should southern be capitalized should southern be capitalized

By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. September 18, 2013, at 9:56 pm. For example: The words are also not capitalized if they only indicate locations or the climate or geography of a region. Are you supposed to capitalize north south east and west? The main thing is to be consistent with whatever you choose. The correct answer is option C. In option A, the word Chemistry is only capitalized leaving the other proper noun in lower case. The Department provided an initial list of abbreviations in June 1963, but many had three or four letters, which was still too long. The difference between the phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Japanese. Capitalization Do not capitalize federal, state, department, division, board, program, section, unit, etc., unless the word is part of a formal name. You should capitalize the words East Coast when referring to a specific region, such as Im traveling to the East Coast, because East Coast is a proper noun in this case. However, as in the case of plant names, animal names are not capitalized ("I spotted a red-tailed hawk," not "I spotted a Red-Tailed Hawk"), except when an element of the name is a proper noun, as in "Steller . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. That's when even the most exhaustive style . 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. It only loosely defines a region of California and its border is not officially defined either. For example, Southern France is capitalized because it is a proper noun and . If youre referring to a collection of proper nouns, such as the Southern States, this is the case. Similar is the case with the following set of words: Here are a couple of sentences for further clarity on the matter: When terms such as "southern district" and "western region" are used as names for specific units within an organization, capitalize them. CMOS recognizes that common usage and context determine conventional approaches to capitalization in connection with the treatment of certain terms related to regions. The Starved Rock Lodge offers world-famous Midwestern hospitality in a scenic environment. What's the difference between a power rail and a signal line? Not capitalizing when referring to a general direction. In a June 11 statement, the National Association of Black Journalists issued a recommendation "that whenever a color is used to appropriately describe race then it should be capitalized . the East, the North, the South, the West (of a country) northern, southern, eastern, western (parts of a country) The official USPS postal abbreviation is this format. 5 Should states and territories be Capitalised? 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 cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. However, when these words are actually part of the place name, they must be capitalized. In domains such as ecology, physical geography, environmental geography, and zoogeography, regions are typically based on ecosystems, biomes, natural regions, drainage basins, soil types, mountain ranges, and other natural features. Names of people People's names are proper nouns, and therefore should be capitalized. But when these terms are part of an actual place's name, capitalize them, as in "Western Australia", "Northern Ireland", etc. 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). However, it is accepted that these are capitalized when discussing the American Civil War, for example, and, as mentioned in this article in the final Summary section, some style guides prefer north and south to always be capitalized when referring generally to these areas of the United States. As Sven Yargs' answer shows, there is a strong descriptivist argument involved. When these words are included in the place name, however, they must be capitalized. Related, but not duplicates (in my opinion): As definitive as it gets. If you are referring to a group of proper nouns such as " the Southern States ." However, if instead you reference a general location, such as "the southern winds," then the word southern should be lowercase. Except for Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas, and Utah, the name of a city and state should be abbreviated when they are used together. When proofreading or editing documents, we often find that writers are confused about when to capitalize these terms. Also, if "region" is the first word in a sentence, it is capitalized. For instance, the term "ecoregion" is used commonly in environmental geography, "bioregion" in biogeography, etc. rev2023.3.3.43278. MLA style follows The Chicago Manual of Style (8.47) for geographic terms. Thus, here are 10 capitalization rules you should know for a well written write-up: According to most style guides, nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are capitalized in titles of books, articles, and songs. When does a locational distinction change its suffix and capitialization in a proper name? Of course, they should be capitalized at the start of sentences and in titles, as they are with other nouns. Here are directions capitalized in sentences: Words such as "southerner" and "northerner" are usually not capitalized if they denote people. Some common examples of when you should capitalize north include: down North. 