Editing Capitalization (section)

==Special cases==
===Compound names===
[[Compound (linguistics)|Compound names]] are [[nouns]] that are made up of more than one [[Word stem|stem]], or a stem and one or more [[affix]]es.{{efn|Example: the [[Dutch language|Dutch]] name [[Kees Verkerk|''Verkerk'']], which is made up of the [[prefix]] ''Ver-'' and the noun ''kerk'' (church). }}
Names that are made up of several affixes and one or more nouns are ''not'' compound names under this definition, but [[noun phrase]]s, that are made up of one or more [[wiktionary:separable affix|separable affixes]], and one or more nouns. Examples of the separable affixes may be found in [[List of family name affixes]].{{efn|Example: the Dutch name ''Van der Kerk'' is made up of the prefix ''van'' (which at the same time is a [[preposition]]); the article ''der'' (which is a [[declension]] of the [[definite article]] ''de''); and the noun ''Kerk''. The prefix ''Ver-'' is a [[contraction (grammar)|contraction]] of the separable affixes, that has "bonded" with the noun. However, the surname [[Quirijn Maurits Rudolph Ver Huell|Ver Huell]] is an example of a case where the prefix ''Ver'' has not yet become part of the name.}} Noun phrases are in this context treated as if they were nouns. So the general rule that nouns-as-names are capitalized in principle applies to compound names and noun-phrases-as-names as well. There are, however, ''exceptions'' to this rule that differ by language community.
* In [[German language|German]], the separable affix, and at the same time preposition, {{lang|de|[[von]]}} (meaning "of", pronounced {{IPA|de|fɔn|}}) or {{lang|de|[[wikt:genannt|genannt]]}} (meaning "named") in a surname (e.g. {{lang|de|[[Alexander von Humboldt]]}}) is not capitalized (unless it is the first letter of a sentence). ''Von'' is however often dropped  within a sentence. The same applies to similar [[Italian language|Italian]] and [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] affixes.{{efn|Examples: [[Alexander von Humboldt]], von Humboldt. Humboldt (German); [[Giovanni da Verrazzano]], da Verrazzano, Verrazzano (Italian); [[Vasco da Gama]], da Gama, Gama (Portuguese)}}<ref name=CMOS314>{{cite book|title=[[Chicago Manual of Style]]|publisher=U. of Chicago Press|edition=15th|year=2003|page=314}}</ref>
* In Dutch, the ''first'' affix, like {{lang|nl|[[van (Dutch)|van]]}}; or {{lang|nl|de}}, or declensions of ''de''; or [[contraction (grammar)|contractions]] of a preposition and an article, like ''ter''; in a surname are capitalized unless a given name, initial, or other family name.{{efn|as in the [[Maiden and married names|married names of women]]}} precedes it{{efn|Examples: [[Cornelis de Witt]], [[Johan de Witt|J. de Witt]], Maria de Witt-van Berckel. But: the brothers De Witt. However, in [[Alexander Willem Maurits Carel Ver Huell]] ''Ver'', though a separate affix, is not written with a lowercase letter, as ''Ver'' is not a preposition or a definite article as the exception requires.}} Other affixes in the noun phrase (if present) are left lowercase.{{efn|Examples: Van der Duyn van Maasdam; Van Nispen tot Pannerden.}} However, in [[Belgium]] the capitalization of a surname follows the orthography as used for the person's name in the Belgian population register and on his or her identification card., except when introducing a title of [[nobility]] or when use of the lower case has been granted to some noble family.<ref name=Taalunie1>{{cite web|url=https://woordenlijst.org/leidraad/16/2|title=Persoonsnamen|language=nl|website=Woordenlijst.org|publisher=[[Dutch Language Union|Nederlandse Taalunie]]|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref> An exception for the rule that a Dutch name starts with an uppercase letter under all circumstances (including at the start of a sentence) is included in the general capitalization rule: "If the sentence begins with an apostrophe, the following full word is capitalized."{{efn|Example: {{lang|nl|k Heb er niets meer van gehoord.}}}} This also applies to Dutch names that begin with a contraction that consists of an apostrophe and a letter.{{efn|Examples: names like [[Pieter 't Hoen|'t Hoen]] and [[Willem 's Gravesande|'sGravesande]].}}<ref name=Taalunie2>{{cite web|url=https://woordenlijst.org/leidraad/16/9|title=Capital letter at the beginning of a sentence|publisher=[[Dutch Language Union|Nederlandse Taalunie]]|website=Woordenlijst.org|language=nl|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref>
* In English, practice varies when the name starts with a [[grammatical particle|particle]]{{efn|An alternate technical term that overlaps with separable affix.}} with a meaning such as "from" or "the" or "son of".
**Some of these particles (''Mac'', ''Mc'', ''M'', ''O'') are always capitalized; others ({{lang|fr|L'}}, {{lang|nl|Van}}) are usually capitalized; still others often are not ({{lang|fr|d'}}, {{lang|fr|de}}, {{lang|it|di}}, {{lang|de|von}}). The compound particle {{lang|fr|de La}} is usually written with the ''L'' capitalized but not the ''d''.<ref name="OMS">''Oxford Manual of Style'', R. M. Ritter ed., Oxford University Press, 2002</ref>{{efn|Actually, this follows the French usage for the so-called [[Nobiliary particle#France|Nobiliary particle]], Cf. also<ref name=CMOS314 />}}
** The remaining part of such a name, following the particle, is always capitalized if it is set off with a space as a separate word, or if the particle was not capitalized. It is normally capitalized if the particle is ''Mc'', ''M'', or ''O''. In other cases (including ''Mac''), there is no set rule (both ''Macintyre'' and ''MacIntyre'' are seen, for example).{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
* Americans with non-Anglophone surnames often have not followed the orthographic conventions usual in the language communities of their extraction (or the US immigration authorities flouted the orthographic rules for them when they arrived at ports of entry like [[Ellis Island]]).{{efn|Examples: [[Martin Van Buren]], not Martin van Buren; [[Ron DeSantis]], not Ron De Santis; [[Leonardo DiCaprio]], not Leonardo di Caprio; [[Boom Town (film)|Karen Vanmeer]] not Karen Van Meer (fictional character played by [[Hedy Lamarr]], who should have spelled her pseudonym "La Marr", like her model [[Barbara La Marr]]).}} As there are no universally accepted capitalization rules in these circumstances to serve as a guideline the best policy would seem to be to use the style that dominates for that person in reliable sources; for a [[Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons|living subject]], prefer the spelling consistently [[WP:ABOUTSELF|used in the subject's own publications]].<ref name=CMOS313>{{cite book|title=[[Chicago Manual of Style]]|publisher=U. of Chicago Press|edition=15th|year=2003|page=313}}</ref>

