Capitalizing personal titles

Capitalize titles of persons when used as part of a proper name. Generally, when the title is used alone, it is not capitalized.

Prof. Margaret Barnes; Dr. Sinyee Sein; John Scott Williams Jr.; Anne Tilton, LLD

Example sentence: Professional schools help prepare doctors and lawyers for a range of careers.

Example sentence: District Attorney Marshall was reprimanded for badgering the witness.

Example sentence: The district attorney was elected for a two-year term.

Usage varies when the title of an important public figure is used alone.

Example sentence: The president vetoed the bill.

Example sentence: The President vetoed the bill.

Exercise: Capitalization

Related topic:

Abbreviations of titles with proper names