{"id":3491674,"date":"2026-09-30T16:29:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T20:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/?post_type=glossary&#038;p=3491674"},"modified":"2026-09-30T16:30:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T20:30:23","slug":"capitalization","status":"publish","type":"glossary","link":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/glossary\/capitalization\/","title":{"rendered":"CAPITALIZATION"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Avoid unnecessary capitals; there is an institutional tendency to overuse capitals to indicate prominence or significance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><u>Standard publication guidance for what and when to capitalize:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Compositions:<\/strong>&nbsp;Capitalize the principal words in the names of books, lectures, movies, operas, plays, podcasts, podcast episodes, poems, songs, speeches, radio and television programs, videos, and works of art.&nbsp;<em>See also&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/titles\/\" data-type=\"glossary\" data-id=\"3491676\">titles: compositions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Proper names and nouns:<\/strong>&nbsp;<em>John the Baptist; the&nbsp;Republican Party<\/em>; but lowercase the common noun in plural uses:&nbsp;<em>the Democratic and Republican parties<\/em>.&nbsp;<em>Lake Erie<\/em>, but&nbsp;<em>lakes Erie and Superior<\/em>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Exception: Plurals of formal titles before full names are capitalized:&nbsp;<em>Presidents Gerald R. Ford and Barack Obama<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sentences:<\/strong>&nbsp;Capitalize the first word in a statement that stands as a sentence, including after a colon.&nbsp;<em>She noted the following: All revisions made to the report would need to be reviewed by the chair.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sequential designations:<\/strong>&nbsp;<em>Page 1, Page 30b. Season 1, Season 2. This is the second episode of Season 5 of the podcast. General Convention approved Resolution A012.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><u>Guidance for when to capitalize and lowercase certain terms:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Academic terms:<\/strong>&nbsp;Lowercase names of subjects and majors.&nbsp;<em>She has a degree in political science.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Department names:<\/strong>&nbsp;Capitalize full, official names of departments and offices; lowercase other uses.&nbsp;<em>Office of Public Affairs; public affairs office; public affairs. Department of Evangelism; evangelism office; evangelism department staff.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Headlines:&nbsp;<\/strong>Capitalization is not required in a headline except for the first word, proper nouns, and the first word after a colon.&nbsp;<em>See also&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/headlines\/\" data-type=\"glossary\" data-id=\"3473784\">headlines<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Organizational terms:&nbsp;<\/strong>Lowercase widely used generic organizational terms,&nbsp;such as&nbsp;<em>board of directors, church, committee, staff, task force,&nbsp;<\/em>unless part of a formal name<em>.&nbsp;See also&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/board-board-of-directors-board-of-trustees\/\" data-type=\"glossary\" data-id=\"3473730\">board<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/church\/\" data-type=\"glossary\" data-id=\"3473737\">church<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/committee\/\" data-type=\"glossary\" data-id=\"3473743\">committee<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/standing-committee-2\/\" data-type=\"glossary\" data-id=\"3473843\">standing committee<\/a>.Capitalize internal organizational terms when they have names that are not widely used:&nbsp;<em>the House of Bishops, the House of Deputies, the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches, Mission Beyond The Episcopal Church, Mission Within The Episcopal Church.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Titles:<\/strong>&nbsp;Capitalize formal titles when used immediately before a name. Lowercase titles when they are not used with a name and in constructions that set them apart from a name with commas.&nbsp;<em>The presiding bishop gave a blessing. Jane Doe, the canon to the ordinary, signed the letter. The interview with Bishop Jane Doe will air on TV tonight. The presiding bishop, Sean Rowe, will speak today.<\/em>&nbsp;Lowercase titles that are primarily occupational descriptions, even directly before a name:&nbsp;<em>astronaut Sally Ride, poet Maya Angelou.<\/em>&nbsp;<em>Worship will be led by singer Jane Doe.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><u>Guidance for religious references:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Capitalize&nbsp;<em>God, Allah, the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Redeemer, the Holy Spirit<\/em>. Use lowercase pronouns when referring to the deity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Capitalize&nbsp;<em>Scripture(s)<\/em>&nbsp;in reference to writings in the Bible.&nbsp;<em>See also&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/bible\/\">Bible<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/gospel-gospel\/\">Gospels<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/scriptures-scriptures\/\">Scripture(s)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Capitalize major events in the life of Jesus Christ:&nbsp;<em>the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the Ascension.