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. Geographic Regions Used as Adjectives And "north" in that sentence refers to a direction (i.e., where you turned), not the place (i.e., Bolton Avenue). Should I capitalize "the north" and "the south" in my work on the southern campaign of the Revolutionary war? By prevailing usage, roughly the most southerly one-third or two-fifths of California is referred to as Southern California, in initial caps. After all, it was named after its inventor, Edwin Southern, and therefore the use of the capital is justified. The street is named Bolton Avenue. However, to, not a dash, should be used when from introduces a range of dates (from 2012 to 2013, not from 2012-13). You should only capitalize directions, such as south, when you are referring to it as the proper noun, such as "in the South.". Usage guide. in the southwestern part an eastward direction These words usually do get capitalized when they describe a region of the world or of a country, but there are some exceptions. The mines are in the plateaus western region. To find out when to capitalize North, South, East, and West, read our guide to capitalizing directions below. 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. One reason partisans capitalize "White" or "Black" is to denote its importance in messages, even subliminally, magnified by lowercasing the "other." As always, we believe that labels can oversimplify, and that a specific description is better. Only capitalize state when it follows the states name, such as New York State is also known as the Empire State, or when it is part of a traditional state name, such as Empire State or Lone Star State, can be capitalized. Should north East south West be capitalized? editing, Instead, I have compiled a partial list of things people shouldn't capitalize but commonly do anyway. Titles should only be capitalized if they precede a proper name when used as part of the name. The Chicago Manual of Style and the MLA Handbook, for instance, say to only capitalize Southern when referring to the American Civil War. In general, Midwesterners are friendly and down to earth. As noted in the post, there's no need to capitalize generic directions (only when they're part of a proper noun). 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. Filed Under: Lowercase north, south, northeast, etc. Only a few signs of the zodiac are automatically capitalized (Capricorn, Gemini, Sagittarius, Taurus). when they indicate compass direction, but capitalize when they indicate a region: the West Coast. They live in the western part of the country. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic, as are those lacking any signs of reasonable research. The same applies for related adjectives and other compass directions: We live in the eastern part of the country. Capitalization Unless the word is part of a formal name, do not capitalize federal, state, department, division, board, program, section, unit, or other similar words. Do you like West Asia? When referring to regions, capitalize these words. A recognized geographical region. Others may argue that the word simply denotes the direction of the region the individual lives and must not have the capital letter. Another example, "Eastern" in the phrase "Eastern bankers" is capitalized since the word denotes a certain group of people. You would capitalize "Southern" when referring to the people, or their culture, politics, or social activities, e.g., Southern hospitality, Southern cuisine, Southern accents. Thor and Norway are capitalized because they are proper nouns. It only loosely defines a region of California and its border is not officially defined either. Use a hyphen to show a range of dates and do not repeat 20 (2012-13, not 2012-2013). You should capitalize North, South, East, and West when theyre part of a proper noun (i.e., the name of a unique thing). , Capitalize the first word of a quoted sentence. I am a technical writer and editor who shares writing-related software tutorials on this website and on YouTube. Here are some rules to follow. Q. Hello! When And When Not To. I live to the west of Detroit Michigan. Is south capitalized when referring to Southern states? What is the purpose of this D-shaped ring at the base of the tongue on my hiking boots? Explanation: Because, Pisces is a noun. AP Style states that when referring to the names of a nation, directions should . You should only capitalize directions, such as north, when you are referring to it as the proper noun, such as "in the North.". Do you capitalize state when referring to a state? Of course, as with other nouns, they should be capitalized at the beginning of sentences and in titles. The image of a Southern belle is often characterized by fashion elements such as a hoop skirt, a corset, pantalettes, a wide-brimmed straw hat, and gloves. So it would be best to check your style guide if you have one and to make sure whatever you choose is used consistently. Similarly, the European Union is an assortment of multiple countries. The obvious examples of this are countries, states, cities, and other geographical areas: We study the history of Eastern Europe. Opportunities exist on the east and west sides of the city. When it's an adjective ("bicentennial year"), I agree that no cap is needed . In other words, directions can be tricky! Actually, you should capitalize federal only when it is part of a proper noun, that is, the official name of a particular or unique person, place, or thing. Please note that my close-vote reason was 'lack of reasonable signs of research'; I believe that there are differences between the 'northern Europe' example and this one. The word should only be capitalized if it appears in the body's name. As explained in the post, there is no need to capitalize these words when used generically (only when they're part of a proper noun). Erin Wright, 20122023. Hi, Victoria. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The pronoun "I" Explanation: Because, Pisces is a noun. Each state has its own unique shortened name codes used in written documents and mailing addresses. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Everyone on the bus tour enjoyed the southern food in Tennessee. My name is Erin. When people form a group and give it a name, it should be capitalized. What is, In a front-wheel drive setup, theyre what transfers power to the wheels via the transmission or differential (in a rear-wheel drive setup). There's not enough context in your example to offer any solid advice (e.g., the "north" of where? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. For example, "Global is a proper noun." . The word "southern" is not part of the official name of California or any city or county, so I never capitalize it. What is thought to influence the overproduction and pruning of synapses in the brain quizlet? Is state capitalized when referring to a specific state? When words like northern, southern, eastern, and western precede a place name, they are not ordinarily capitalized, because they merely indicate general location within a region. Prepositions, such as at, around, by, after, along, for, from, of, on, to, with & without. Should north southeast and West be capitalized? When they indicate compass direction, lowercase north, south, northeast, and so on, but capitalize when it indicates a region: the West Coast. So, if a person is from South Africa, south would be capitalized since it's the proper name of the country. So you would only capitalize federal when you use it in the name of a federal agency, an act, or some other proper noun. Broadly speaking, a region is an area that's divided by: Geographic regions are usually depicted by their not-so-clearly defined, and at times transitory boundaries. Is Colorado in the west or the West? When did they standardize state abbreviations? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Capitalize proper nouns in APA Style. You should only capitalize "east" when you are referring to it as the proper noun, such as "in the East" or "in the Middle East". This confusion can also be attributed to the fact that certain region names have direction names in their official names, such as "the Middle East". However, capitalization may depend on the style guide you're using. (I have no authority for this opinion, other than my intuition as an English speaker. Thus, here are 10 capitalization rules you should know for a well written write-up: Capitalize the first word of every sentence. When words like northern, southern, eastern, or western precede a place name, they arent usually capitalized because they only indicate a general location within a region. Hello! Capitalize names of organizations, institutions, stores, businesses, teams, political parties, and government bodies. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. This suffix makes the direction an adjective, and when it describes a specific region, it should be capitalized. 'I have no authority for this opinion, other than my intuition as an English speaker.' Use capital letters in the following ways: The first words of a sentence When he tells a joke, he sometimes forgets the punch line. The storm is heading east. Is South capitalized when talking about the Civil War? Why are trials on "Law & Order" in the New York Supreme Court? For example: But when the terms are used to indicate a region, they are capitalized for example, the "West Coast". However, if youre referring to a specific region, such as the east coast of the United States, keep the words lowercase. 1 Is south capitalized when referring to Southern states? When you're talking about America's West Coast or the Middle East, the directional word is also part of a proper name, and it gets a capital letter. If the writer is referring to the United States and calling it just the States, then states needs to be capitalized. So capitalize The Pacific Northwest and Central Texas, but not We drove west for two hours., The States that make up The South are usually considered to be: Virginia Tennessee Arkansas Louisiana North Carolina South Carolina Mississippi Alabama Georgia Florida Texas. This is known as 'title case'. Yes, Southern is capitalized because it refers to the South (= the southern US). 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. You should always capitalize Southerner since it refers to a group of people who are proper nouns. Do You Capitalize "Real Estate"? Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. Hi, Mary. The FHA insures mortgages for buyers with low credit scores and down payments as low as 3.5%. For example, The Associated Press Stylebook (AP style) recommends capitalization:2. 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. In October 1963, the Department settled on the current two-letter abbreviations. The first letter of someone's first, middle, and last name is always capitalized, as in John William Smith . Federal or federal? Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? What states in the US are consider southern states? Southern, according to a co-author, should not be capitalized because it is an adjective rather than a noun. The obvious examples of this are countries, states, cities, and other geographical areas: Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox. Updated on December 22, 2018. NOTE: When terms like western region and southern district are used to name organizational units within a company, capitalize them. Is that an argument? 9 Should north southeast and West be capitalized? For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook. Southern belle (from French belle 'beautiful') is a colloquialism for a debutante in the planter class of the Antebellum South. Hope all that helps! Job seekers, Is Pepsi the owner of KFC? If a is used, go with prime minister.). The AP Stylebook, which is the guiding stylebook for a number of news organizations, including The Daily Tar Heel, advises against using the Oxford comma in most basic series.