Capitalization is a fundamental aspect of written communication that ensures clarity, professionalism, and adherence to established conventions. In technical writing, academic papers, and even casual correspondence, the proper use of capital letters can significantly impact the readability and credibility of the text. This article provides a comprehensive overview of capitalization rules, focusing on geographic regions, states, and related terms, as derived from authoritative style guides and resources. By understanding and applying these guidelines, writers can avoid common errors and produce more polished, consistent work.
The rules of capitalization are not arbitrary; they are rooted in the need to distinguish between specific proper nouns and general terms. For instance, the capitalization of geographic regions such as the "Midwest" or "South" depends on whether the term is used as a proper noun or an adjective. Similarly, state names and their abbreviations follow specific conventions that vary by style guide. This article explores these nuances, drawing from sources like the Associated Press Stylebook, The Chicago Manual of Style, and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. It also addresses common pitfalls, such as the misuse of capital letters for seasons, directions, and elements, to help writers maintain accuracy and professionalism in their work.
Geographic Regions and Their Capitalization
Geographic regions are a key area where capitalization rules can be confusing. The capitalization of terms like "Midwest," "South," "East Coast," or "West Coast" depends on their usage in a sentence. When these terms are part of a formal name or designation, they are capitalized. For example, "the West Coast" refers to a specific region of the United States, so both words are capitalized. Similarly, "the South" as a region is capitalized, as in "the Southern United States." However, when these terms are used to indicate a general direction, they are not capitalized. For instance, "We traveled west" or "the sun rises in the east" use lowercase because they describe compass directions rather than specific regions.
This distinction is critical for maintaining consistency and clarity. Style guides such as The Chicago Manual of Style and the Associated Press Stylebook provide guidance on this matter. According to The Chicago Manual of Style, geographic regions should be capitalized when they indicate a specific area, such as "the Midwest" or "the Near East." Conversely, lowercase is used for compass directions, as in "northern New York" or "southern France." However, there are exceptions. Widely known designations, such as "Southern California" or "the Upper East Side," are capitalized even when they might otherwise appear to be general descriptors. When in doubt, the general rule is to lowercase terms that are not part of a formal name.
The capitalization of geographic populations, such as "Midwesterner," "Northerner," "Southerner," and "Westerner," also varies by style guide. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary capitalizes these terms, while Webster’s New World College Dictionary and The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language allow for more flexibility, often lowercaseing "northerner," "southerner," and "westerner." The Associated Press Stylebook recommends capitalizing these terms, while The Chicago Manual of Style suggests lowercasing them except in specific historical contexts, such as "Northerners and Southerners" during the Civil War. Writers should consult their preferred style guide or dictionary to ensure consistency.
State Names and Abbreviations
State names and their abbreviations are another area where capitalization rules are strictly defined. In running text, state names should be spelled out when they stand alone. For example, "Texas" or "California" is written in full. However, when a state name follows a city or town, it is often abbreviated for brevity. For instance, "Los Angeles, CA" or "Chicago, IL." It is important to note that some states are never abbreviated in text, regardless of context. These include Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas, and Utah, as well as the District of Columbia. For all other states, specific abbreviations are used, which may differ from postal abbreviations.
The abbreviations for state names are standardized to avoid confusion. For example, "California" is abbreviated as "Calif." in text, while its postal abbreviation is "CA." Similarly, "New York" is abbreviated as "N.Y." in some style guides, but "NY" in postal formats. The following table summarizes the abbreviations for states that are commonly abbreviated in text, alongside their postal abbreviations:
| State | Text Abbreviation | Postal Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Ala. | AL |
| Arizona | Ariz. | AZ |
| Arkansas | Ark. | AR |
| California | Calif. | CA |
| Colorado | Colo. | CO |
| Connecticut | Conn. | CT |
| Delaware | Del. | DE |
| Florida | Fla. | FL |
| Georgia | Ga. | GA |
| Illinois | Ill. | IL |
| Indiana | Ind. | IN |
| Kansas | Kans. | KS |
| Kentucky | Ky. | KY |
| Louisiana | La. | LA |
| Maryland | Md. | MD |
| Massachusetts | Mass. | MA |
| Michigan | Mich. | MI |
| Minnesota | Minn. | MN |
| Mississippi | Miss. | MS |
| Missouri | Mo. | MO |
| Montana | Mont. | MT |
| Nebraska | Nebr. | NE |
| Nevada | Nev. | NV |
| New Hampshire | N.H. | NH |
| New Jersey | N.J. | NJ |
| New Mexico | N.M. | NM |
| New York | N.Y. | NY |
| North Carolina | N.C. | NC |
| North Dakota | N.D. | ND |
| Oklahoma | Okla. | OK |
| Oregon | Ore. | OR |
| Pennsylvania | Pa. | PA |
| Rhode Island | R.I. | RI |
| South Carolina | S.C. | SC |
| South Dakota | S.D. | SD |
| Tennessee | Tenn. | TN |
| Vermont | Vt. | VT |
| Virginia | Va. | VA |
| Washington | Wash. | WA |
| West Virginia | W.Va. | WV |
| Wisconsin | Wis. | WI |
| Wyoming | Wyo. | WY |
When using state abbreviations, it is essential to follow the conventions of the chosen style guide. For example, the Associated Press Stylebook has specific rules for abbreviations, and it is important to note that there was an update in 2014 regarding the use of state abbreviations. Writers should ensure they are using the most current guidelines to maintain accuracy.
