Editing Capitalization (section)

==Parts of speech==
Owing to the essentially arbitrary nature of [[Orthography|orthographic]] classification and the existence of variant authorities and local [[Style guide|''house styles'']], questionable capitalization of words is not uncommon, even in respected newspapers and magazines. Most publishers require ''consistency'', at least within the same document, in applying a specified standard: this is described as "house style".

===Pronouns===
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* In English, the [[subjective case|subjective]] form of the singular first-person [[pronoun]], "I", is capitalized, along with all its contractions such as ''I'll'' and ''I'm''. [[Objective (grammar)|Objective]] and [[possessive]] forms ("me", "my", and "mine") are not.
* Many [[European languages]] traditionally capitalize nouns and pronouns used to refer to [[God]], including references to [[God the Son|Jesus Christ]] ([[reverential capitalization|reverential capitals]]): ''hallowed be Thy name'', ''look what He has done''. Some English authors capitalize any word referring to God: ''the Lamb'', ''the [[Omnipotence|Almighty]]''; some capitalize "Thy Name". These practices have become much less common in English in the 20th and 21st centuries.
** In [[Baháʼí literature]], singular and plural object, subject, and possessive forms get capitalization if referring to a [[Rasūl|Rasul]], the [[Twelve Imams]], or [['Abdu'l-Baha]].
* Some languages capitalize a [[royal we]] ({{lang|la|pluralis majestatis}}), e.g. it is capitalized in German.

====2nd-person pronouns====
Many languages distinguish between [[T–V distinction|formal and informal 2nd-person pronouns]].
* In [[German language|German]], the formal 2nd-person plural pronoun {{lang|de|Sie}} is capitalized along with all its [[grammatical case|case]]-forms ({{lang|de|Ihre}}, {{lang|de|Ihres}}, etc.), but these words are not capitalized when used as 3rd-person feminine singular or plural pronouns. Until the recent [[German orthography reform of 1996#|German spelling reform(s)]], the traditional rules (which are still widely adhered to, although not taught in schools) also capitalized the informal 2nd-person singular pronoun {{lang|de|Du}} (and its derivatives, such as {{lang|de|Dein}}) when used in letters or similar texts, but this is no longer required.
* [[Italian language|Italian]] also capitalizes its formal pronouns, {{lang|it|Lei}} and {{lang|it|Loro}}, and their cases (even within words, e.g. {{lang|it|arrivederLa}} "goodbye", formal). This is occasionally also done for the [[Dutch language|Dutch]] {{lang|nl|U}}, though this is formally only required when referring to a deity and may be considered archaic.
* In [[Spanish language|Spanish]], the abbreviations of the pronouns {{lang|es|usted}} and {{lang|es|ustedes}}, {{lang|es|Ud.}}, {{lang|es|Uds.}}, {{lang|es|Vd.}}, and {{lang|es|Vds.}}, are usually written with a capital.
* In [[Finnish language|Finnish]] and [[Estonian language|Estonian]], the second-person plural pronoun can be used when formally addressing a single person, and in writing the pronoun is sometimes capitalized as {{lang|fi|Te}} to indicate special regard. In a more familiar tone, one can also capitalize the second-person singular pronoun {{lang|fi|Sinä}} ({{lang|ee|Sina}} in Estonian).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kielitoimistonohjepankki.fi/ohje/518 | title = Teitittely: oletteko kokeillut tätä? | website = Institute for the Languages of Finland | access-date = 6 March 2017 }}</ref>
* Similarly, in [[Russian language|Russian]] the formal second-person pronoun {{lang|ru|Вы}}, and its [[oblique case]]s {{lang|ru|Вас}}, {{lang|ru|Вам}} etc., are capitalized (usually in personal correspondence); also in [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]].
* [[Slovenian language|Slovenian]], [[Croatian language|Croatian]], [[Serbian language|Serbian]] capitalize the formal second-person pronoun {{lang|sr-Latn|Vi}} along with its oblique cases ({{lang|sr-Latn|Vas}}, {{lang|sr-Latn|Vam}}, {{lang|sr-Latn|Vami}}) and personal pronoun ({{lang|sr-Latn|Vaš}} etc.) in formal correspondence. Historically, the familiar second-person pronoun {{lang|sr-Latn|ti}} and its cases ({{lang|sr-Latn|tebe}}, {{lang|sr-Latn|tebi}}, {{lang|sr-Latn|teboj}}) were capitalized as well, but new orthography prohibits such use.
