Capitalizing 'I' In International Students: A Style Guide Mystery

should the i in international students be capitalized

The phrase international students is generally not capitalized unless it is part of a proper name. Capitalization is usually reserved for proper nouns, which are the specific names or titles of persons, places, or things. For example, in the phrase London's international student population, only London is capitalized. This is because international students is not a proper noun and does not refer to the actual name of a specific organization or group. However, if there is an organization specifically named International Students, then it would be appropriate to capitalize the phrase.

Characteristics Values
Should "international students" be capitalised? No, unless it is part of a proper name.
When to capitalise words When referring to specific, official names of places, people, or organisations (proper nouns).
Capitalisation of general references Lowercase.

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Capitalization rules for specific places, people, or organizations

Capitalization is generally reserved for proper nouns, which are the names or titles of specific persons, places, or things. Here are some guidelines for capitalization in relation to specific places, people, or organizations:

Specific Places

Specific and official names of places are generally capitalized. For example, you would capitalize "Grand Canyon" when referring to the specific landmark, but you would lowercase the word when referring to a canyon in general. Similarly, specific areas like "Clark County" are capitalized, while general references to counties would be lowercase.

Specific People

When referring to a specific person by their title and name, the title is usually capitalized if it comes before the name. For example, "President Obama" would be capitalized when referring to the specific president. However, if the title comes after the name or is used alone, it is generally not capitalized. For instance, "Obama, president of the United States" or "the president spoke at the event." It is worth noting that some titles, like "attorney" or "pianist," are not capitalized even when they precede the name.

Specific Organizations

The names of specific institutions and organizations are typically capitalized. For example, "House of Representatives" or "The United States Senate." Additionally, specific non-academic departments or divisions, such as the "Department of Veterans Affairs," are capitalized. However, when referring to a department in a general sense or when using the word "office," it is usually lowercase.

Specific Academic Contexts

In an academic context, specific academic degrees are capitalized when using their full names, such as "Bachelor of Arts" or "Master of Social Work." However, general references like "bachelor's degree" or "master's degree" are not capitalized. Academic majors and minors are only capitalized when they refer to languages, so "Spanish major" would be capitalized, while "microbiology major" would not be.

Specific Programs and Scholarships

The names of specific programs and scholarships are usually capitalized if they contain proper nouns. For example, the "Harold A. and Beulah J. McKee Alumni Center" or the "Medallion Scholarship Program." However, when referring to a program in a general sense, the word "program" is not capitalized, even if it is preceded by a proper noun.

In the context of your question, "international students" is not a proper noun and does not refer to a specific organization or group of people. Therefore, it should not be capitalized unless it is part of a proper name or title, such as in the "International Student Association."

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Capitalizing academic degrees

When it comes to capitalizing academic degrees, there are a few rules and style guides to consider. Firstly, it's important to differentiate between general academic subjects and specific degrees or programs. General academic subjects, such as biology or chemistry, are not capitalized. On the other hand, specific degrees or programs, such as Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science, are usually capitalized.

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and The Associated Press Stylebook (AP) offer differing recommendations. CMOS suggests lowercasing generic references to degrees, fellowships, and similar terms. However, it recommends capitalizing the name of a degree when it appears on a resume, business card, diploma, or alumni directory, treating it as a title rather than a description. For example, "Bachelor of Arts" or "Master of Fine Arts." AP, on the other hand, recommends using lowercase when referring to degrees in general terms (bachelor's, master's, doctorate) but capitalizing specific degrees.

Additionally, when referring to someone's academic credentials, it is common to use abbreviations like B.A., M.S., or Ph.D. These abbreviations are typically used when space is limited or when listing multiple individuals' credentials. When writing in full, it is generally preferred to use general terms like "bachelor's degree" or "master's degree" rather than the full name of the degree. This is because the full name of the degree can be cumbersome and less commonly used in text.

When identifying alumni or alumnae, it is common to use their preferred class year, followed by an apostrophe and the two-digit year. For example, "Mary Smith '95" or "Mary Smith, Ph.D." If the individual earned their degree from a specific university, it is important to list the degree and the university separately. For example, "Rebecca McKenzie, Ph.D." is preferred over "Rebecca McKenzie, B.A., M.A., Ph.D."

In terms of capitalization, specific, full titles of degrees are generally capitalized, while nonspecific references are lowercase. For example, "Bachelor of Science" versus "bachelor's degree." Additionally, when referring to majors or minors, only capitalize the subject when it is a language; other degree subjects are not capitalized. For example, "I'm a Spanish major" versus "I'm majoring in microbiology."

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Capitalizing academic majors and minors

When it comes to capitalizing academic majors and minors, the rules can vary depending on the style guide or institution. Here are some guidelines to follow:

Capitalizing Academic Majors

  • Specific, full titles of degrees or majors are generally capitalized, especially when they are part of a person's title or signature. For example, "I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology" or "Jennifer Miller, Master of Fine Arts." However, when referring to a major in a general sense, it is not capitalized. For instance, "I'm majoring in biology" or "I'm enrolled in the Master of Arts Program in 20th-Century British Literature."
  • According to the Chicago Manual of Style, it is acceptable to capitalize degrees on business cards, diplomas, directories, or resumes. For example, "Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies with a minor in Environmental Studies."
  • When the major is a language, it is often capitalized. For instance, "I'm a Spanish major."
  • If the major is part of a specific institution's name, it is usually capitalized. For example, "The Residential MS in Speech-Language Pathology program."

