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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
When to capitalize nouns?
My Technical Publications department is debating about if and when to capitalize the word "help" in a sentence when it refers to the online help system.
Samples:
If you use Outlook 2007, the help article titled Saving an Outlook File may be useful.
If you search the product help or documentation, you can...
Click the icon to see help.
Is "help" spelled correctly in the sentences above? I can swallow the first two using help as an adjective and a modified noun, but I think the third one is wrong. When "help" is written without the accompanying words describing it as "online help" or "help topics," I have always written it with a capital. For example, "Click the icon to see Help."
Is "help" universally understood as a generic type of information? Or is it the evolved form of a product named Help?
Unfortuntately, I don't know where to find any guidelines on this.
Here's how some popular sites do it:
Samples:
If you use Outlook 2007, the help article titled Saving an Outlook File may be useful.
If you search the product help or documentation, you can...
Click the icon to see help.
Is "help" spelled correctly in the sentences above? I can swallow the first two using help as an adjective and a modified noun, but I think the third one is wrong. When "help" is written without the accompanying words describing it as "online help" or "help topics," I have always written it with a capital. For example, "Click the icon to see Help."
Is "help" universally understood as a generic type of information? Or is it the evolved form of a product named Help?
Unfortuntately, I don't know where to find any guidelines on this.
Here's how some popular sites do it:
- www.apple.com/contact/ - "You can also contact Apple Store Customer Service at 1-800-676-2775 or visit online Help for more information."
- messenger.msn.com/help/ - "For more detailed Help on MSN Messenger, please click here."
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200302910- "For more information, visit the Help pages listed below."
Top answer
Hi; Generally, words are capitalized if they are in titles or are proper names. On a web site, I would capitalize "Help" if it is a link or page heading. ) If it is a normal word in a normal sentence, it is not capitalized.
- Hi; Generally, words are capitalized if they are in titles or are proper names.
- On a web site, I would capitalize "Help" if it is a link or page heading.
- ) If it is a normal word in a normal sentence, it is not capitalized.
- Examples: If you need more help, please call for assistance.
- Please refer to our help pages.
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7 Answers
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Hi;
Generally, words are capitalized if they are in titles or are proper names.
On a web site, I would capitalize "Help" if it is a link or page heading.
(See the top of this EnglishForward page.)
If it is a normal word in a normal sentence, it is not capitalized.
Examples:
If you need more help, please call for assistance.
Please refe
Generally, words are capitalized if they are in titles or are proper names.
On a web site, I would capitalize "Help" if it is a link or page heading.
(See the top of this EnglishForward page.)
If it is a normal word in a normal sentence, it is not capitalized.
Examples:
If you need more help, please call for assistance.
Please refe
00
Hi,
This is one of many language-related questions raised by the ubiquity of computers today.
Personally, I'd be inclined to use a capital if the referece is eg to a product or system, or a particular place or screen or set of screens on a website, or a particular section in a ma
This is one of many language-related questions raised by the ubiquity of computers today.
Personally, I'd be inclined to use a capital if the referece is eg to a product or system, or a particular place or screen or set of screens on a website, or a particular section in a ma
00
I'm confused too. Is "help" a normal word in the following sentence?
"You must log in to access help."
"You must log in to access help."
00
Hi,
Yes, because it does not have a capital. If the writer means' eg the part of the system that has the name 'Help', he should use a capital.
It's like me saying to you, "If you need help, ask a policeman''.
Clive
Yes, because it does not have a capital. If the writer means' eg the part of the system that has the name 'Help', he should use a capital.
It's like me saying to you, "If you need help, ask a policeman''.
Clive
00
So, would the following usage be correct?
"If you need help understanding a concept, you can search through Help topics in the Help system."
Deep thoughts: Would the caps still be correct if the online information system (euphemistically referred to as "Help") has no name?
"If you need help understanding a concept, you can search through Help topics in the Help system."
Deep thoughts: Would the caps still be correct if the online information system (euphemistically referred to as "Help") has no name?
00
Hi,
So, would the following usage be correct?
"If you need help understanding a concept, you can search through Help topics in the Help system." Yes
Deep thoughts: Would the caps still be correct if the online information system (euphemistically referred to as "Help") has no name?
So, would the following usage be correct?
"If you need help understanding a concept, you can search through Help topics in the Help system." Yes
Deep thoughts: Would the caps still be correct if the online information system (euphemistically referred to as "Help") has no name?
00
"I'd be inclined to use a capital if the referece is eg to a product or system, or a particular place or screen or set of screens on a website, or a particular section in a manual."
The quote above reflects our naming guidelines at Apple--although we don't always follow them. Our different help systems are collectively and euphemistically referred to as "Apple Help." When referring to gen
The quote above reflects our naming guidelines at Apple--although we don't always follow them. Our different help systems are collectively and euphemistically referred to as "Apple Help." When referring to gen
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