Capitalization

Question

Can anyone answer this for me please?When do you capitalize names of professions? For example: would Doctor Basil have a consistent capitalized Doctor throughout a manuscript, and if so, when would the proper use of lowercase doctor be applied.Same with constable Fisher. As his name is Constable John Fisher, is this lowercase c or capitalized C (as it's his name).It seems there's a lot of conflicting information on this subject and it's hard to pin down exactly what's the right way to capitalize names.Thanks in advance.K

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[nq:1]Can anyone answer this for me please? When do you capitalize names of professions? For example: would DoctorBasil have a ... on this subject and it's hard to pin down exactly what's the right way to capitalize names. Thanks in advance.[/nq]
For the examples you have given, you would need a capital when the title is part of somebody's name. For example:-
"Evidence given by Constable John Fisher in court indicated that ..etc."
Here, "Constable" is part of the man's name, is therefore a proper noun, and requires a capital.
When "constable" does not refer to a named individual, it is no longer a proper noun and should have a lower-case "c". This is always the case when you write of "a constable", and almost always the case for "the constable". For example
"The youths were harassing me, so I complained to the constable who fortuitously appeared from around the corner at that very moment".

The same rule (based on proper nouns) applies to Doctor/doctor. However, it would be unusual to write "Doctor" in full when referring to a named person. Instead, we would normally use the abbreviation "Dr" or "Dr.", with or without the full stop (BrE = period AmE). This abbreviation would never be used for "a doctor" or "the doctor". Thus:-
I'm badly wounded, get me a doctor quick.
I had to go to the doctor today.
I consulted Dr Basil about my heart problem.
Incidentally, I assume here that "Basil" is his surname. This form of address would be incorrect if Basil were his christian name. Thus, if his full name is Basil Smith, you would normally refer to him as "Dr Smith". "Dr Basil Smith" would be less common, but is acceptable (especially in cases where you need to distinguish between him and another Dr Smith), but "Dr Basil" would be incorrect.
Richard Chambers Leeds UK.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Incidentally, I assume here that "Basil" is his surname. Thisform of address would be incorrect if Basil were his ... (especially in cases where you need to distinguish between him and another Dr Smith), but "Dr Basil" would be incorrect.[/nq]
General face-to-face practice varies a bit from this generally sound generalization. Perhaps the practice has died out now, but in some army units a warrant-officer, even a sergeant, might regularly in private have addressed a commissioned officer as "Captain first-name". In war time, I think this informality has often been acceptable much further down the ranks. I'm pretty sure I've heard "Doctor first-name": I once used it experimentally to a hospital doctor who wore a badge saying simply "Tom", and he seemed to like being called "Doctor Tom". I note that it's quite common now for clergy and others to refer in public to the Archbishop of Canterbury as "Archbishop Rowan" (his Christian name, of course). "Father first-name" goes back a long way, of course.

Mike.

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[nq:1]I note that it's quite common now for clergy and others to refer in public to the Archbishop of Canterbury as "Archbishop Rowan" (his Christian name, of course). "Father first-name" goes back a long way, of course.[/nq]
With bishops and archbishops I wonder whether we might give them the benefit of the doubt and use "forename" or "given name" rather than "Christian name"?
Philip Eden

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[nq:2]I note that it's quite common now for clergy and ... course). "Father first-name" goes back a long way, of course.[/nq]
[nq:1]With bishops and archbishops I wonder whether we might give them the benefit of the doubt and use "forename" or "given name" rather than "Christian name"?[/nq]
This was one of the rare occasions on which I selected a usage primarily in order to see if it would cause outrage!

Mike.

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And don't forget "Ground control to Major Tom." Or actually, do forget it if you like.

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[nq:2] form Thus, acceptable General face-to-face practice varies a bit ... "Tom", and he seemed to like being called "Doctor Tom".[/nq]
[nq:1]And don't forget "Ground control to Major Tom." Or actually, do forget it if you like.[/nq]
Now I shall spend the evening wishing I could...

Laura
(emulate St. George for email)

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[nq:1]Perhaps the practice has died out now, but in some army units a warrant-officer, even a sergeant, might regularly in private have addressed a commissioned officer as "Captain first-name".[/nq]
Would American veterans say that would sound odd?
[nq:1]In war time, I think this informality has often been acceptable much further down the ranks.[/nq]
Then there were U.S. Marines: "He was . . . very conscious of the fact that he and I had an enlisted-officer relationship. He always addressed me in the third person: 'Does the lieutenant want. . . ." (sic) He was very professional, very competent. His knowledge of what he was doing was impressive" (1st Lt. Bob Stimson, of his friend Staff Sergeant Russ Armstrong, in South Vietnam in September 1967, quoted in Eric Hammel, Ambush Valley, p. 69).
[nq:1]I note that it's quite common now for clergy and others to refer in public to the Archbishop of Canterbury as "Archbishop Rowan" (his Christian name, of course). "Father first-name" goes back a long way, of course.[/nq]
Not in America, I suspect, at least among non-Romans; but maybe other Americans will disagree.

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[nq:1]Now I shall spend the evening wishing I could...[/nq]
Oh, come on, Laura! Show some ***** here! It's only a recitative, not a full-blown melody.
Mike.

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[nq:1]For the examples you have given, you would need a capital when the titleis part of somebody's name. For example:- ... (especially in cases where you need to distinguish between him and another Dr Smith), but "Dr Basil" would be incorrect.[/nq]
Just a quick question here, in response to my own post. Despite what I have written above, I feel that it would be correct to write "Doctor" with a capital D in the following sentence which does not involve a proper noun:-

"He is a Doctor of Philosophy, I believe, from Yale University."

Am I correct in my belief that a capital D is required here? Give a reason for your answer.
Richard Chambers Leeds UK.

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Karis:
[nq:2]When do you capitalize names of professions? For example: would ... this lowercase c or capitalized C (as it's his name).[/nq]
Richard Chambers:
[nq:1]For the examples you have given, you would need a capital when the title is part of somebody's name.[/nq]
Agreed. This typically includes any occupational title being used in the manner of forms like "Miss" or "Mr.": in particular Doctor and Professor; ranks in the military or other hierarchical organizations such as the police; and in some cases, particularly in the US, political titles such as Senator, Governor, and President.
[nq:1]When "constable" does not refer to a named individual, it is no longer a proper noun and should have a lower-case "c". This is always the case when you write of "a constable", and almost always the case for "the constable".[/nq]
And similarly, I'd say, for almost all of my examples above. There is one exception that particularly applies to high-ranking titles: "the President" may be taken as implicitly referring to a particular president (the current one or the one under discussion) and then takes a capital P. I would not apply this capitalization when someone says, "The doctor will see you now", but I think a few people would.
[nq:1]... I consulted Dr Basil about my heart problem. Incidentally, I assume here that "Basil" is his surname. This ... (especially in cases where you need to distinguish between him and another Dr Smith), but "Dr Basil" would be incorrect.[/nq]
However, this does not affect capitalization. If Dr. Basil Smith tells you "call me Dr. Basil", and Richard says, "No, that's wrong I must call you Dr. Smith", then you still capitalize "Dr." in both places when transcribing the conversation.

Mark Brader > "The good news is that the Internet is dynamic. Toronto > The bad news is that the Internet is dynamic." (Email Removed) > Peter Neumann

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