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Usenet Posted 19 years ago
Usage
Why capitalize university?
I tend to think the arbitrary capitalization of university when referring to a particular institution is silly and pretentious. (I understand that university would be capitlized at the beginning of a sentence or in the formal name of the school.)
However, the rule still appears in the style guides of many university communications/PR departments. In some cases, the rule only applies to the university in question, and not to any other. For example, the Cornell Daily Sun style guide says, "Capitalize 'University' when it applies to Cornell, but not when it applies to any other university."
Can anyone offer come history on this practice? It seems to be fading, but it's still so common that I have to think it has some historical / philosophical basis besides widespread self-aggrandizement.
Thanks, in advance.
-Cloy
However, the rule still appears in the style guides of many university communications/PR departments. In some cases, the rule only applies to the university in question, and not to any other. For example, the Cornell Daily Sun style guide says, "Capitalize 'University' when it applies to Cornell, but not when it applies to any other university."
Can anyone offer come history on this practice? It seems to be fading, but it's still so common that I have to think it has some historical / philosophical basis besides widespread self-aggrandizement.
Thanks, in advance.
-Cloy
Top answer
[nq:1]I tend to think the arbitrary capitalization of university when referring to a particular institution is silly and pretentious. (I ... common that I have to think it has some historical / philosophical basis besides widespread self-aggrandizement.
- [nq:1]I tend to think the arbitrary capitalization of university when referring to a particular institution is silly and pretentious.
- (I ...
- common that I have to think it has some historical / philosophical basis besides widespread self-aggrandizement.
- Thanks, in advance.
- -Cloy[/nq] It's capitalized because it is a short form of the full name of the particular university, which is written in capital letters.
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34 Answers
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[nq:1]I tend to think the arbitrary capitalization of university when referring to a particular institution is silly and pretentious. (I ... common that I have to think it has some historical / philosophical basis besides widespread self-aggrandizement. Thanks, in advance. -Cloy[/nq]
It's capitalized because it is a short form of the full name of the particular university, which is written in
It's capitalized because it is a short form of the full name of the particular university, which is written in
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( lots of sensible comments, to which I would add: )
The practice is in no way restricted to universities, but applies to many entities where one has to distinguish between specific and generic instances:
In this article Figure 1 is the only figure that requires copyright clearance.
Note that Table 5 will need to be printed sideways, but all the other tables are narrow enough to b
The practice is in no way restricted to universities, but applies to many entities where one has to distinguish between specific and generic instances:
In this article Figure 1 is the only figure that requires copyright clearance.
Note that Table 5 will need to be printed sideways, but all the other tables are narrow enough to b
00
[nq:1]The practice is in no way restricted to universities, but applies to many entities where one has to distinguish between ... is the oldest constitution of any country. (I'm not sure if this statement is true, but that's not the point.)[/nq]
However, what Dominic wrote was:
[nq:2]It's capitalized because it is a short form of the ... capitalized when referring to the university in a ge
However, what Dominic wrote was:
[nq:2]It's capitalized because it is a short form of the ... capitalized when referring to the university in a ge
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[nq:1]I tend to think the arbitrary capitalization of university when referring to a particular institution is silly and pretentious. (I ... so common that I have to think it has some historical / philosophical basis besides widespread self-aggrandizement. Thanks, in advance.[/nq]
I agree with Dominic and Athel.
But I also am not surprised your concerned. There is now a spate of capitaliza
I agree with Dominic and Athel.
But I also am not surprised your concerned. There is now a spate of capitaliza
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[nq:2]The practice is in no way restricted to universities, but ... if this statement is true, but that's not the point.)[/nq]
[nq:1]However, what Dominic wrote was: Short form. For Athel's examples to be examples of what this thread is about, they ... m...@vex.net > "I'll dream of Canada." THE SUSPECT My text in this article is in the public domain.[/nq]
Figure 1, Pier 1 (of a b
[nq:1]However, what Dominic wrote was: Short form. For Athel's examples to be examples of what this thread is about, they ... m...@vex.net > "I'll dream of Canada." THE SUSPECT My text in this article is in the public domain.[/nq]
Figure 1, Pier 1 (of a b
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[nq:1]I tend to think the arbitrary capitalization of university when referring to a particular institution is silly and pretentious. (I ... but it's still so common that I have to think it has some historical / philosophical basis besides widespread self-aggrandizement.[/nq]
It's got nothing to do with "self-aggrandizement", and everything to do with clarity. Compare usage in the cases of "pr
It's got nothing to do with "self-aggrandizement", and everything to do with clarity. Compare usage in the cases of "pr
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Dominic,
Thanks for your response. See my comments below.
[nq:1]It's capitalized because it is a short form of the full name of the particular university, which is written in capital letters. It not capitalized when referring to the university in a generic way.[/nq]
But we typically don't do the same for other things. Not sure where you're located, but in American English we would not
Thanks for your response. See my comments below.
[nq:1]It's capitalized because it is a short form of the full name of the particular university, which is written in capital letters. It not capitalized when referring to the university in a generic way.[/nq]
But we typically don't do the same for other things. Not sure where you're located, but in American English we would not
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Thanks for your response, athel. See my responses below.
[nq:1]The practice is in no way restricted to universities, but applies to many entities where one has to distinguish between ... Table 5 will need to be printed sideways, but all the other tables are narrow enough to be printed upright.[/nq]
Not sure if I would capitalize "Figure 1" or "Table 5" at all, but in this instance these ar
[nq:1]The practice is in no way restricted to universities, but applies to many entities where one has to distinguish between ... Table 5 will need to be printed sideways, but all the other tables are narrow enough to be printed upright.[/nq]
Not sure if I would capitalize "Figure 1" or "Table 5" at all, but in this instance these ar
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...snip...
[nq:1]... "the Corporation" can mean the particular corporation in whose documents the phrase appears, "the Act" can mean the act of Parliament relating to the subject under discussion, and for that matter, "Parliament" can mean the Parliament of Canada.[/nq]
Mark,
Ditto for legal documents in the U.S., but I'm talking about language that human beings use. ;-)
-Cloy
[nq:1]... "the Corporation" can mean the particular corporation in whose documents the phrase appears, "the Act" can mean the act of Parliament relating to the subject under discussion, and for that matter, "Parliament" can mean the Parliament of Canada.[/nq]
Mark,
Ditto for legal documents in the U.S., but I'm talking about language that human beings use. ;-)
-Cloy
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[nq:1]It certainly is true that the practice extends beyond universities, but it does not extend to things like tables and figures.[/nq]
Attention has been directed to Figure 5. The text continues: In this Figure, unlike the previous figures, we see...
Similarly for tables.
John Varela
Trade NEW lamps for OLD for email.
Attention has been directed to Figure 5. The text continues: In this Figure, unlike the previous figures, we see...
Similarly for tables.
John Varela
Trade NEW lamps for OLD for email.
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