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Proactive disclosure Print version | GSC Guide to Authors Capitalization
Grammar In the English language certain words are written with capital letters for emphasis, and to guide the reader in meaning and phrasing, in much the same way as punctuation. There are rules to define which words require capitals, but modern usage has introduced a degree of flexibility not tolerated in earlier writing. Basic rules are given here. Examples of capitalization are listed in alphabetical order throughout the section entitled 'Spelling, usage, and GSC recommendations'. First word of a sentenceBegin every sentence or sentence equivalent with a capital letter. In subdivisions of conclusions, recommendations, or decisions, if the complete thought can be stated briefly, it is unnecessary to introduce the subdivisions with capitals:
Every year GSC summer students receive
If the conclusion, recommendation, or decision cannot be stated briefly, introduce each subdivision with a capital letter and end it with a period. The first word of a direct quotation that is a complete sentence is capitalized (see 'Quotation marks' in 'Punctuation') as is the first word of a complete sentence in parentheses, when it stands alone (see 'Parentheses' in 'Punctuation'). Proper nounsCapitalize all proper nouns. Difficulty sometimes arises in making the distinction between common and proper nouns. Common nouns do not require capitals because they refer to everyday objects in a general sense. Proper nouns are so named because they belong and are proper to certain people, groups, or objects set apart, or are words derived from these sources. Hence the names of months and days, derived from names of pagan gods and planets, are proper nouns, whereas the seasons of the year, being common nouns, do not take capitals, except when used poetically. Proper nouns include these categories:
Common nounsCommon nouns automatically become proper nouns and are capitalized in these cases:
Stratigraphic namesA good general rule is not to capitalize unless specific convention warrants it. Thus the modifying names of informal members, units, beds, etc. should be capitalized if, either, 1) the modifying name already is a proper noun, such as Banff member; or, 2) there is a logical and arguable reason for doing so (clarity or emphasis). To conform with the 'North American Stratigraphic Code', the rank or unit term at the end of a specific name is not capitalized unless the unit is formal. Thus Calcareous member, Sandstone member, and Lower member are informal. Terms such as unit A, member B, etc. are obviously informal. State clearly, at the start of the report, what formal and informal stratigraphic nomenclature is being used. Also state if new stratigraphic units are being named, defined and described in accordance with the 'North American Stratigraphic Code'. Proper adjectivesCapitals are used for proper adjectives because they are derived from proper names:
Tyndall limestone Douglas fir A proper adjective is associated with the person or place from which the adjective is derived. When this association is more common, the adjective no longer takes a capital:
portland cement leda clay QuotationsUse a capital letter for the opening word of a quoted sentence or sentences, but not of quoted phrases:
John said, 'They have gone.' Their report mentioned only 'height, width, and breadth'. Titles of booksCapitalize every important word in literary titles. Prepositions, articles, and conjunctions do not take capitals unless one of them is the initial word in the title:
Glossary of Geology An Early History of Canada Surficial Geology of the Lethbridge Area, Alberta Paleozoic Limestones of Ontario: a Review Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences Hyphenated compoundsA proper noun or adjective in a hyphenated compound retains the capital:
mid-Paleozoic trans-Arctic but transatlantic AbbreviationsAbbreviations of decorations, radio and television stations, certain government agencies, and other organizations are capitalized, but not punctuated, unless they are geographical or refer to a person:
CBOT GSC GSA MBE IAEA NRCan DVA USGS CGSB but U.K. U.S.A. N.W.T. Groups of initial letters that can be pronounced as a word, or acronyms, like certain United Nations and government agencies and programs, are also capitalized but not punctuated:
NATO UNESCO NATMAP PERD See 'Abbreviations' for details. Biological classificationThe scientific name of a phylum, class, order, family, or genus is capitalized, but the name of a species or subspecies, or a common name, is not:
the phylum Arthropoda the class Trilobita the species Olenellus thompsoni but arthropod trilobite acritarch See 'Paleontology' for details of paleontological terminology. Parts of a book or reportCapitalize words followed by a number or letter to indicate the parts of a book or report when they are used in text references. Note that they are capitalized in the singular and plural, and also in parentheses — with the exception of 'figures' in paleontological plates:
Appendix 1 Appendices 3 and 4 (Appendix 1) (Appendices 2, 3) Chapter 2 Chapters 2 and 3 (see Chapters 2, 3) Figure 4 Figures 5 to 7 (Fig. 4) (Fig. 5–7) (Fig. 2, 3) Plates 2 and 3 (Pl. 2) (Pl. 2, 3) Plate 1, figure 6a (Pl. 1, fig. 4, 6a) Part 2 Parts 2 and 3 (Pt. 2) (Pt. 2, 3) Table 10 Tables 12 and 13 (Tables 12, 13) Volume 2 Volumes 1 and 2 (see Volume 2) The International System of Units (SI)See the section entitled 'The International System of Units (SI)' for details of SI (metric) symbols that are capitalized. Note that Celsius is capitalized when written out, and that the symbol for litre is 'L'. Other guidelinesCapital letters are used for awards (the Badge of the Order of Canada); degrees (Doctor of Philosophy); official documents (The Report of the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry by Mr. Justice Thomas R. Berger); cultural periods (the Bronze Age); trade names; scientific laws, theorems, etc. (Boyle's law); chemical symbols and elements (H2 SO4, 14C, Au); computer language (BASIC, FORTRAN); single letters used as words (X-ray); the titles of magazines and newspapers (The Northern Miner).
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