In grammar, we find some words that have to be capitalized, some state names, personal names, and functions; this is done to specific terms to express respect. Aside from the “p” on “president” to be capitalized, other words like “manager” go under the same rule.
Capitalizing the word “president” is only done when introducing someone who is currently fulfilling that role or in a sentence before the person’s name to suggest respect. However, if the name of the person performing this role goes in front of the word, it will not be capitalized.
There are also other titles that require capitalization and that follow the same grammar rule. But in this article, we will go over the situations where the word “president” will be capitalized to express clarity in a sentence.
Why Are Some Words Capitalized?
Grammar sometimes can be confusing, and some say it could also be complicated because of the variety of rules you need to follow to use it correctly. There are some terms or expressions that require a specific format in writing so it can make sense. Also, when needed, words will be capitalized as a symbol of honor for the title given.
The rules of capitalization state that the majority of nouns will be capitalized at the beginning of a sentence. In addition to this, we will also capitalize the first word when quoting something off of the internet or with an expression said by somebody else.
Like nouns, pronouns can also be capitalized, but this will be done no matter where they are in the sentence because it refers to a specific person. Other rules also follow the same direction. For example, we should always capitalize the first initial of every name because it adds the importance that a person’s name needs when writing. For example, “John Smith.”
The same rule applies to the names of places like countries, cities, or regions. This is because all of the earth’s geographical features have been assigned different characters to be identified under. Therefore, Paris, Argentina, and the United States will have the first letter of their names capitalized no matter the part of the sentence they are written in.
When someone owns a company or buys an organization and trademarks it, the first initial will also be capitalized. However, some company names don’t have the first letter with capitalization, or they simply decide not to follow that rule. The reason for this is that they have decided to trademark the term in that way to achieve a more modern feel. Such is the case with the word “iPhone.”
Suppose we are referring to someone who has a professional title like Mr, Mrs, Dr., etc. In that case, we should always use the capital letter at the beginning, for example, “Dr. Drake Ramoray.” As well as job titles like “General Manager” especially if you are addressing someone by their title instead of their name.
We will also capitalize days and months. Furthermore, depending on the sentence or expression, we will capitalize the initial letter of a season if it is part of a noun or to add an attribute to something. The same situation happens when speaking of time periods.
After writing a quote, the first letter will always be capitalized because those quotes follow a punctuation rule that states that the majority of notes will start with a noun, which means the first letter will be capitalized after the sentence; unless there’s a comma added or a different line goes in, for example: “The book was stolen,” He screamed, “but Maddy saw who did it.”
Also, some acronyms are capitalized. Like NASA, DOB, EOD, and so on. This is because some acronyms have been added to have a specific meaning if followed by a concrete definition. But there are a few that haven’t been accepted in grammar, so it’s best to confirm with a dictionary if you are unsure.
When Do We Capitalize The Word President?
The word “president” will also follow the same rules discussed above. This word is directly related to the association of a rank or function that someone is performing. It will be capitalized when it is placed in front of the name of the person who’s performing the role. Aside from the fact that this word is a proper noun, it adds respect to the person in charge.
However, this capitalization could vary depending on the context in which it will be used. However, since this word goes under a noun and all nouns need to be capitalized, it is expected that in writing, we do the same thing on every part of the sentence where this term will be used.
It is more common to see that people capitalize this word specifying the president of a country right before their name instead of any other role that might be considered for the same title. For example, other related terms like “presidential” won’t always be capitalized because it is not considered a noun. However, some exceptions may apply if it is written in a specific title.
For example:
Mr. president Joe Biden will run a conference
This sentence is incorrect because it is referring to the president of the country, and it is not capitalized correctly.
Mr. President Joe Biden will run a conference.
On this one, proper capitalization was made.
When Shouldn’t I Capitalize The Word President?
There are cases where the word “president” will be written in lowercase. This is because depending on the sentence and the expression, there’s no need to capitalize it. After all, it will not lead to the title next to its name.
For example, if someone said, “the president lives near the river,” in this case, the word is not capitalized because it does not have the name next to it. Therefore the symbolization of the letter being capitalized is not necessary.
As such, if the word “president” comes after the person’s name, then it won’t be capitalized. The same applies if the phrase is not necessary to add meaning to a sentence or paragraph. Other rules may apply if you are referring to a non-governmental president.
There are some titles, like being president of a company, where the “p” does not require to be capitalized next to the person’s name. However, this depends on the situation as well, because if you are printing the name that will show up in the door for stylization, the word will be capitalized next to your name, though not required.
Final Thoughts
Some people debate whether or not the word “president” should be capitalized at all times, but according to grammar rules, it is best to use it only when using the title as part of a person’s name or to address a president directly.
It is important to follow grammar rules to be able to communicate better. Thus, the person reading your content will have a better understanding of what they are reading. Even though some rules seem silly or can be modified depending on the language, it is better to stick to the basic guide to avoid confusion.
It is also common to see how modern language can vary and adjust as years go by, and the capitalization of words like “president” could get confusing. The important thing to know is that this word will usually precede after a person’s name, but when it’s just referring to the title in a sentence, the letter “p” can be lowercase.
The same rules apply to words like vice president. Meaning they will only be capitalized if the title will be followed by the person’s name or directly addressing that person’s role.
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.