Editing Capitalization (section)

==Places and geographic terms==
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2015}}
The capitalization of geographic terms in English text generally depends on whether the author perceives the term as a [[proper noun]], in which case it is capitalized, or as a combination of an established proper noun with a normal adjective or noun, in which case the latter are not capitalized. There are no universally agreed lists of English geographic terms which are considered as proper nouns. The following are ''examples'' of rules that some{{which|date=October 2015}} British and U.S. publishers have established in style guides for their authors:
* In general, the first letter is capitalized for well-defined regions, e.g. [[South America]], [[Lower California]], [[Tennessee Valley]]<ref>[http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=805663 Economist Style Guide, Capitalization – Places] and for administrative areas ([[West Virginia]], [[East Sussex]]).</ref>
* This general rule also applies to zones of the Earth's surface (North Temperate Zone, the [[Equator]])<ref>[[Council of Science Editors]], Style Manual Committee. ''Scientific Style and format: the CSE manual for authors, editors, and publishers'', 7th ed. 2006. Section 9.7.3, P. 120. {{ISBN|978-0-9779665-0-9}}.</ref>
* In other cases, do not capitalize the points of the compass (north China, southeast London) or other adjectives (western Arizona, central New Mexico, upper Yangtze, lower Rio Grande)
* Capitalize generic geographic terms that are part of a place name (Atlantic Ocean, Mt. [[Muztagata]], River Severn)
* Otherwise, do not capitalize a generic term that follows a capitalized generic term (Yangtze River valley)
* Use lower case for plurals of generic terms (Gobi and [[Taklamakan]] deserts){{citation needed|date=October 2015}}; but "[[the Dakotas]]"
* Only capitalize "[[the]]" if it is part of the (short-form) formal place name ([[The Hague]] vs. the [[Netherlands]], the [[Sudan]], and the [[Philippines]])

'''Upper case''': [[East Asia]], [[Southeast Asia]], [[Central Asia]], [[Central America]], [[North Korea]], [[South Africa]], the [[European Union]], the Republic of [[Poland]], the [[North Atlantic]], the [[Middle East]], the [[Arctic]], [[The Gambia]], [[The Bahamas]], [[The Hague]]

'''Lower case''': western China, southern Beijing, western Mongolia, eastern Africa, northern North Korea, the central Gobi, the lower Yangtze River.

'''Abbreviated'''

When a term is used as a name and then subsequently a shorter term is used, then that shorter term may be used generically. If that is the case do not capitalize. ("The [[Tatra National Park, Poland|Tatra National Park]] is a tourist destination in Poland. Watch out for bears when visiting the national park.")<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2guides/guides/wrtps/index-eng.html?lang=eng&lettr=indx_catlog_c&page=9xzdLp6GgmtY.html|title=capitalization: names of institutions|first=Public Works and Government Services Canada|last=Government of Canada|date=8 October 2009|website=www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/a/ngs.org/ngs-style-manual/home/P/place-names|title=PLACE-NAMES - National Geographic Style Manual|website=sites.google.com}}</ref>