===Titles===
{{See also|Letter case#Headings and publication titles}}

The [[Chicago Manual of Style]] recommends that the titles of English-language artistic works (plays, novels, essays, paintings, etc.) capitalize the first word and the last word in the title.<ref name="writersblock">{{cite web|url=http://writersblock.ca/tips/monthtip/tipmar98.htm |title=Writer's Block - Writing Tips - Capitalization in Titles |publisher=Writersblock.ca |access-date=2012-10-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009052611/http://writersblock.ca/tips/monthtip/tipmar98.htm |archive-date=October 9, 2012 }} Archived.</ref> Additionally, most other words within a title are capitalized as well; [[Article (grammar)|articles]] and [[coordinating conjunction]]s are not capitalized.<ref name="writersblock" /> Sources disagree on the details of capitalizing [[preposition]]s.<ref name="writersblock" /> For example, the [[Chicago Manual of Style]] recommends rendering all prepositions in lowercase,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/CapitalizationTitles.html?page=3 |title=Capitalization, Titles |publisher=Chicagomanualofstyle.org |access-date=2012-10-28}}</ref> whereas the [[APA style]] guide instructs: ''Capitalize major words in titles of books and articles within the body of the paper. Conjunctions, articles, and short prepositions are not considered major words; however, capitalize all words of four letters or more.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/title-case-capitalization-1692469|title=Capitalization Conventions for Title Case|first1=Richard|last1=Nordquist|website=ThoughtCo}}</ref>

In other languages, such as the [[Romance languages]], only the first word and proper names are capitalized.

===Acronyms===
[[Acronyms]] are usually capitalized, with a few exceptions:
* Acronyms which have become regular words such as [[laser]] and [[scuba set|scuba]].
* Some acronyms of [[proper nouns]] in which [[function words]] are not capitalized, such as TfL ([[Transport for London]]) and LotR (''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'').

==="O"===
* The English [[vocative]] [[grammatical particle|particle]] ''O'', an archaic form of address, e.g. ''Thou, O king, art a king of kings'', is usually capitalised. However, lowercase ''o'' is also occasionally seen in this context.

===Accents===
In most languages that use [[diacritic]]s, these are treated the same way in uppercase whether the text is capitalized or all-uppercase. They may be always preserved (as in German) or always omitted (as in Greek) or often omitted (as in French).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/|title=The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition|website=The Chicago Manual of Style Online|access-date=2019-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105172745/http://chicagomanualofstyle.org/|archive-date=2009-01-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> Some attribute this to the fact that diacritics on capital letters were not available earlier on typewriters, and it is now becoming more common to preserve them in French and Spanish (in both languages the rule is to preserve them,<ref>{{lang|fr|[http://www.academie-francaise.fr/langue/questions.html#accentuation 'Accentuation des majuscules'] Questions de langue : Académie française}}</ref> although in France and Mexico, for instance, schoolchildren are often erroneously taught that they should not add diacritics on capital letters).