Capitalizing Academic Minors

  • Minors are generally capitalized when mentioned with the specific degree. For example, "a minor in History" or "a Bachelor of Arts with a minor in Environmental Studies."
  • Similar to majors, minors in languages are often capitalized. For instance, "a minor in Spanish."

It is important to note that the rules for capitalization can vary between different style guides and institutions. Therefore, it is always a good idea to consult the specific guidelines provided by your educational institution or the style guide you are following.

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Capitalizing official titles

When it comes to capitalizing official titles, there are a few key rules and considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, it's important to distinguish between proper nouns and common nouns. Proper nouns refer to the specific names of people, places, or organizations and are generally capitalized. For example, you would capitalize "London" as it is the name of a specific city.

However, when referring to general concepts or groups, the words are typically lowercase. For instance, in the phrase "London's international student population," "international student" remains lowercase because it is not the name of a specific organization or entity. Capitalizing it may imply that it is the name of a specific thing, like an organization.

  • Specific academic degrees are capitalized when using the full name, such as "Bachelor of Arts" or "Master of Social Work." However, general references like "bachelor's degree" or "master's degree" are not capitalized.
  • Academic disciplines, majors, minors, programs, and courses of study are generally not capitalized unless they are languages or contain proper nouns. For example, "English" or "Japanese" would be capitalized, but "supply chain management" would not.
  • When referring to a specific president, capitalize the word. For example, "President Obama." However, when referring to presidents as a group or concept, use lowercase: "Past presidents have..."
  • Specific non-academic departments or divisions are capitalized, such as the "Department of Veterans Affairs."
  • When using titles with names, the practices vary. Some institutions capitalize titles when they precede the name, like "President Edward Montgomery." Others prefer to use lowercase for titles, especially when the title comes after the name: "Edward Montgomery, president."
  • Specific institutions are capitalized, such as "the House of Representatives." However, when referring to members without specifying the institution, use lowercase: "many representatives voted..."
  • When referring to specific offices, departments, scholarships, or programs that contain proper nouns, capitalize them. For example, "McKee Alumni Center."
  • When a title is part of a person's address, it is typically capitalized, such as "John Doe, Director of Alumni Relations."
  • In a directory listing or similar context, titles are usually capitalized, whether they precede, follow, or appear with the name in tabular form.

These guidelines provide a general framework for capitalizing official titles. However, it's always a good idea to consult specific style guides or manuals for further clarification, as practices may vary depending on the context and the preferences of the organization or publication.

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Capitalizing nationalities

When writing about nationalities, it is important to distinguish between common nouns and proper nouns. Proper nouns refer to the specific names of people, places, or organizations and are generally capitalized. For example, when referring to a specific person, you would capitalize their name, such as "President Obama". Similarly, specific locations like "Grand Canyon" or "Clark County" are capitalized.

However, when it comes to nationalities, the rules for capitalization vary depending on the style guide or context. In general, nationalities are not capitalized when used in a general sense. For example, one would write "He is a citizen of Canada" without capitalizing "Canada." This is because "Canada" is being used as a common noun in this context, referring to the country as a whole rather than a specific place or entity.

On the other hand, some style guides and universities, like Ohio Wesleyan University, suggest that nationalities are capitalized when used as proper nouns or adjectives. For example, "He is Canadian" or "She speaks French." In these cases, the nationality is being used as a specific identifier or adjective, and capitalization is applied.

Additionally, when referring to specific departments, divisions, or offices within an organization, capitalization rules may vary. For example, the "Department of Veterans Affairs" is capitalized as it refers to a specific department, but "financial aid office" is not capitalized as it is a general reference. Similarly, when referring to academic disciplines, majors, or minors, they are generally not capitalized unless they are languages, such as "English" or "French."

It is important to note that capitalization rules can vary depending on the style guide being followed, such as AP style or a university's specific guidelines. When in doubt, it is always a good idea to consult a trusted style guide or writing resource to ensure consistent and accurate capitalization in your writing.

Frequently asked questions

No, it should not be capitalized. Capitalization is generally reserved for proper nouns, which are the actual names/titles of specific persons, places, or things.

No, the 'i' in international students should not be capitalized even when referring to a specific group of students from a particular country. For example, "London's international student population" does not need "international student" capitalized because it is not the name of a specific organization.

No, the 'i' in international student should not be capitalized even when referring to a specific student from another country. This is because it is not a proper noun and does not refer to a specific person, place, or thing.

No, the 'i' in international students should not be capitalized in this context. The capitalization of "International Students Association" suggests that it is the name of a specific organization or group, but the 'i' in international students remains lowercase.

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