* In [[Danish language|Danish]], the plural second-person pronoun, {{lang|da|I}}, is capitalized, but its other forms {{lang|da|jer}} and {{lang|da|jeres}} are not. This distinguishes it from the preposition {{lang|da|i}} ("in"). The less commonly used formal singular second-person pronoun is also capitalized in all its forms ({{lang|da|De}}, {{lang|da|Dem}}, {{lang|da|Deres}}), distinguishing it from the otherwise identical third-person plural pronouns.
* In [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], both second-person singular and plural have a capitalized alternative form ({{lang|nb|De}}, {{lang|nb|Dem}}, {{lang|nb|Deres}} in [[Bokmål]]; {{lang|nn|De}}, {{lang|nn|Dykk}}, {{lang|nn|Dykkar}} in [[Nynorsk]]) to express formality for both subject and object of a sentence, but is very rarely used in modern speech and writing.
* In formally written [[Polish language|Polish]], [[Czech language|Czech]], [[Slovak language|Slovak]] and [[Latvian language|Latvian]], most notably in letters and [[e-mail]]s, all pronouns referring to the addressee are capitalized. This includes {{lang|pl|Ty}} ("thou") and all its related forms such as {{lang|pl|Twój}} and {{lang|pl|Ciebie}}. This principle extends to [[noun]]s used formally to address the addressee of a letter, such as {{lang|pl|Pan}} ("sir") and {{lang|pl|Pani}} ("madam").
* In [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]], capitalizing the formal second-person pronoun {{lang|id|Anda}} along with all references to the addressee, such as "{{lang|id|(kepada) Bapak/Ibu}}" ((to) Sir/Madam), is required in practice of {{lang|id|Ejaan Yang Disempurnakan}} (Perfected Orthography).<ref>[http://id.wikisource.org/wiki/Pedoman_Umum_Ejaan_Bahasa_Indonesia_yang_Disempurnakan#F._Huruf_Kapital General Guide to Perfected Spelling of the Indonesian Language, Section: Capital Letters] (in Indonesian) from Indonesian Wikisource.</ref> However, some people do not know of or choose not to adhere to this spelling rule. In contrast, [[Malay language|Malay]] orthography used in [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]] and [[Brunei]] does not require the capitalization of {{lang|ms|anda}}.
* In [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] and its standard form, [[Filipino language|Filipino]], the formal second-person pronouns {{lang|tl|Kayo}} and {{lang|tl|Ninyo}} and their oblique form {{lang|tl|Inyo}} are customarily and reverentially capitalized as such, particularly in most digital and printed media related to religion and its references. Purists who consider this rule as nonstandard and inconsistent do not apply it when writing.
* In [[Tajik language|Tajik]], capitalization is used to distinguish the second-person formal pronoun ''{{lang|tg|Шумо}}'' from the second-person plural pronoun ''{{lang|tg|шумо}}''.
* In Swedish, since {{lang|sv|[[du-reformen]]}}, the second-person singular pronoun {{lang|sv|du}} may be capitalized as {{lang|sv|Du}} when addressed formally.

===Nouns===
* The various languages and dialects in the [[High German]] family, including [[Standard German]] and [[Luxembourgish]], are the only major languages using the [[Latin alphabet]] in which all [[German noun|noun]]s (including [[Nominalization|nominalized]] verbs) are capitalized.<ref name="Gschossmann-2014">{{cite book |last1=Gschossmann-Hendershot |first1=Elke  |last2=Feuerle |first2=Lois |title=Schaum's Outline of German Grammar, 5th Edition |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=swdPAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA14 |date=7 February 2014 |publisher=McGraw Hill Professional |location=New York |isbn=978-0-07-182335-7 |page=14 |oclc=881681594 |access-date=30 September 2018}}</ref> This was also practiced in other [[Germanic languages]] (mainly due to German influence):
** [[Danish language|Danish]], before the [[spelling reform]] of 1948
** [[Swedish language|Swedish]], during the 17th and 18th centuries<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spraktidningen.se/artiklar/2009/06/sma-bokstaver-okade-avstandet-till-tyskarna |title=Små bokstäver ökade avståndet till tyskarna |publisher=Språktidningen |language=sv |author=Daniel Solling |date=June 2009 |access-date=28 June 2016 }}</ref>
** English, during the 17th and 18th centuries<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Kh_RZhvHk0YC&q=%22as+is+done+systematically+in+modern+German%22&pg=PA65 Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language], p.65</ref> (as in ''[[Gulliver's Travels]]'', and most of the original 1787 [[United States Constitution]])
** Some [[regional languages]], such as [[Saterland Frisian language|Saterland Frisian]]
* In nearly all European languages, single-word [[proper noun]]s, including personal names, are capitalized (like ''[[France]]'' or ''[[Moses]]''). Multiple-word proper nouns usually follow the traditional English rules for [[Title capitalization|publication titles]] (as in ''[[Robert the Bruce]]'').