<\/em>&nbsp;But use lowercase when the words are used with his name:&nbsp;<em>The ascension of Jesus into heaven took place 40 days after his resurrection from the dead.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Capitalize proper names for rites that commemorate the Last Supper or signify a belief in Christ\u2019s presence:&nbsp;<em>the Lord\u2019s Supper,&nbsp;Holy Communion, Holy Eucharist.<\/em>&nbsp;Use lowercase for the names of other sacraments.&nbsp;<em>See also<\/em>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/sacraments-2\/\" data-type=\"glossary\" data-id=\"3473832\">sacraments<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Capitalize the names of holy days and feast days.&nbsp;<em>Ash Wednesday, All Feasts of Apostles.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Capitalize&nbsp;<em>Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Eastertide<\/em>, and&nbsp;<em>Pentecost<\/em>. Note lowercase in&nbsp;<em>Epiphany season, season after Pentecost, ordinary time<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Capitalize&nbsp;<em>Apostles\u2019 Creed<\/em>. Lowercase \u201cthe creed\u201d in short form on subsequent reference.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Capitalize \u201cApostle\u201d when used before a name (Apostle Paul) or in the term \u201cthe Twelve Apostles.\u201d Lowercase in other references:&nbsp;<em>Peter was an apostle of Jesus.<\/em>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lowercase&nbsp;<em>heaven, hell, devil, angel, cherub, a priest.<\/em>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some flexibility in capitalization is given in religious writing when talking about concepts such as&nbsp;<em>Beloved Community<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>Kingdom of God<\/em>, and Jesus being \u201cthe Way, the Truth, and the Life.\u201d Please do not go overboard with this; this editorial license should be used with great moderation and restraint.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Avoid unnecessary capitals; there is an institutional tendency to overuse capitals to indicate prominence or significance. Standard publication guidance for what and when to capitalize: Guidance for when to capitalize and lowercase certain terms: Guidance for religious references:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"glossary-categories":[1976],"glossary-tags":[],"glossary-languages":[],"class_list":["post-3491674","glossary","type-glossary","status-publish","hentry","glossary-categories-writing-style-guide"],"post_title":"CAPITALIZATION","post_content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Avoid unnecessary capitals; there is an institutional tendency to overuse capitals to indicate prominence or significance.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong><u>Standard publication guidance for what and when to capitalize:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Compositions:<\/strong>&nbsp;Capitalize the principal words in the names of books, lectures, movies, operas, plays, podcasts, podcast episodes, poems, songs, speeches, radio and television programs, videos, and works of art.&nbsp;<em>See also&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/titles\/\" data-type=\"glossary\" data-id=\"3491676\">titles: compositions<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Proper names and nouns:<\/strong>&nbsp;<em>John the Baptist; the&nbsp;Republican Party<\/em>; but lowercase the common noun in plural uses:&nbsp;<em>the Democratic and Republican parties<\/em>.&nbsp;<em>Lake Erie<\/em>, but&nbsp;<em>lakes Erie and Superior<\/em>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Exception: Plurals of formal titles before full names are capitalized:&nbsp;<em>Presidents Gerald R. Ford and Barack Obama<\/em>.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Sentences:<\/strong>&nbsp;Capitalize the first word in a statement that stands as a sentence, including after a colon.&nbsp;<em>She noted the following: All revisions made to the report would need to be reviewed by the chair.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Sequential designations:<\/strong>&nbsp;<em>Page 1, Page 30b. Season 1, Season 2. This is the second episode of Season 5 of the podcast. General Convention approved Resolution A012.<\/em><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong><u>Guidance for when to capitalize and lowercase certain terms:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Academic terms:<\/strong>&nbsp;Lowercase names of subjects and majors.&nbsp;<em>She has a degree in political science.<\/em><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Department names:<\/strong>&nbsp;Capitalize full, official names of departments and offices; lowercase other uses.&nbsp;<em>Office of Public Affairs; public affairs office; public affairs. Department of Evangelism; evangelism office; evangelism department staff.<\/em><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Headlines:&nbsp;<\/strong>Capitalization is not required in a headline except for the first word, proper nouns, and the first word after a colon.&nbsp;<em>See also&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/headlines\/\" data-type=\"glossary\" data-id=\"3473784\">headlines<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Organizational terms:&nbsp;<\/strong>Lowercase widely used generic organizational terms,&nbsp;such as&nbsp;<em>board of directors, church, committee, staff, task force,&nbsp;<\/em>unless part of a formal name<em>.