If in doubt about whether to use a capital letter for something, the answer is usually ‘don’t’! In academic writing, where the subject matter seems important, we emphasise the people, institutions or subject matter with capital letters. More often than not, we shouldn’t.
Understanding the Basic Rules of using Capitals
There are clear circumstances in which capital letters must be used. Understanding these rules is essential for producing professional and polished writing. Most of us have learned to capitalise proper names, such as cities like ‘London’ or ‘Edinburgh.’ We also know that names of companies or institutions like ‘Yahoo’ or ‘Google’ require capitals. However, it’s important to remember that unless you’re referring to a specific proper noun, capitalisation is not necessary. For example, just as you wouldn’t capitalise everyday words like ‘pig’ or ‘horse,’ there’s no reason to capitalise terms like ‘carbon dioxide’ or ‘lieutenant.’ The exception occurs when these terms form part of a proper name, such as ‘Lieutenant Jim Thompson,’ where the title becomes a formal name.
In addition to proper nouns, another key rule involves the correct use of capital letters in titles or headings. While the first and last words of a title should be capitalised, small connecting words—such as ‘from,’ ‘and,’ ‘the,’ and ‘of’—generally remain lowercase unless they appear at the start. For example, in the subtitle ‘Findings from the Study Group,’ ‘from’ and ‘the’ should stay in lowercase. Overusing capital letters on minor words can disrupt the flow of your writing and distract from the key terms. By consistently applying these guidelines, you ensure that your use of capital letters is accurate, contributing to a more organised and professional presentation of your work.
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