However, in the [[polytonic orthography]] used for [[Greek alphabet|Greek]] prior to 1982, accents were omitted in all-uppercase words, but kept as part of an uppercase initial (written before rather than above the letter). The latter situation is provided for by title-case characters in Unicode. When [[Greek language|Greek]] is written with the present day [[monotonic orthography]], where only the acute accent is used, the same rule is applied. The accent is omitted in all-uppercase words but it is kept as part of an uppercase initial (written before the letter rather than above it). The {{lang|el-Latn|dialytika}} (diaeresis) should also always be used in all-uppercase words (even in cases where they are not needed when writing in lowercase, e.g. {{lang|el|ΑΫΛΟΣ — άυλος}}).

===Digraphs and ligatures===
Some languages treat certain [[digraph (orthography)|digraph]]s as single letters for the purpose of collation. In general, where one such is formed as a [[ligature (typography)|ligature]], the corresponding uppercase form is used in capitalization; where it is written as two separate characters, only the first will be capitalized. Thus ''[[Oedipus]]'' or ''Œdipus'' are both correct, but ''OEdipus'' is not. Examples with ligature include {{lang|da|[[Ærøskøbing]]}} in [[Danish language|Danish]], where ''[[Æ|Æ/æ]]'' is a completely separate letter rather than merely a [[typography|typographic]] ligature (the same applies in Icelandic); examples with separate characters are {{lang|cy|[[Llanelli]]}} in [[Welsh language|Welsh]], where ''[[Ll]]'' is a single letter; and {{lang|cy|Ffrangeg}} in Welsh where ''[[ff (digraph)|Ff]]'' is equivalent to English ''F'' (whereas Welsh ''F'' corresponds to English ''V'').<ref>Lewis, H (ed) ''Collins-Spurrell Welsh Dictionary'' Collins UK 1977 p. 10. {{ISBN|0-00-433402-7}}</ref> Presentation forms, however, can use doubled capitals, such as the logo of the [[National Library of Wales]] ({{lang|cy|Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru}}). The position in Hungarian is similar to the latter.
* An exception is the [[Dutch language|Dutch]] digraph ''[[IJ (letter)|IJ]]''. Both letters are capitalized even though they are printed separately when using a computer, as in {{lang|nl|[[IJsselmeer]]}}. In the past the digraph was written as ''[[Y]]'', and this still survives in some surnames.
* A converse exception exists in the [[Croatian alphabet]], where digraph letters ([[Dž]], [[Lj (letter)|Lj]], [[Nj (letter)|Nj]]) have mixed-case forms even when written as ligatures.<ref>Vladimir Anić, Josip Silić: "Pravopisni priručnik hrvatskog ili srpskog jezika", [[Zagreb]], 1986 (trans. ''Spelling handbook of [[Croato-Serbian language]]'')</ref> With [[typewriter]]s and [[computer]]s, these "title-case" forms have become less common than 2-character equivalents; nevertheless they can be represented as single title-case characters in Unicode (ǅ, ǈ, ǋ).
* In [[Czech language|Czech]] the [[Ch (digraph)|digraph ch]] (usually considered as a single letter) can be capitalized in two ways: Ch or CH. In general only the first part is capitalized (Ch), unless the whole text is written in capital letters (then it is written CH). In acronyms both parts are usually capitalized, such as VŠCHT for ''Vysoká škola chemicko-technologická'' ([[University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague|University of Chemistry and Technology]]). However, the practice is not unified when writing initial letters of [[personal name]]s (first name and surname), for example ''Jan Chudoba'' can be abbreviated both ''J.&nbsp;Ch.'' or ''J.&nbsp;CH.''<ref>{{cite journal |date=2000 |title=Z dopisů jazykové poradně |url=http://nase-rec.ujc.cas.cz/archiv.php?art=8187 |journal=Naše řeč |volume=83 |issue=4 |pages=223–224 }}</ref>

===Initial mutation===
In languages where [[inflected]] forms of a word may have [[Consonant mutation|extra letters at the start]], the capitalized letter may be the initial of the root form rather than the inflected form. For example, in [[Irish language|Irish]], in the placename {{lang|ga|Sliabh na mBan}}, "(the) mountain of the women"  (anglicized as [[Slievenamon]]), the word-form written {{lang|ga|mBan}} contains the [[genitive]] plural of the noun {{lang|ga|bean}}, "woman", [[Irish initial mutations|mutated]] after the genitive plural definite article (i.e., "of the"). The written B is [[mute letter|mute]] in this form.

Other languages may capitalize the initial letter of the orthographic word, even if it is not present in the base, as with definite nouns in [[Maltese language|Maltese]] that start with certain consonant clusters. For example, {{lang|mt|l-Istati Uniti}} (the United States) capitalize the epenthetic {{lang|mt|I}}, even though the base form of the word — without the definite article — is {{lang|mt|stati}}.

===Case-sensitive English words===
In English, there are a few [[capitonym]]s, which are words whose meaning (and sometimes pronunciation) varies with capitalization. For example, the month ''August'' versus the adjective ''august''. Or the verb ''polish'' versus the adjective ''Polish''.