Capitalisation of "Prom"

Question

I'm accustomed to seeing "Senior Prom", capitalised thus. I've just found "junior prom", capitalised thus, and it looks odd.

It seems to me that the capitalisation in "standard" AmE usage is "Senior Prom" and "Junior Prom".
Yes? No?

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]I'm accustomed to seeing "Senior Prom", capitalised thus. I've just found "junior prom", capitalised thus, and it looks odd. It seems to me that the capitalisation in "standard" AmE usage is "Senior Prom" and "Junior Prom".[/nq]
Oh, and "prom dress" or "Prom dress"?

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I'm accustomed to seeing "Senior Prom", capitalised thus. I've just found "junior prom", capitalised thus, and it looks odd. It seems to me that the capitalisation in "standard" AmE usage is "Senior Prom" and "Junior Prom". Yes? No?[/nq]
I make no pretense of knowing of an applicable rule. If one is printed somewhere, I'm sure I could find something else to do to better occupy my time than to read it.
However, I would write "A senior prom and a junior prom are traditions at this high school.", and, "She was invited to the Junior Prom by Bubba." I would not capitalize proms in general, but I would capitalize a specific event.
That's me, of course. I only add this to add further interest to your inquiry. Readers here may have a certain lack of interest in the question of capitalization of an American high school event, but they may respond to a specific position taken if they have even the slightest feeling that it is wrong.

Tony Cooper
Orlando FL

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I'm accustomed to seeing "Senior Prom", capitalised thus. I've just found "junior prom", capitalised thus, and it looks odd. It seems to me that the capitalisation in "standard" AmE usage is "Senior Prom" and "Junior Prom".[/nq]
That makes too much sense. If it's a specific event, like the George W. Bush High School Senior Prom, it gets capitalized. If it's just a generic label, it doesn't. Ergo: "I'm taking Gladys to the Senior Prom" (referring to the specific event), but "Every high school in town has a senior prom" (referring to the generic sort of event).
This sort of thing is perhaps most noticeable with job titles: "Chief Justice Rehnquist is the most recent chief justice to have been elevated from the ranks of associate justices." It also happens with phrases like "high school" (see above).

Why make it easy for people?

Liebs

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]However, I would write "A senior prom and a junior prom are traditions at this high school.", and, "She was invited to the Junior Prom by Bubba." I would not capitalize proms in general, but I would capitalize a specific event.[/nq]
Yep, I think that's as close as we gunner get. Thank you.
[nq:1]That's me, of course. I only add this to add further interest to your inquiry. Readers here may have ... but they may respond to a specific position taken if they have even the slightest feeling that it is wrong.[/nq]
Thank you for this useful and practical tip. Yes, I had inferred The Coop Technique from other posts. It clearly works admirably well.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I'm accustomed to seeing "Senior Prom", capitalised thus. I've just ... in "standard" AmE usage is "Senior Prom" and "Junior Prom".[/nq]
[nq:1]That makes too much sense. If it's a specific event, like the[/nq]
The very point that was worrying me.
[nq:1]George W. Bush High School Senior Prom, it gets capitalized. If it's just a generic label, it doesn't. Ergo: "I'm ... the specific event), but "Every high school in town has a senior prom" (referring to the generic sort of event).[/nq]
Sounds good. Thank you.
[nq:1]This sort of thing is perhaps most noticeable with job titles: "Chief Justice Rehnquist is the most recent chief justice ... ranks of associate justices." It also happens with phrases like "high school" (see above). Why make it easy for people?[/nq]
Why indeed?

Capitalisation of "Prom"

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