** Where place names are merely preceded by the [[definite article]], this is usually in lower case (as in ''the [[Philippines]]'').
*** Sometimes, the article is integral to the name, and thus is capitalized (as in {{lang|nl|[[The Hague|Den Haag]]}}, {{lang|fr|[[Le Havre]]}}). However, in French this does not occur for [[French articles and determiners#Definite article|contractions {{lang|fr|du|nocat=y}} and {{lang|fr|au|nocat=y}}]] (as in {{lang|fr|Je viens du Havre}}, "I come from Le Havre"). In other European languages, it is much more common for the article to be treated as integral to the name, but it may not be capitalized ({{lang|de|die Schweiz}}, {{lang|fr|les Pays-Bas}}, {{lang|cy|yr Almaen}}, etc.).
** A few English names are written with two lowercase "f"s: ''ffrench'', ''ffoulkes'', etc. This originated as a variant script for capital F.
** A few individuals have chosen not to use capitals in their names, such as [[k.d. lang]] and [[bell hooks]]. [[E. E. Cummings]], whose name is often written without capitals, did not do so himself: the usage derives from the [[typography]] used on the cover of one of his books.<ref>See [[E. E. Cummings#Name and capitalization|E. E. Cummings: Name and capitalization]] for further discussion.</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Friedman |first=Norman |year=1992 |title=Not "e. e. cummings" |journal=Spring |volume=1 |pages=114–121 |url=http://www.gvsu.edu/english/cummings/caps.htm |access-date=December 13, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051212042425/http://www.gvsu.edu/english/cummings/caps.htm |archive-date=2005-12-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[File:Easyjet A319 G-EZEZ AMS 2016-09-04.jpg|thumb|easyJet A319 at [[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]].]]
** Most [[brand]] names and [[trademark]]s are capitalized (e.g., [[Coca-Cola]], [[Pepsi]]), although some have chosen to deviate from standard rules (e.g., [[easyJet]], [[id Software]], [[eBay]], [[iPod]]) to be distinctive. When capitals occur within a word, it is sometimes referred to as [[camel case]].
** Some speakers of Eastern Slavic languages associate capitalization with respect and decapitalize proper nouns to show disrespect.
* In English, the names of days of the [[week]], [[month]]s and [[language]]s are capitalized, as are [[demonym]]s like ''Englishman'', ''Arab''. In other languages, practice varies, but almost all languages other than German and Luxembourgish (which capitalize ''all'' nouns) do not.<ref>[[meta:Capitalization|Capitalization rules for days, months, demonyms and language-names in many languages]] from [[Meta-wiki]]</ref>
* In English-language addresses, the noun following the proper name of a street is capitalized, whether or not it is abbreviated: ''Main Street'', ''Fleming Ave.'', ''Montgomery Blvd.'' This capitalization is often absent in older citations and in combined usages: ''Fourth and Main streets''. In [[French language|French]], street names are capitalized when they are proper names; the noun itself ({{lang|fr|rue}}, {{lang|fr|place}}) is normally not capitalized: {{lang|fr|rue de Rivoli}}, {{lang|fr|place de la Concorde}}.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}
* In [[Italian language|Italian]] the name of a particular concept or object is capitalized when the writer wants to emphasize its importance and significance.<ref>See the entry {{lang|it|[[:it:Maiuscolo|Maiuscolo]]}} in the [[Italian Wikipedia]] for descriptions of various rules of capitalization in [[Italian language|Italian]] and for references.</ref>
* Capitalization is always used for most names of [[taxon|taxa]] used in [[biological|scientific classification]] of living things, except for [[species]]-level taxa or below. Example: ''[[Homo sapiens|Homo sapiens sapiens]]''.
* Controversially, some authors capitalize [[common name]]s of some animal and plant [[species]]. As a general rule, names are not capitalized, unless they are part of an official list of names, in which case they have become [[proper noun]]s and are capitalized. This is most common for birds<ref>[http://www.worldbirdnames.org/rules-caps.html Worldbirdnames.org<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928001953/http://www.worldbirdnames.org/rules-caps.html |date=September 28, 2007 }}</ref> and [[fish]]es. Names referring to more than one species (e.g., ''horse'' or ''cat'') are always in lower case. Botanists generally do not capitalize the common names of [[plant]]s, though individual words in plant names may be capitalized for another reason: (''Italian stone pine''). See the discussion of official common names under [[common name]] for an explanation.