&nbsp;See also&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/board-board-of-directors-board-of-trustees\/\" data-type=\"glossary\" data-id=\"3473730\">board<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/church\/\" data-type=\"glossary\" data-id=\"3473737\">church<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/committee\/\" data-type=\"glossary\" data-id=\"3473743\">committee<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/standing-committee-2\/\" data-type=\"glossary\" data-id=\"3473843\">standing committee<\/a>.Capitalize internal organizational terms when they have names that are not widely used:&nbsp;<em>the House of Bishops, the House of Deputies, the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches, Mission Beyond The Episcopal Church, Mission Within The Episcopal Church.<\/em><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Titles:<\/strong>&nbsp;Capitalize formal titles when used immediately before a name. Lowercase titles when they are not used with a name and in constructions that set them apart from a name with commas.&nbsp;<em>The presiding bishop gave a blessing. Jane Doe, the canon to the ordinary, signed the letter. The interview with Bishop Jane Doe will air on TV tonight. The presiding bishop, Sean Rowe, will speak today.<\/em>&nbsp;Lowercase titles that are primarily occupational descriptions, even directly before a name:&nbsp;<em>astronaut Sally Ride, poet Maya Angelou.<\/em>&nbsp;<em>Worship will be led by singer Jane Doe.<\/em><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong><u>Guidance for religious references:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Capitalize&nbsp;<em>God, Allah, the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Redeemer, the Holy Spirit<\/em>. Use lowercase pronouns when referring to the deity.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Capitalize&nbsp;<em>Scripture(s)<\/em>&nbsp;in reference to writings in the Bible.&nbsp;<em>See also&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/bible\/\">Bible<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/gospel-gospel\/\">Gospels<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/scriptures-scriptures\/\">Scripture(s)<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Capitalize major events in the life of Jesus Christ:&nbsp;<em>the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the Ascension.<\/em>&nbsp;But use lowercase when the words are used with his name:&nbsp;<em>The ascension of Jesus into heaven took place 40 days after his resurrection from the dead.<\/em><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Capitalize proper names for rites that commemorate the Last Supper or signify a belief in Christ\u2019s presence:&nbsp;<em>the Lord\u2019s Supper,&nbsp;Holy Communion, Holy Eucharist.<\/em>&nbsp;Use lowercase for the names of other sacraments.&nbsp;<em>See also<\/em>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/glossary\/sacraments-2\/\" data-type=\"glossary\" data-id=\"3473832\">sacraments<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Capitalize the names of holy days and feast days.&nbsp;<em>Ash Wednesday, All Feasts of Apostles.<\/em><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Capitalize&nbsp;<em>Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Eastertide<\/em>, and&nbsp;<em>Pentecost<\/em>. Note lowercase in&nbsp;<em>Epiphany season, season after Pentecost, ordinary time<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Capitalize&nbsp;<em>Apostles\u2019 Creed<\/em>. Lowercase \u201cthe creed\u201d in short form on subsequent reference.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Capitalize \u201cApostle\u201d when used before a name (Apostle Paul) or in the term \u201cthe Twelve Apostles.\u201d Lowercase in other references:&nbsp;<em>Peter was an apostle of Jesus.<\/em>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Lowercase&nbsp;<em>heaven, hell, devil, angel, cherub, a priest.<\/em>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Some flexibility in capitalization is given in religious writing when talking about concepts such as&nbsp;<em>Beloved Community<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>Kingdom of God<\/em>, and Jesus being \u201cthe Way, the Truth, and the Life.\u201d Please do not go overboard with this; this editorial license should be used with great moderation and restraint.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->","acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"glossary-categories":[{"value":1976,"label":"Writing Style Guide"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"srands","author_link":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/author\/srands\/"},"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary\/3491674","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/glossary"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary\/3491674\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3491679,"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary\/3491674\/revisions\/3491679"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3491674"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"glossary-categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary-categories?post=3491674"},{"taxonomy":"glossary-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary-tags?post=3491674"},{"taxonomy":"glossary-languages","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary-languages?post=3491674"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}