should southern be capitalized

AP Style states that when referring to the names of a nation, directions should . The rules are fairly standard for title case: Capitalize the first and the last word. Did I miss the memo on this issue? In terms of "human geography", the regions and their subregions are elucidated by the ethnography discipline. When Should You Capitalize Geographic Regions in the United States? I often have to write north, west in reference to an entrance or exit, for example, the patron exited through the north turnstile. Copyright 2022 - TheContentAuthority.com, Reindeer Vs. Moose: Main Differences, How To Tell Them Apart. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. In most forms of writings, not capitalizing direction names when they could have been capitalized doesn't bother the readers much. Hi there! Capitalization Rules | A Simple Guide For Better Grammar - Thesaurus.com Dont capitalize names of directions like north, south, east, and west when used to refer to direction and location, but do capitalize these words when they appear in the names of places and regions. However, a co-author argues that southern should not be capitalized, because it is an adjective, not a noun. If you are merely referring to a direction, such as "go south on I-90," then you should keep south lowercase. If youre referring to a collection of proper nouns, such as the Southern States, this is the case. The same applies for related adjectives and other compass directions: We live in the eastern part of the country. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Others may argue that the word simply denotes the direction of the region the individual lives and must not have the capital letter. North, South, East and West as Proper Nouns You should capitalize North, South, East, and West when theyre part of a proper noun (i.e., the name of a unique thing). Title Case Capitalization (APA 7th) Sentence Case Capitalization (APA 7th) A recognized geographical region. In the case of prime minister, either both words begin with a capital letter or neither, except, obviously, when it starts a sentence. If you are merely referring to a direction, such as "go north on I-90," then you should keep north lowercase. Do you know "what is the Western Hemisphere?" Capitalize names of organizations, institutions, stores, businesses, teams, political parties, and government bodies. Chicago style is best for writers who want to adhere to traditional publishing standards and academic writers in non-scientific fields. Have you ever wondered when its okay to capitalize north, east, south, and west? Southern California; West Texas; the Lower East Side of New York; If in doubt, use lowercase. If it's a name, it's a proper noun. The storm is heading east. Time arrow with "current position" evolving with overlay number. Of course, as with other nouns, they should be capitalized at the beginning of sentences and in titles. If you are referring to a group of proper nouns such as the Southern States. However, if instead you reference a general location, such as the southern winds, then the word southern should be lowercase. The periods are omitted in headlines. You should read both Western and Eastern philosophy. But in other cases, it is more a matter of convention and habit. Capitalize such words as northern, southern, eastern, and western when they refer to the people in a region or to their political, social, or cultural activities. Explanation: Because, Pisces is a noun. The names of things are known as common nouns. Western (and Northern) blots however, were not named after inventors but were given these names in honor of . But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I don't think there's an established norm for identifying regions of Albania in English (although you might get a different answer if you asked an Albanian, I suppose), but looking at Google Ngrams, "southeastern Albania" seems to be the most common option: https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=southeast+Albania%2Csoutheastern+Albania%2Csouth-east+Albania%2Csouth-eastern+Albania&year_start=1800&year_end=2019&corpus=26&smoothing=3&direct_url=t1%3B%2Csoutheast%20Albania%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Csoutheastern%20Albania%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Csouth%20-%20east%20Albania%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Csouth%20-%20eastern%20Albania%3B%2Cc0 North, east, south, and west are the four cardinal directions, often marked by the initials N, E, S, and W. East and west are at right angles to north and south. It does not store any personal data. References to God (s) The word "god" should be capitalized if it is being used as a proper name of a monotheistic god, as in God in Christianity and Judaism. However, there are a few exceptions you should learn about. You should capitalize "North," "South," "East," and "West" when they're part of a proper noun (i.e., the name of a unique thing). Wotan is one of the gods in Wagner's Ring Cycle. Capitalize proper nouns and most adjectives formed from proper nouns. For example: I live in The North. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Thus, here are 10 capitalization rules you should know for a well written write-up: According to most style guides, nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are capitalized in titles of books, articles, and songs. A Little Help with Capitals - Purdue Writing Lab However, if instead you reference a general location, such as "the southern winds," then the word southern should be lowercase. Keep reading to learn everything there is to regions and their capitalization, rules for related terms and phrases, what a region is, etc. What does it mean that the Bible was divinely inspired? Capitalize such words as Northerner, Southerner, and Midwesterner. You capitalize state only when it follows the name of the state, as in New York State is also called the Empire State, or when its part of a traditional name for a state, like Empire State or Lone Star State. When it precedes the name of the state, dont capitalize the word unless its part of a title of . Another example, "Eastern" in the phrase "Eastern bankers" is capitalized since the word denotes a certain group of people. Example: "War-weary ministers in London asked themselves why they fought a costly war in the [north] when they had friends in the Carolinas and Georgia.". What is the purpose of this D-shaped ring at the base of the tongue on my hiking boots? Therefore, use "Black" and "White" instead of "black" and "white" (do not use colors to refer to other human groups; doing so is considered pejorative). Lowercase to when it functions in an infinitive. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this websites owner is strictly prohibited. Explanation: Because Pisces is a verb. If you are referring to a group of proper nouns such as the Southern States. However, if instead you reference a general location, such as the southern winds, then the word southern should be lowercase. Capitalize the Southern California region? When Do You Capitalize Geographic Terms? - dummies In 1963, the state postal codes were formalized into two character abbreviations. Should Southeast be capitalized? - Wise-Answer Is south and Southern capitalized? - TimesMojo Is Colorado in the west or the West? Are coca cola and pepsi owned by the same company? Do you capitalize the word state when referring to a state? Is Grandma a well-behaved woman? Avoiding Common Capitalization Errors | The Proofreading Pulse The pronoun "I" Though a direction is a general noun, it could at times be not that straightforward to ascertain whether it's a common noun or a proper noun. Thor and Norway are capitalized because they are proper nouns. By convention, however, southern is capitalized when it refers to the region of California: I live in Southern California. Everyone knows that Southern blot is written with a capital "S". Should southern hemisphere be capitalized? Explained by Sharing Culture (Most uses will be uppercase.) My name is Erin. Southern, on the other hand, is capitalized by convention when it refers to California: I live in Southern California. Use the US Postal Services symbol system, which is a two-letter abbreviation that consists of a two-letter abbreviation in which both letters are capitalized and no periods are used when giving an address or in tables or other uses where space is limited. Instead, I have compiled a partial list of things people shouldn't capitalize but commonly do anyway. Everyone on the bus tour enjoyed the Southern food in Tennessee. To properly follow AP style guidelines, only use one space after a period, as opposed to the often used double-space. Racial and ethnic identity - American Psychological Association Should California coast be capitalized? - Sage-Advices Some common examples of when you should capitalize north include: down North. Capitalize the traditional geographic regions in the United States: the Midwest, the North, the South, the West, and the combined regions (i.e., the Northeast, the Southeast, and the Southwest). Should southern be capitalized? You should only capitalize directions, such as north, when you are referring to it as the proper noun, such as "in the North.". Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? How do I connect these two faces together? You wouldnt normally unless north and south are part of a proper noun (e.g., South Africa). Names of regions should be capitalized if those are proper nouns or denote a country, city, continent, etc. To Capitalize or not to Capitalize Independence? Should aurora borealis be capitalized? Explained by Sharing Culture What about capitalizing western or Westerner? 'I have no authority for this opinion, other than my intuition as an English speaker.' West is directly opposite east. Be the first to read new posts and updates about MLA style. You capitalize state only when it follows the name of the state, as in New York State is also called the Empire State, or when its part of a traditional name for a state, like Empire State or Lone Star State. When it precedes the name of the state, dont capitalize the word unless its part of a title of . The sentence reads "I turned on north Bolton." In general, Midwesterners are friendly and down to earth. The word white is not usually capitalized in this situation; men would never be. Should Southern colonies be capitalized? Is south capitalized when referring to Southern states? Hello! Erin Wright, 20122023. Biden administration should avoid subsidies for risky mortgages It only takes a minute to sign up. When you're talking about America's West Coast or the Middle East, the directional word is also part of a proper name, and it gets a capital letter. Here are some rules to follow. The following formal names of specific degrees should always be capitalized in AP style: As you can see, master's degrees are capitalized when abbreviated. Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation. Otherwise, not. If you are referring to a group of proper nouns such as the Western States. However, if youre referring to a general location, such as the western winds then western should be lowercase. For example, "western Massachusetts", "northern New Jersey". But because it has defined boundaries and administration, it's a "region". The correct sentence is Carlotta and I love Halloween. The official USPS postal abbreviation is this format. Proper nouns - American Psychological Association The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". editing, This seems a difficult case; as this discussion at. However, if, like Northern Ireland and North Korea, the direction is part of the proper name, it should be capitalized. When referring to regions, capitalize these words. When referring to races, should 'black' and 'white' be capitalized? (MLA) 1. For example, Southern US is proper because it is a specific region. This suffix makes the direction an adjective, and when it describes a specific region, it should be capitalized. Should north southeast and West be capitalized? Which sentence is capitalized correctly I learned that Thor? Use lower case for generic or plural references. Drive south for five miles. Phil Jamieson Feb 16, 2010 5:00:00 AM. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In general, you should capitalize the first word, all nouns, all verbs (even short ones, like is), all adjectives, and all proper nouns. So the upshot of my answer is that you didn't miss the memo (or perhaps I should say The Memo) on this issue, but at the same time you didn't notice a larger phenomenon in accordance with which initial-capping Southern California is by no means a unique, inexplicable, or indefensible treatment of a regional name. They are written with capital letters. Capitalizing southern and capitalizing south have the same rules. However, capitalization may depend on the style guide you're using. Topic Q&A List - The Chicago Manual of Style Online is considered basic and should be known by people who claim to have a good command of the language. Do not capitalize them when they follow possessive pronouns such as her, his, my, our, your. Here Carlotta is the name hence it needs to be in capital and I, Halloween should be capitalized. @SvenYargs This is a very useful answer; I'm processing it. AP Style says it should be capitalized while the Chicago Style Manual says it should be lowercased. Please include the research youve done. Names of racial and ethnic groups are treated as proper nouns, which means they are capitalized (e.g., African American, Asian American, Black, European American, First Nations, Hispanic, Native American, Latinx, White). hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(42679, '499cbd76-cfa5-4fea-836f-ead06058d874', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); North, East, South or West - Capitalize or Not? Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic, as are those lacking any signs of reasonable research. In domains such as ecology, physical geography, environmental geography, and zoogeography, regions are typically based on ecosystems, biomes, natural regions, drainage basins, soil types, mountain ranges, and other natural features. However, if you use the word southern instead of a general location, such as the southern winds, the word should be lowercase. In a June 11 statement, the National Association of Black Journalists issued a recommendation "that whenever a color is used to appropriately describe race then it should be capitalized . Capitalize these words when they designate regions. Use a hyphen to show a range of dates and do not repeat 20 (2012-13, not 2012-2013). The name of a theatrical play, but this is also a conventional geographical region that would be capitalized anyway. Some could argue the word "Southerner" in the sentence denotes someone who belongs to a specific region, and the letter "S" should therefore be capitalized. September 18, 2013, at 9:56 pm. Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? Lowercase north, south, northeast, etc. One exception to this rule: common objects with a country or nationality as part of the name ( french fries, scotch whiskey, venetian blinds, and so forth). Is summer a good time? In general, you should capitalize the names of countries and languages. But southerner and northerner are capitalized when they refer to people on either side of the civil war in the United States: The obvious examples of this are countries, states, cities, and other geographical areas: We study the history of Eastern Europe. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. I tried to describe the difference in my answer below. What about capitalizing a Westerner or a Westerner? [Relevant examples:] the South, southern, a southerner (of a country); the South, Southern, a Southerner (in American Civil War contexts); the Deep South; Southern California; the South of France (region); Southeast Asia; South Africa; South African (referring to the Republic of South Africa); southern Africa (referring to the southern part of the continent); south; southern; southward; to the south (directions). Once again, refer to your dictionary if your preferred style guide doesnt address this issue. Examples: southern France, northern Canada. In general, you should capitalize the first word, all nouns, all verbs (even short ones, like is), all adjectives, and all proper nouns. Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. Southern United States, for example, is appropriate because it is located in a specific region. (Cap or no cap on east and west). Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Erin Wright with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. You can even submit asample document for free to see how our services work. Unless they are actually part of the place name, directions dont need to be capitalized, but this depends on personal preference (e.g., if it might make this clearer to the reader) and whether its specified by a style guide. Lowercase north, south, northeast, etc. 5 Free French-to-English Translation Services, Broad geographical regions (e.g., the North or the Far East), People from a specific region (e.g., Northerners, Southerners), Cultures or movements related to a region (e.g., Western philosophy). The word "southern" is not part of the official name of California or any city or county, so I never capitalize it. Q. Debating with an editor over capitalization of the word bicentennial. For example: The words are also not capitalized if they only indicate locations or the climate or geography of a region. Should The South Be Capitalized? - FAQS Clear Do you capitalize the S in Southern California? - TipsFolder.com when they indicate compass direction, but capitalize when they indicate a region: the West Coast. When to capitalize North East South West? There's not enough context in your example to offer any solid advice (e.g., the "north" of where? Am I a midwesterner or a Midwesterner? NOTE: Within certain regions it is not uncommon for many who live there to capitalize the adjective because of the special importance they attach to the regional designation. That means you should lowercase articles, Lowercase north, south, northeast, etc. To capitalize or not to capitalize "southern" California [duplicate]. As a compass direction, south and southern are not capitalized: Capitalize each term when it is used as a proper name or as part of a proper name, and if the region is widely known: The Civil War pitted the South against the North. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. capitalization. Have you ever visited the Western United States? These should not be capitalized unless they are the first or last word of the title. Should compass directions (i.e., north, south, east, and west) ever be capitalized? Without capitalization, it could refer to anyone in the southern hemisphere, or perhaps southern England. State names had to be abbreviated to make room for the ZIP code. The word "southern" is not part of the official name of California or any city or county, so I never capitalize it. However, it is only compulsory to do so when "North" is part of a proper noun. The same rules apply to capitalizing western as capitalizing west. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You can also upload a document to get an instant quote. Regardless of what side of the debate table you are on, the different thoughts clearly illustrate how differing opinions could be on the matter, causing people to use capitalization rules the way they deem appropriate. Is south capitalized when referring to Southern states? What states in the US are consider southern states? Editorial Style Guide - University Of Nevada, Las Vegas Similarly, the European Union is an assortment of multiple countries. capitalization, maps, writing tips. In other words, capitalize words such as Mother, Father, Grandmother, Grandfather, Son, Daughter, and Sis when they are used in place of the persons name. However, if you are referring to a general region, such as the east coast of the United States then you should keep the words lowercase. There may be disagreement about where the border of Southern California begins, just as there was and is about the border of the Wild West, but the fact that the Los Angeles metropolitan area, Orange County, and San Diego are all located in Southern California is beyond debate. The problem is, there doesn't appear to be a consensus. Do you capitalize north? Sallie Ward, a Southern belle. "The State Finance Department," for example, is a good example. I am living in Western Downtown. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". In June 1963, the Department provided an initial list of abbreviations, but many had only three or four letters, which were still too long. Hi, Mary. MLA style follows The Chicago Manual of Style (8.47) for geographic terms. When words like northern, southern, eastern, or western precede a place name, they arent usually capitalized because they only indicate a general location within a region. The question as to whether something should be considered a name or not is one of style, and as such you should adhere to the discipline of your editor, publication, or organization, or in the absence of a house style, you should adopt a suitable. I work in marketing, and I'm wondering if lowercasing the words "off" and "under" in these headlines is correct: "50% off Body Wash" and "Gift Sets under $40.". When referring to Greek, Roman, and other groups of gods and goddesses, only the name is capitalized. The capitalization of as depends upon its function. You would capitalize "Southern" when referring to the people, or their culture, politics, or social activities, e.g., Southern hospitality, Southern cuisine, Southern accents. Should "west coast" be capitalized if it is referring to the western region of the U.S.? You should only capitalize directions, such as north, south, east, and west, when you are referring to the direction as a proper noun, such as in the South or up North. If you are merely referring to a direction, such as go south on I-90, then you should keep the direction lowercase. If states is being referred to in a general manner, such as There are two senators for each state, then the word states would remain lower case. Which sentence is capitalized correctly on a cloudless night? You should always capitalize Southerner since it refers to a group of people who are proper nouns. It only loosely defines a region of California and its border is not officially defined either. If you are referring to a group of proper nouns such as the Western States. However, if youre referring to a general location, such as the western winds then western should be lowercase. For places names and proper names, the word "Southern" should be capitalized, but in other contexts, it is not. Thus people who live in southern California may prefer to write Southern California. For example, Silicon Valley isn't a proprietary name or legally defined area, but it receives initial caps anyway. English Capitalization Rules and Example Sentences - ThoughtCo When used to refer to direction and location, dont capitalize the names of directions like north, south, east, or west; however, when they appear in the names of places and regions, do capitalize these words. The mines are located in the western part of the plateau. It might be amusing to look for instances of "southern Southern California" or "northern Southern California". But southerner and northerner are capitalized when they refer to people on either side of the civil war in the United States: We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Is it "southern California" or "Southern California?". My friend is a southerner. To summarize the advice above, we suggest: However, capitalization may depend on the style guide youre using. Capital Letters with North, East, South, and West - Grammar Monster As a result, noun will always be the first capital letter. Don't capitalize these words when they refer to the general location, geography or climate of a region. I have published a variety of other capitalization posts related to time periods, geographic features, people, and product names. When to Capitalize People's Titles - The Blue Book Of Grammar And How to Export PDF Tables from Adobe Acrobat to Excel (PC & Mac), How to Insert Images into Shapes in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac), How to Align the Periods in Numbered Lists in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac), How to Password Protect Files in Microsoft Word, How to Password Protect PDFs in Adobe Acrobat (PC & Mac). Except for Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas, and Utah, the name of a city and state should be abbreviated when they are used together. Posted by When it's an adjective ("bicentennial year"), I agree that no cap is needed . Each morning, the sun rises in the east . Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook. Todays post explains when to capitalize geographic regions in the United States.

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