.



        The only exceptions are




        1. a few titles that would look unduly
          peculiar without capitals, eg, Black Rod, Master of the Rolls,
          Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Lord Privy Seal, Lord
          Chancellor.


        2. a few exalted people, such as the Dalai Lama and the
          Aga Khan. Also God and the Prophet.



        Some titles serve as names, and
        therefore have initial capitals, though they also serve as
        descriptions: the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Emir of Kuwait, the
        Shah of Iran
        . If you want to describe the office rather than the
        individual, use lower case: The next archbishop of Canterbury will be
        a woman. Since the demise of the ninth duke, there has never been
        another duke of Portland.




        http://www.economist.com/style-guide/capitals







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        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited Oct 24 '14 at 13:16

























        answered Oct 24 '14 at 13:10









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