In the process of editing business plans, reports, and various business documents, one frequent mistake we encounter is the improper capitalization of job titles. It can be challenging to keep the rules clear, but here are some simple solutions to help you correctly capitalize job titles.
When working on business documents, it’s easy to make errors in how we capitalize job titles. This mistake can be confusing, but there are straightforward ways to get it right. Below, we share some solutions to help you understand and apply the rules for capitalizing job titles.
In the editing of business plans and reports, it’s common to make mistakes in capitalizing job titles. This might seem complicated, but there are easy ways to handle it. Check out the suggestions below to ensure you capitalize job titles correctly when working on business documents.
How to Capitalize Job Titles
Understanding when to capitalize job titles can be a bit confusing, as they don’t always follow a strict rule. Many people prefer seeing their titles capitalized, whether it’s grammatically correct or not. This guide aims to simplify the rules, especially when dealing with titles like vice president, sales director, chairperson, mayor, and emperor.
In general, if a job title comes before a person’s name, it should be capitalized. On the other hand, if it comes after the name, it should be written in lowercase. The key is determining whether the word is part of an official title, in which case it is capitalized, or if it’s merely describing someone’s role, where it remains lowercase.
Consider the example of Aardvark, who is the class president and quite responsible. If you say, “We invited President Aardvark to dinner,” you capitalize “president” because it is his official title and precedes his name. However, if you say, “Aardvark, the class president, came to dinner,” you use lowercase for “president” as it follows his name and serves a descriptive purpose rather than being part of his official title.
When there is no specific name mentioned, the title is generally written in lowercase. For instance, “The president came to dinner” features a lowercase “president.”
Occasionally, a title might appear directly before a name but still be in lowercase. This occurs when it merely describes someone’s role. For example, “Our class president, Aardvark Blueback, came over for dinner” has a lowercase “president” because it describes Aardvark’s role rather than serving as an official title.
It’s worth noting that paying attention to these nuances can be crucial. Whether a title is capitalized or not can convey different meanings in sentences. So, the next time you’re uncertain about whether to capitalize a job title, consider the context and whether it’s part of an official title or just describing someone’s position. This simple guide should help you know how to capitalize job titles with confidence.
Also Read: Do You Italicize Movie Titles?
Proper Capitalization of Job Titles in Lists and Tables
Many people wonder if they should capitalize job titles when organizing information in tables or programs. One reader, Leah, expressed concern about unconsciously capitalizing job titles in tables and questioned whether she was doing it incorrectly.
The good news is that Leah hasn’t been making a mistake. It’s common practice to capitalize job titles when creating lists of people along with their respective positions. This applies to various scenarios, including event programs, donor lists, and tables.
In summary, if you’re compiling a list of individuals and their job titles, it’s perfectly fine to capitalize those titles. This ensures consistency and clarity when presenting information in tables or programs. So, feel confident in capitalizing job titles in such
The “Boss Exception” in Capitalizing Job Titles
Let’s talk about what I like to call the “boss exception.” According to the Chicago Manual of Style, there are times when we may need to make exceptions for courtesy or diplomacy. In simpler terms, if your bosses prefer their titles capitalized and don’t like corrections, it’s usually best to go along with it. This is a common situation, and it’s smart to avoid irritating your boss over a small detail. Choose your battles wisely.
Here’s a straightforward tip: capitalize job titles when they come before a name and are an official title. However, when job titles come after a name or are just descriptive, use lowercase. There’s also a practical side to this – if you have a list of names or if not capitalizing a title might upset someone, it’s okay to go ahead and capitalize it. The key is to be considerate, especially when it comes to your boss’s preferences.
