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Discussion Groups / English Usage / July 2009Subject case
In English, there is a case rule called »title case« that possibly also might be used for headings, where most words, except some very short words, are written in uppercase. In German, only the first word is capitalized in such a case. In Usenet, it seems as if even in English language newsgroups the German style is adopted for the subject of Usenet posts (that is, for the header line starting with »Subject: «). There, often the first word is written in uppercase, but not the following words (except in cases where they would be written in uppercase when used in a sentence). Or, is this another English case rule? If so, does it even have a name, similar to »title case«? It is as if the subject line is written like a sentence, but usually without being a sentence and without a full stop (period). Can one argue that actually title case should be used for the subject line, which acts like the title of post? Can there be a specific reason why title case is not used, maybe because it is too complicated (that is, the exact list of words not written in uppercase is not generally agreed upon, so one has to make elaborate decisions which list to choose, and this might differ from author to author, so that it will be less homogeneous). > In English, there is a case rule called »title case« that > possibly also might be used for headings, where most words, [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > It is as if the subject line is written like a sentence, but > usually without being a sentence and without a full stop (period). Although it is not a complete sentence it is written in "sentence case". > Can one argue that actually title case should be used > for the subject line, which acts like the title of post? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > list to choose, and this might differ from author to author, > so that it will be less homogeneous). This is a matter of style and convention. There is no fixed rule. Publishers and organisations chose a style they wish to use. See the Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_case#Headings_and_publication_titles In English-language publications, varying conventions are used for capitalizing words in publication titles and headlines, including chapter and section headings. The rules differ substantially between individual house styles. <examples of 9 different styles> It then discusses the group of styles known as "title case". These styles are common in US publications. It says: Of these various styles, only the practice of capitalizing nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives but not articles, conjunctions or prepositions (though some styles except long prepositions) is considered correct in formal American English writing, according to most style guides, though others are found in less formal settings. British publishers tend to use "sentence case", and: [Sentence case] is also widely used in the U.S., especially in bibliographic references and library catalogues. Examples of global publishers whose English-language house styles prescribe sentence-case titles and headings include the International Organization for Standardization. I have never seen a rule or recommendation for capitalisation in Usenet subject lines (should that be "Subject lines"?). Some Usenet posters are skilled typists, the rest of us are not. It take extra effort to insert capital letters so it makes sense to use sentence case and to capitalise only those words that need it: proper nouns (proper names).  SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) > In English, there is a case rule called »title case« that In English, "»" and "«" are not quotation marks. (Personally I wish they were; I don't like the way the ones we do have are overloaded with other meanings. But I prefer the French style, where they're used in the opposite order; it fits better with the appearance of other paired marks like "(...)" and "[...]".) > possibly also might be used for headings, where most words, > except some very short words, are written in uppercase. It is better to say "are capitalized". "Written in uppercase" really means "block-capitalized", LIKE THIS. > In German, only the first word is capitalized in such a case. > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > but not the following words (except in cases where they > would be written in uppercase when used in a sentence). > If so, does it even have a name, similar to »title case«? Writing titles that way is sometimes called "downstyle"; the style where most of the words are capitalized is then "upstyle". For Usenet Subject lines, I don't see either style as wrong; it's a matter of preference. Most people prefer downstyle, and this may influence others to conform to it. There's been a trend since the mid 20th century to use capital letters less often in English. > Can one argue that actually title case should be used > for the subject line, which acts like the title of post? One can, but it's still a matter of preference. > Can there be a specific reason why title case is not used, > maybe because it is too complicated ... No. Sometimes it *is* used. I've been known to use it myself. SignatureMark Brader, Toronto This is a signature antibody. Please msb@vex.net remove any viruses from your signature. My text in this article is in the public domain. |
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