When to use "state" vs. "State"

Question

I've been corresponding with an employee of a health insurance company that specializes in Medicaid coverage. Regulations vary from state to state, and I've wondered whether the word "state" should be capitalized when used like "regulations directed by the State". Is there a rule for this?

Thanks.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

I've been corresponding with an employee of a health insurance company that specializes in Medicaid coverage. Regulations vary from state to state, and I've wondered whether the word "state" should be capitalized when used like "regulations directed by the State". Is there a rule for this?

In the examples you offer, the word is not used as a name, so should not be capitalized. However, I would consider capitalizing a phrase in a legal document like 'the State of Ohio'.

Sometimes, it's not clear whether or not the word is being used as part of a name. eg I wouldn't capitalize 'state' in 'For my vacation, I'm going to visit the state of Ohio'.

Best wishes, Clive

BarbaraPA · Answer

Another thing I've come to learn is that when lawyers prepare things, they tend to capitalize words that are formally definied in a definitions section of the document. So if the entire document has defined "State" somewhere, or if the corresonpdence relates to that document, then the lawyers will tend to capitalize it.

CalifJim · Answer

In a textbook in a course in "Government and Civics" which I once used as a student, State was always used when one of the fifty States of the United States was meant, and state was always used in the general sense, as in The state has the right to tax citizens. This was explained in a note at the beginning of the book. Other than in that text, I am not familiar with any attempt to standardize this distinction through capitalization.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Clive,   In some Spanish-speaking countries (which are not separated into states, but rather regions, districts, etc.), el Estado, referring to the government or public sector, is capitalized to distinguish it from el estado, which is a commonly used word that refers to the general condition of something or someone.  Hence, in this case, if one is translating documents for an international congress, esp. if it is to be held in a Spanish-speaking country with a lot of native Spanish-speakers, it may be advisable to conform to the generally accepted local norm of capitalizing State, when it refers to the government, and using lowercase for other contexts. This runs counter to normal usage in North America and Great Britain, but may be preferable outside English-speaking countries. Thanks, Alan

Anonymous · Answer

anskyI've been corresponding with an employee of a health insurance company that specializes in Medicaid coverage. Regulations vary from state to state, and I've wondered whether the word "state" should be capitalized when used like "regulations directed by the State". Is there a rule for this?
Thanks.

Chalk red 186 · Answer

"Veterans and their spouses may be entitled to State and Federal Benefits?"

State and Federal Benefits capped or not?

Anonymous · Answer

Standby,

STATE, State etc.... are defined as legalese and conform to the Government Publishing Office (GPO) Styles Manual <https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-STYLEMANUAL-2016/pdf/GPO-STYLEMANUAL-2016.pdf>;,

This GPO Manual is utilized for all legal writing we see today... inclusivity of all laws, statues, policies legislative documents created to-date. I would highly recommend reading and understanding this because 'they' do not teach this in schools.... "they" teach massive indoctrination for the general-minded, similar to what the student stated above and what written in text books starting from the very first pages.

FOR EXAMPLE: U.S. is different from America and falls outside of the Federal Enclave-ments of Federal States. This can become very confusing however, it was designed that way for our mental enslavement.

The only way you get the word magic is going to law school and learning it. Except, if you are driven to learn on your own. Majority of the legislative bodies and government that has to deal with policies and LEGAL writing etc... are all lawyers and apart of the GUILD!

U.S. Citizen " state citizen "

U.S. National " vs national "

Nonresident Alien vs " alien

MAY YOU ALL BE BLESS WITH ENLIGHTENMENT AND A GROWTH-MINDSET

When to use "state" vs. "State"

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