Common Capitalization Errors
Despite the clear rules, capitalization errors are common in writing. One frequent mistake is capitalizing the names of the seasons, such as "Spring," "Summer," "Fall," or "Winter." These should be lowercase unless they are personified, as in poetry ("Spring’s breath"). In technical or academic writing, personification of seasons is rare, so they should remain lowercase. For example, "The project will begin in spring" is correct, while "The project will begin in Spring" is incorrect.
Another common error is capitalizing the words "north," "south," "east," and "west" when they refer to directions rather than regions. As mentioned earlier, these should be lowercase in such contexts. For instance, "We traveled west" is correct, while "We traveled West" is incorrect unless "West" refers to a specific region, such as "the American West."
Capitalization errors also occur with words that have specialized meanings but are not proper nouns. For example, "navy blue," "india ink," "pasteurization," and "biblical" are all lowercase because they are common nouns or adjectives that have become part of general usage. Similarly, the names of elements, such as "oxygen" or "gold," are never capitalized, even though they are specific substances. This is a frequent error in scientific writing, where elements are sometimes mistakenly capitalized due to their importance in a context.
Temperature scales are another area where capitalization rules apply. The names of temperature scales, whether written out or abbreviated, are capitalized. For example, "Fahrenheit degrees" or "Celsius degrees" are correct, as are the abbreviations "10 oF" and "22 oC." This rule is consistent across most style guides and is important for clarity in scientific and technical writing.
Additional Capitalization Rules
Beyond geographic regions and states, there are other capitalization rules that writers should be aware of. The names of major sections of a paper, such as "Introduction" or "Appendix A," are capitalized. Similarly, references to figures and tables, such as "Figure 4" or "Table 1," are capitalized. These conventions are standard in academic and technical writing and help to structure the document clearly.
Established regions, localities, and political divisions are also capitalized. For example, "Wheeling Township," "Lancaster County," "the French Republic," "the United Kingdom," and "the Wheat Belt" are all capitalized because they are proper nouns. Similarly, the names of specific infrastructure and landmarks, such as "Highway 13," "Michigan Avenue," "the White House," and "the Statue of Liberty," are capitalized.
In the realm of scientific and technical terms, some words are capitalized based on convention, even if their origins are in words that are typically lowercase. For example, "Coriolis force," "Walker Circulation," "Hadley cell," and "Boyle’s law" are capitalized because they are named after specific individuals or are established terms in their fields. Similarly, "Middle Jurassic Period" and "Mesozoic Era" are capitalized because they refer to specific geologic time frames. However, there is some variation in style guides regarding the capitalization of terms like "era," "period," and "epoch." The Chicago Manual of Style advises against capitalizing these terms, while the American Association of Petroleum Geologists recommends capitalization. In such cases, writers should follow the conventions of their field or publication.
Conclusion
Capitalization is a critical component of clear and professional writing. By following established rules, writers can avoid common errors and ensure their work is consistent and easy to read. Key takeaways include the distinction between capitalizing geographic regions and lowercaseing compass directions, the proper use of state abbreviations, and the avoidance of unnecessary capitalization in terms like seasons, elements, and specialized words. Consulting style guides such as the Associated Press Stylebook or The Chicago Manual of Style, as well as dictionaries like Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, is essential for resolving uncertainties. By applying these guidelines, writers can produce polished, accurate, and credible text.