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Homerfarmsby Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

TITLES

Most sources say not to cap titles after a person's name; however, I prefer it because it looks better. Is it OK to do so, or am I breaking a punctuation rule? Do you agree with these?

  • I spoke with Police Officer Samuel Stephenson.

  • I spoke with Store Manager Sean Clapper.

  • I spoke with Private Detective Frank Cummings.

  • I spoke with Police Detective Mark Lombardo.

  • I spoke with Detective Frank Serpico.

  • I spoke with Police Captain Victo Nalaski.

  • I spoke with Fire Captain David Jones.

  • I spoke with Police Chief Claude Constantine.

  • I spoke with Sacramento Detective Gerard Gilmore.

  • I spoke with Claude Constantine, Police Chief.

  • I spoke with Gerard Gilmore, Sacramento Detective.

  • I spoke with Howard Castleton, Police Sergeant.

  • I spoke with Charles Ambesi, Detective Sergeant.

  • I spoke with Lisa Landsley, New York State Trooper.

  • I spoke with David Deerborn, District Attorney.

  • I spoke with Abram McGillis, Attorney.


  • I spoke with Samuel Stephenson, Police Officer.

  • I spoke with Sean Clapper, Store Manager.

  • I spoke with Frank Cummings, Private Detective.

  • I spoke with Mark Lombardo, Police Detective.

  • I spoke with Frank Serpico, Detective.

  • I spoke with Victor Nogueras, Police Captain.

  • I spoke with David Jones, Fire Captain.

  • I spoke with Claude Constantine, Police Chief.

  • I spoke with Gerard Gilmore, Sacramento Detective.

  • I spoke with Claude Constantine, Police Chief.

  • I spoke with Gerard Gilmore, Sacramento Detective.

  • I spoke with Howard Castleton, Police Sergeant.

  • I spoke with Charles Ambesi, Detective Sergeant.

  • I spoke with Lisa Landsley, New York State Trooper.

  • I spoke with David Deerborn, District Attorney.

  • I spoke with Abram McGillis, Attorney.

  • I spoke with David Deerborn, District Attorney.

  • I spoke with District Attorney Abram McGillis.
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    Top answer

    No, mostly wrong, a waste of time and bolding, and not the word order anyway. Go with what most sources tell you to do, not what you prefer, unless you are a poet.

    — Mister Micawber

    • No, mostly wrong, a waste of time and bolding, and not the word order anyway.
    • Go with what most sources tell you to do, not what you prefer, unless you are a poet.
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    3 Answers
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    No, mostly wrong, a waste of time and bolding, and not the word order anyway. Go with what most sources tell you to do, not what you prefer, unless you are a poet.
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    I agree with Micawber -- that looks horrendous!

    The only way is if a title can be used with a surname alone. That's how you tell if a title is an official one.

    Examples:

    Greetings, Judge Smith.

    Hi, Trooper Farley.

    Good morning, Reverend Jackson.

    Yes, Officer Hedgeman. (NOT: Good morning, Police Officer Hedgeman.)

    You wouldn't
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    Go with what most sources say. When a title is used in a sentence it should be upper case before a person's name and lower case after. When it appears before the name, it is seen as part of the name. When it appears after, it is seen as the name of the job or position, not the person.

    According to that rule, the following sentences are correct:

    I spoke with Police Officer Samu
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