There are a lot of rules when it comes to grammar, and sometimes it can be difficult to remember them all. One often debated rule is when to capitalize the word "president." Is "president" capitalized? You will be surprised how this word might stress you when you are writing since you are not certain if to capitalize or not. Show
"President" is a job title like any other, and that means you need to capitalize it based on the context. You do not have to capitalize the word. You might feel that you need to capitalize the word out of respect for the title. But that has nothing to do with its proper writing in English. President is an important job title but always stick to English writing rules not to open doors for rampant capitalization as everyone will demand their job title be capitalized. So, to avoid unnecessary commotion, you can read the rules of capitalizing the word "president" presented in this article. Rules for Capitalizing "President?" When to CapitalizeThe decision to capitalize or not capitalize the word "president" depends on the context. Capitalize the word if it appears before a name, when starting sentences, in titles, or when you are being specific to someone who is the president. The English language has many capitalization rules that apply in different situations. Find out more on when you need to capitalize the word president below. Before a Personal NameOne of the times to capitalize the word "president" is when the word comes before a person's name. The reason is names are proper nouns, and when you use the word "president," it complements the noun. "President" follows the capitalization rules as other job titles. So the same rules that you apply when writing someone's rank or job also apply when writing "president." And the rule is that you should capitalize the job position if it comes before a person's name. Example sentences:
At the Start of a SentenceAnother time to capitalize the word "president" is if the word is starting a sentence. The capitalization rule that does not change is each time you start a sentence, you need to capitalize the first letter of the beginning word. The same case applies when you are writing the word "president." Not capitalizing the word "president" when it starts a sentence is a major grammatical mistake you shouldn't commit. Example in sentences:
When Writing a TitleAre you writing a title with the word "president?" if that is the case, then you need to capitalize the word no matter the part of speech present in the title. According to the title capitalization, both common and proper nouns should be written in uppercase when in a sentence. This rule also applies when you write the word "president." This is another grammar rule that does not change regardless of the writing style that you are using Example sentences:
Related post: Is the "Civil Rights Movement" Capitalized In Writing? When Referring to a Specific PresidentAt times you might use "president" when referring to a specific person. In such a situation, the word is not a common noun but a proper noun. It refers to a particular person, and it is not used for general purposes. Note that the word "president" does not only have to be used to mean the head of a republic. It can also mean a chief officer of an organization. Each time you use the word to refer to a specific person, whether in schools, organizations, institutions, or nations, you will need to capitalize. This should always be the case, even if you do not include a person's name. Example sentences:
Also Read: Is "Earth" Capitalized? When Should We Capitalize It? Exceptions for Capitalizing "President" When Not to CapitalizePresident is the title of the head of state in most democratic nations where elections are held. However, some cases where presidents' titles should not be capitalized. When referring to the president as a political party or an institution, it should not be capitalized. Example sentences:
Also, do not capitalize the word "president" when you use it to describe a job description. It is because when writing such descriptions, you'll most often use the word as a common noun. Since common nouns are not capitalized in a sentence, apply the same rule when writing "president." That applies in all writing guides and does not change. Example sentences:
Further Reading: Are School Subjects Capitalized? When to Capitalize Them? Some Edge Cases and More Alternative Rules When Capitalizing PresidentWhen writing a job title where you address someone by using their job title instead of using their name, the English rule is that you need to capitalize the word. Each time you address someone with their name, the title you use becomes a proper noun. Simply, the edge case alternative of when you should capitalize the word "president" is; when you use the word to address a president directly but don't want to use the word alone. Example sentences:
10 Example Sentences with Correct Capitalization of PresidentUnless you learn from multiple examples, you're likely to have problems capitalizing the word "president." You have known this word since you were in elementary, and you don't have to get it wrong. Learn from these examples:
ConclusionThe debate over whether the word "president" should be capitalized has been ongoing for a long time. But the grammar rules dictate that the word should not be capitalized all the time. So, adhere to the grammar rule when writing "president." Further Reading: Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He's one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don't even want to know what he calls pancakes. |