Capitalize Professional Titles Before a Name
Capitalization
Rulebase Summary
Capitalize professional titles of respect and esteem when they directly precede a person's name. When the same title follows the name in an appositive set off by commas, or when the title is used without a name, do not capitalize it.
Examples
A. I spoke with mayor Chen about the zoning issue.
A. I spoke with Mayor Chen about the zoning issue.
A professional title directly before a name is capitalized.
A. Our Vice President, Linda Chen, approved the budget.
A. Our vice president, Linda Chen, approved the budget.
A title in apposition to a name -- set off by commas -- is not capitalized.
Transcript Notes
When an occupational title such as author, clerk, court reporter, printer, scopist, surgeon, or teacher precedes a name, do not capitalize the title.
Capitalize professional titles (Judge, Bailiff, Clerk, Counsel, Sergeant, Senator, Officer) when used in front of a name as a title. Do not capitalize them when used in general context without a name (the judge, the bailiff, the counsel). Capitalize and write out the word 'Reverend' in front of a name (the Reverend Peter Rood).
Capitalize other religious titles in front of the name (Rabbi Jason, Deacon Margaret) but not when used alone in context (the rabbi, the deacon). Words like 'Bishop' and 'Cardinal' are often capitalized wherever they appear because of their high position — research the specific religion.
Style Guide References (9)
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