Klavier  +  189192 Fri, 27 Jan 06 12:31 AM Hello. Is it proper to use capital letters in these sentences? The Government should reduce taxes. What do you think about the President? He wrote a play for the Director of Theatre. Klavier Joined on Thu, Sep 23 2004 Chile Full Member 357 "If I have seen further, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants" Isaac Newton Capital Letters

	Clive  +  189209 Fri, 27 Jan 06 01:35 AM Hi, I'd say The government should reduce taxes. What do you think about the President? He wrote a play for the Theatre Director. It's partly dependent on whether it's a title, and partly a matter of convention. Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,298 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	Reaver  +  189212 Fri, 27 Jan 06 01:50 AM a)  You do not capitalize government unless it appears as part of the name of a specific organization. b)  President follows the same rules as other nouns functioning as personal names.  You capitalize them when they function like names and when they are used in direct address.  For example: What do you think of the doctor? What do you think of the president? Excuse me, Doctor, what do you think of the president? Excuse me, President, what do you think of the doctor. c)  You do not capitalize position titles unless they precede the person's name.  For Example: President Clinton former mayor Lucille Gains Carl Thorn, chairman of the board Hope this helps Reaver Joined on Tue, Jan 3 2006 Indianapolis, Indiana New Member 12 Nouns

	davkett  +  189225 Fri, 27 Jan 06 02:31 AM  Reaver wrote: c)  You do not capitalize position titles unless they precede the person's name.  If the question, "What do you think of the president?" refers to a specific president of the United States, it would be written, "What do you think of the President?" davkett Joined on Tue, Jun 7 2005 Pennsylvania, USA Senior Member 2,788 "The rose stays fresh in its name..." -Bernard of Morlay

	Reaver  +  189237 Fri, 27 Jan 06 03:43 AM  Davkett wrote: If the question, "What do you think of the president?" refers to a specific president of the United States, it would be written, "What do you think of the President?" Agreed.  In that case, you would capitalize it.  I expect that the general or specific nature of the use would be apparent from the surrounding context. Reaver

	Clive  +  189271 Fri, 27 Jan 06 06:10 AM Hi guys, Example 1 - Look, there's a butcher, a baker and a president. The president just sat down, but the baker and the butcher didn't. Example 2 - I've never met George Bush before, but look, I've been invited to have dinner with the President.  In both of these examples, it's a specific reference, but in #2, the word 'president ' is capitalized because it is used as a title. Best wishes, Clive   Clive