* Common nouns may be capitalized when used as names for the entire class of such things, e.g. ''what a piece of work is Man''. Other [[Romance languages]] such as [[French language|French]] often capitalize such nouns as {{lang|fr|l'État}} (the state) and {{lang|fr|l'Église}} (the church) when not referring to specific ones.
* Names by which gods are known are capitalized, including ''[[God]]'', ''[[Athena]]'', and ''[[Vishnu]]''. The word ''god'' is generally not capitalized if it is used to refer to the generic idea of a [[deity]], nor is it capitalized when it refers to multiple gods, e.g. ''[[Roman gods]]''. There may be some confusion because [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]], and [[Islam]] rarely refer to the Deity by a specific name, but simply as ''God'' (see [[Names of God in Judaism|Writing divine names]]). Other names for the God of these three Abrahamic faiths, such as ''Elohim'', ''Yahweh'', and ''Lord'', are also capitalized.
* While [[acronym]]s have historically been written in all-caps, British, Finnish, Swedish and some German usage has moved towards capitalizing only the first letter in cases when these are pronounced as words (e.g. [[Unesco]] and [[Nato]]), reserving all-caps for initialisms (e.g. UK, USA, [[UNHCR]]).
* In [[life stance orthography]], in order to distinguish [[life stance]]s from general [[-ism]]s. For instance, [[Secular humanism#Terminology|Humanism]] is distinguished from [[humanism]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Doerr |first=Edd |date=November–December 2002 |title=Humanism unmodified |journal=The Humanist |publisher=American Humanist Association |volume=62 |issue=6 |pages=1–2 }}</ref>
* In [[legal English]], ''defined terms'' that refer to a specific entity, such as "Tenant" and "Lessor", are often capitalized. More specifically, in legal documents, terms which are formally defined elsewhere in the document or a related document (often in a schedule of definitions) are capitalized to indicate that that is the case, and may be several words long, e.g. "the Second Subsidiary Claimant", "the Agreed Conditional Release Date".
** In contracts, particularly important clauses are often typeset as [[All caps#Contract Law|all-caps]]
* Most English [[honorific]]s and [[title]]s of persons, e.g. ''Sir'', ''Dr Watson'', ''Mrs Jones'', ''His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh''. This does not apply where the words are not titles; e.g. ''Watson is a doctor, Philip is a duke.''
*In very formal British English the King is referred to as The King.
* The governing body of English solicitors is correctly referred to as The Law Society. (In general any organisation may choose a name starting with a capitalized "The".)

===Adjectives===
* In English, [[adjective]]s derived from proper nouns (except the names of characters in fictional works) usually retain their capitalization: e.g. a ''Christian'' church, ''Canadian'' whisky, a ''Shakespearean'' sonnet, but not a ''[[Quixotism|quixotic]]'' mission nor ''malapropism''. Where the original capital is no longer at the beginning of the word, usage varies: ''anti-Christian'', and either ''Presocratic'', ''pre-Socratic'', ''Pre-Socratic'' or ''presocratic''. Never&nbsp;''preSocratic''{{spaced ndash}}a hyphen must precede a capital in a compound word.
* Such adjectives do not receive capitals in French ({{lang|fr|socratique}}, {{lang|fr|présocratique}}), Spanish ({{lang|es|socrático}}, {{lang|es|presocrático}}), Swedish ({{lang|sv|sokratisk}}, {{lang|sv|försokratisk}}), Polish ({{lang|pl|sokratejski}}, {{lang|pl|presokratejski}}) nor partly in German ({{lang|de|sokratisch}}, {{lang|de|präsokratisch}}, but {{lang|de|Ohm'sches Gesetz}} ("Ohm's Law")). In German, if the adjective becomes a noun by using an article or numeral in front of it ({{lang|de|das/die Bunte}} (the colorful thing(s)), {{lang|de|eine Schöne}} (a beautiful one)), it is capitalized like any other noun, as are nouns formed from proper nouns ({{lang|de|der Urgoethe}}). The same applies to verbs ({{lang|de|das Laufen}} (the (practice of) running), {{lang|de|das Spazierengehen}} (the (practice of) going for a walk)).
* [[Demonym|Adjectives referring to nationality or ethnicity]] are not capitalized in many European languages such as German, French or [[Czech language|Czech]], even though nouns are: {{lang|de|ein kanadisches Schiff}}, {{lang|fr|un navire canadien}}, {{lang|cs|kanadská loď}}, a Canadian ship; {{lang|de|ein Kanadier}}, {{lang|fr|un Canadien}}, {{lang|cs|Kanaďan}}, a Canadian. Both nouns and adjectives are capitalized in English when referring to nationality or ethnicity.