Everyone on the bus tour enjoyed the southern food in Tennessee. Instead of using the frequently used double-space, only use one space after a period to properly follow AP style guidelines. If you are referring to a group of proper nouns such as the Western States. However, if youre referring to a general location, such as the western winds then western should be lowercase. Should The South Be Capitalized? - FAQS Clear English Capitalization Rules and Example Sentences - ThoughtCo I wanted to know how to write Southeast Albania correctly (proof reading). Otherwise, not. 8 What states in the US are consider southern states? Is the s capitalized in southern hospitality? - Answers Most style guides say that compass points and the terms derived from them are lowercased if they just mean direction or location. Binomial nomenclature is, of course, also used for animals, including the singularly curious one designated as Homo sapiens. Do not capitalize these words when they merely indicate direction or general location. Is state capitalized when referring to a specific state? MLA style follows The Chicago Manual of Style (8.47) for geographic terms. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The West Coast has beautiful scenery. The sentence which is capitalized correctly is My easiest classes are Chemistry and Spanish. The mines are in the plateaus western region. Examples: southern France, northern Canada. Is Grandma a well-behaved woman? That means you should lowercase articles, conjunctions, and prepositionshowever, some style guides say to capitalize conjunctions and prepositions that are longer than five letters. With states, lowercase in most uses: northern New York. Topic Q&A List - The Chicago Manual of Style Online editing, when they indicate compass direction, but capitalize when they indicate a region: the West Coast. How to Export PDF Tables from Adobe Acrobat to Excel (PC & Mac), How to Insert Images into Shapes in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac), How to Align the Periods in Numbered Lists in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac), How to Password Protect Files in Microsoft Word, How to Password Protect PDFs in Adobe Acrobat (PC & Mac). Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are the days of the week. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. My name is Erin. The basic guidelines for using capital letters in English appear simple enough: Capitalize the first word in a sentence. It is also a great option for general business writing. When these words are included in the place name, however, they must be capitalized. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? The street is named Bolton Avenue. By prevailing usage, roughly the most southerly one-third or two-fifths of California is referred to as Southern California, in initial caps. We always use a capital letter when we write the days of the week. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. But if someone prefers "African American," use that term rather than a more generic "black." Consult your dictionary if your preferred style guide doesnt address this issue. But in other cases, it is more a matter of convention and habit. It only loosely defines a region of California and its border is not officially defined either. In case it's not obvious, I have a bachelor's in writing. Note that it doesn't seem to be treated as a compound proper noun (e.g., searching for "Southeastern Albania" produces an error since Ngrams is case sensitive and there don't seem to be any instances of that capitalization in the Google Books database). For example, capitalizing "Southerner" in the sentence "As a Southerner, she had a distinct drawl" can be up for debate. The word "southern" is not part of the official name of California or any city or county, so I never capitalize it. Did any DOS compatibility layers exist for any UNIX-like systems before DOS started to become outmoded? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. However, when these words are actually part of the place name, they must be capitalized. By convention, however, southern is capitalized when it refers to the region of California: We also lowercase the terms when they refer to people: Butsouthernerandnorthernerarecapitalized when they refer to people on either side of the civil war in the United States: The civil war was fought between Southerners and Northerners. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. You should only capitalize directions, such as south, when you are referring to it as the proper noun, such as "in the South." If you are merely referring to a direction, such as "go south on I-90," then you should keep south lowercase. When the word state forms the full name of a specific body, you must also capitalize it. It's similar to why your name is always capitalized. I am living in Western Downtown. So, noun will be always first capital letter. Hi, Victoria. Thus people who live in southern California may prefer to write Southern California. What states in the US are consider southern states? In "the eastern portion of Colorado", however, "eastern" is written in small letters since it doesn't denote people or specific culture or practice. Is north capitalized there? The Chicago Manual of Style, sixteenth edition (2010) has a useful and detailed discussion of this issue. Capitalize the pronoun. However, when giving an address, or in tables or other uses in which space is limited, use the US Postal Services symbol system, which consists of a two-letter abbreviation in which both letters are always capitalized and no periods are used (for example, NY for New York). Capitalizing southern and capitalizing south have the same rules. Time arrow with "current position" evolving with overlay number. When the word "state" comes after a state's name, it should be capitalized. So you would only capitalize federal when you use it in the name of a federal agency, an act, or some other proper noun. Hi, Chris. are not capitalized when they merely denote compass direction. In general, midwesterners are friendly and down to earth. Do I Capitalize Western Blot? - Advansta Inc. Chicago style is best for writers who want to adhere to traditional publishing standards and academic writers in non-scientific fields. Is south and Southern capitalized? - TimesMojo There is room for variation here: if you live in Coventry and youre writing for other Coventry residents, then perhaps writing South Coventry would make sense. If you are merely referring to a direction, such as "go south on I-90," then you should keep south lowercase. You capitalize state only when it follows the name of the state, as in New York State is also called the Empire State, or when its part of a traditional name for a state, like Empire State or Lone Star State. When it precedes the name of the state, dont capitalize the word unless its part of a title of . Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation. Duck Vs. Loon: How Are These Words Connected? So, should you capitalize regions when writing? The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? For example, Southern France is capitalized because it is a proper noun and . Lowercase north, south, northeast, northern, and other lowercase letters are used when indicating compass direction. Names of regions should be capitalized if those are proper nouns or denote a country, city, continent, etc. When does a locational distinction change its suffix and capitialization in a proper name? It might be amusing to look for instances of "southern Southern California" or "northern Southern California". However, a co-author argues that southern should not be capitalized, because it is an adjective, not a noun. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic, as are those lacking any signs of reasonable research. Unless you are referring to the Four Seasons, there is no reason for seasons to . When proofreading or editing documents, we often find that writers are confused about when to capitalize these terms. Should southern Florida be capitalized? - Answers northern New Jersey, western Massachusetts Northern Ireland, Western Australia NOTE: Within certain regions it is not uncommon for many who live there to capitalize the adjective because of the special importance they attach to the regional designation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You can also upload a document to get an instant quote. Each morning, the sun rises in the east . Usage guide. The obvious examples of this are countries, states, cities, and other geographical areas: We study the history of Eastern Europe. So, noun will be always first capital letter. North Dakota; West Virginia; Also capitalize compass points when used in denoting widely known sections. For example, The Associated Press Stylebook (AP style) recommends capitalization:2. But when the words are used in specific contexts, denote people belonging to a particular region, or refer to their social, political, or cultural activities, they are capitalized. Lowercase articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions (regardless of length). References to God (s) The word "god" should be capitalized if it is being used as a proper name of a monotheistic god, as in God in Christianity and Judaism. Capitalize the traditional geographic regions in the United States: the Midwest, the North, the South, the West, and the combined regions (i.e., the Northeast, the Southeast, and the Southwest).1. "The State Finance Department," for example, is a good example. So the upshot of my answer is that you didn't miss the memo (or perhaps I should say The Memo) on this issue, but at the same time you didn't notice a larger phenomenon in accordance with which initial-capping Southern California is by no means a unique, inexplicable, or indefensible treatment of a regional name. Are coca cola and pepsi owned by the same company? Be consistent (e.g., dont use south England in one part of a document and South England in another if youre referring to the same place). If a law is new but its interpretation is vague, can the courts directly ask the drafters the intent and official interpretation of their law? The days of the week are: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. when they indicate compass direction, but capitalize when they indicate a region: the West Coast. Updated on December 22, 2018. He's one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. Hi, Lynne. Avoiding Common Capitalization Errors | The Proofreading Pulse Do you capitalize the word state when referring to a state? The correct answer is option C. In option A, the word Chemistry is only capitalized leaving the other proper noun in lower case. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Short story taking place on a toroidal planet or moon involving flying, Doubling the cube, field extensions and minimal polynoms. Is south capitalized when referring to Southern states? Capitalize such words as Northerner, Southerner, and Midwesterner. As an Amazon Associate, CapitalizeMyTitle.com earns from qualifying purchases. Should Southern Be Capitalized? - Caniry By convention, however, southern is capitalized when it refers to the region of California: I live in Southern California. The mines are located in the western part of the plateau. South-Eastern Albania? Lowercase north, south, northeast, etc. Capitalization | CSU - California State University Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook. Similarly, the European Union is an assortment of multiple countries. The official USPS postal abbreviation is this format. Is Southern capitalized in southern states? The first letter of someone's first, middle, and last name is always capitalized, as in John William Smith . When words like northern, southern, eastern, or western precede a place name, they aren't usually capitalized because they only indicate a general location within a region. If you think southern California has properties which one ordinarily associates with countries or states, or at least you want to convey that this is so, then you should use the capitalization ordinarily used for names of countries or states. Capitalization | Capitalization Rules - GrammarBook document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Capitalize My Title makes title capitalization easy. If youre referring to a collection of proper nouns, such as the Southern States, this is the case. Southern United States, for example, is appropriate because it is located in a specific region. Use capital letters in the following ways: The first words of a sentence When he tells a joke, he sometimes forgets the punch line. I live to the west of Detroit Michigan. Despite that, knowing how to capitalize names of places, regions, geographical features, directions, etc. West is directly opposite east. For example, Southern US is proper because it is a specific region. Hi there! In other words, directions can be tricky! Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The difference between the phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Japanese. For example: When words such as "northern", "southern", "western", and "eastern" precede a region or place's name, do not capitalize them as they are only indicating a general location in a region. For example, we capitalize north, south, east, and west when the terms refer to regions or cultures: Customs in the East differ from those in the West. 6 Does the word federal need to be capitalized? Is Southern Capitalized? - Capitalize My Title Are both letters capitalized in state abbreviations? The United Kingdom, for instance, is a region that comprises four countries: Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. Besides the global continents, there are also atmospheric and hydrospheric regions that encompass the oceans, discrete climates, or environments above the water and landmasses of earth. Direction-denoting terms such as north, south, east, west, etc. Names of gods are capitalized, including Allah, Vishnu, and God. Not capitalizing when referring to a general direction. When to Capitalize Words for Compass Points - Daily Writing Tips Capitalize the first word of every sentence. My friend is a southerner. What is the rule for state abbreviations? Explanation: Because, Pisces is a noun. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. It only loosely defines a region of California and its border is not officially defined either. Here are the types of words that should be capitalized: Proper nouns. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. MLA style followsThe Chicago Manual of Style (8.47) for geographic terms. The seasons arent proper nouns, so theyre not usually capitalized. Less democratic. Whether it's an "official" name or not and how well the thing is defined have no bearing whatsoever. One exception to this rule: common objects with a country or nationality as part of the name ( french fries, scotch whiskey, venetian blinds, and so forth). When to Capitalize Directions - Writing Explained As an aside, when we toured through the San Francisco Peninsula earlier this year, our guide told us that the natives generally didn't like the name 'Silicon Valley'. Did the Allman Brothers Band play southern rock or Southern rock? It was put into effect at first for big businesses, but was then gradually adopted by everyone as a standardized format. You capitalize state only when it follows the name of the state, as in New York State is also called the Empire State, or when its part of a traditional name for a state, like Empire State or Lone Star State. When it precedes the name of the state, dont capitalize the word unless its part of a title of . The rules are fairly standard for title case: Capitalize the first and the last word. Also, if "region" is the first word in a sentence, it is capitalized. North, east, south, and west are the four cardinal directions, often marked by the initials N, E, S, and W. East and west are at right angles to north and south. Unless the direction is part of the country's actual name, it remains lowercased. I often have to write north, west in reference to an entrance or exit, for example, the patron exited through the north turnstile. Capitalize such words as northern, southern, eastern, and western when they refer to the people in a region or to their political, social, or cultural activities. Proper nouns should always be capitalized. In October 1963, the Department settled on the current two-letter abbreviations. Only a few signs of the zodiac are automatically capitalized (Capricorn, Gemini, Sagittarius, Taurus). In some cases, like country and city names, this is clear. Common nouns are the names of things. 10 Do I capitalize southern as in the US region? To Capitalize or not to Capitalize Independence? (Most uses will be uppercase.) 1 The Midwest is the breadbasket of the United States. For example, the "river" is a general noun and not capitalized. In what contexts would I capitalize "city" and "county"? Should southern be capitalized? For example: I live in The North. Should north southeast and West be capitalized? When used to refer to direction and location, dont capitalize the names of directions like north, south, east, or west; however, when they appear in the names of places and regions, do capitalize these words. Don't capitalize these words when they refer to the general location, geography or climate of a region. Do you like West Asia? This format is the official USPS postal abbreviation. . Lowercase with names of nations (southern France) unless they indicate a political division (South Korea). It's all directional | Grammar Party The Content Authority is where you will find great content, written by amazing writers, around topics like grammar, writing, publishing, and marketing. In terms of "human geography", the regions and their subregions are elucidated by the ethnography discipline. Titles should only be capitalized if they precede a proper name when used as part of the name. Is South Capitalized? - Capitalize My Title Whether youre writing an essay, email, or cover letter, youll likely use parentheses. Capitalize nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs (including phrasal verbs such as play with), adverbs, and subordinate conjunctions. Are Directions Capitalized? Easy Ways to Know When So it would be best to check your style guide if you have one and to make sure whatever you choose is used consistently. Do not capitalize these words when they merely indicate general location or refer to the geography or climate of the region. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Botany Rules 1: Writing Plant Common Names and English Names - Blogger Is South Capitalized In South Florida - Beginners Travel ), but I'd suggest not capitalizing it unless you're certain it is necessary. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The Starved Rock Lodge offers world-famous midwestern hospitality in a scenic environment. Do not capitalize these words when they merely indicate general location or refer to the geography or climate of the region. Hello! As explained in the post, some people do capitalize terms like "the North" when they refer to a well-established geographical area. If youre referring to a specific location, such as the southern winds, southern should be lowercase. However, a co-author argues that southern should not be capitalized, because it is an adjective, not a noun. Characteristics. On a cloudless night, I studied Pisces, a constellation in the North sky. 4 Is Southern California capitalized AP style? A Little Help with Capitals - Purdue Writing Lab I guess you're saying that it's always okay to break any principle if you really want to, because CMOS says so. For example, The hurricane move north towards the Gulf Coast. If a is used, go with prime minister.). Thor and Norway are capitalized because they are proper nouns. The capitalization of as depends upon its function. Seasons. Once again, refer to your dictionary if your preferred style guide doesnt address this issue. Youd also capitalize the first word and (according to most guides) the last word of a title, regardless of what part of speech they are. Capitalize proper nouns and most adjectives formed from proper nouns. When And When Not To. As noted in the post, there's no need to capitalize generic directions (only when they're part of a proper noun). South Pacific. capitalization, maps, writing tips. But, generally, you only need to capitalize a direction in a place name if the direction is a standard part of the places name. In short, it says to capitalize northern, southern, eastern, western and related words when they refer to the PEOPLE in a region or what they DO (i.e., their political, cultural or social activities) or are part of the place name. Proper nouns include the specific names of people, places, and things. For example, you would write "the Southern United States," but "the southern way of .