[General] Capitalization

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Halfspeed

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I need the answer for this asap.Which is correct?

1) The prime minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, was born in Toronto.

or

2) The Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, was born in Toronto.
 

bhaisahab

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I need the answer for this asap.Which is correct?

1) The prime minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, was born in Toronto.

or

2) The Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, was born in Toronto.
Both are correct IMO.
 

TheParser

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I need the answer for this asap.Which is correct?

1) The prime minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, was born in Toronto.

or

2) The Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, was born in Toronto.


NOT A TEACHER


(1) I shall not volunteer an answer, but I shall share a few thoughts:

(a) Capitalization of titles is simply a matter of style. That it, it depends on many

factors:

(i) The English-speaking country you are in.

(ii) The particular newspaper. (Not all newspapers agree on how to handle titles).

(b) I can tell you that when I was young a long, long time ago, one would write

"The President, George Washington, will visit the city tomorrow." (This is only an

example. I was not living when General Washington was our leader!) or "The

President will travel to New York tomorrow."


(i) Today, I am pretty sure (99% certain) that newspapers would write:

The president. George Washington, will visit tomorrow./ The president will travel to New York tomorrow.

The title is capitalized only when it precedes her name:

President Hillary Clinton [this is just an example!] will address Congress tonight.

(2) I am pretty sure that while an American newspaper would write"The queen [of

England] has opened Parliament," a British newspaper would write "The Queen will

open Parliament."

(3) I do not read Canadian newspapers, so I do not know the style that is preferred.

(4) If I were forced to choose, I would choose your first sentence.

(5) If some Canadian shows me to be wrong, wrong, wrong, this post will be

immediately deleted.
 

bhaisahab

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NOT A TEACHER


(1) I shall not volunteer an answer, but I shall share a few thoughts:

(a) Capitalization of titles is simply a matter of style. That it, it depends on many

factors:

(i) The English-speaking country you are in.

(ii) The particular newspaper. (Not all newspapers agree on how to handle titles).

(b) I can tell you that when I was young a long, long time ago, one would write

"The President, George Washington, will visit the city tomorrow." (This is only an

example. I was not living when General Washington was our leader!) or "The

President will travel to New York tomorrow."


(i) Today, I am pretty sure (99% certain) that newspapers would write:

The president. George Washington, will visit tomorrow./ The president will travel to New York tomorrow.

The title is capitalized only when it precedes her name:

President Hillary Clinton [this is just an example!] will address Congress tonight.

(2) I am pretty sure that while an American newspaper would write"The queen [of

England] has opened Parliament," a British newspaper would write "The Queen will

open Parliament."

(3) I do not read Canadian newspapers, so I do not know the style that is preferred.

(4) If I were forced to choose, I would choose your first sentence.

(5) If some Canadian shows me to be wrong, wrong, wrong, this post will be

immediately deleted.
You are always saying that you are an old man, Parser, I hadn't realised just how old. Where were you living when George Washington visited?;-)
 

SoothingDave

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Well, I'm only middle-aged, but I would capitalize it.
 
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