Omar Bennett
The capitalization of the word constitution depends on the context and style guidelines. While it is not a proper noun and generally shouldn't be capitalized, it is often capitalized when referring specifically to the Constitution of the United States or another country's constitution by its full name. This capitalization emphasizes the significance and uniqueness of the document. However, when used in a generic sense or when referring to a different country's constitution without using its full name, it is typically written in lower case as constitution. The decision to capitalize or not is also influenced by the publication's style guide, with some sources recommending capitalization in specific contexts, such as when referring to a named document or committee.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to capitalise 'constitution' | When referring to the U.S. Constitution or another constitution by its full name, capitalise 'constitution'. |
| When referring to a specific country's constitution, it is common to capitalise 'constitution'. | |
| When 'constitution' is the first word in a sentence, it should be capitalised. | |
| When 'constitution' is used as a shorthand name for a specific document, committee, etc., it may be capitalised. | |
| In American law, if a noun that is not a proper noun is capitalised in a contract, statute, regulation, or ordinance, it indicates that the term is defined elsewhere in the document. | |
| In the UK, the media style guide of 'The Guardian' often chooses not to capitalise 'constitution'. |
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What You'll Learn
Capitalization of 'Constitution' when referring to a specific country's constitution
The general rule is that when referring to a specific country's constitution, the word "constitution" is treated as a proper noun and should be capitalized. For example, "In China's 1978 Constitution, we can see that..." However, this rule seems to be primarily applied to the United States Constitution, where it is common practice to capitalize "Constitution" as a shorthand term after the full name has been initially stated in an article or text.
The decision to capitalize or not is often guided by media style guides, and different countries may have different conventions. In the United States, there is a veneration for the political system's institutions, which has elevated these terms to the status of proper nouns. However, in the United Kingdom, publications like the Guardian may choose not to capitalize these terms, even when referring to their own institutions or the Queen.
Additionally, the use of capitalization in the US Constitution itself has been a topic of discussion, with some noting that most, if not all, nouns in the document are capitalized. This differs from the traditional attitude in English law, which held that punctuation and paragraphing should not be used as aids to interpreting legislation.
In summary, when referring to a specific country's constitution, it is generally recommended to capitalize the word "constitution" as a proper noun. However, the specific conventions and style guides of different countries and publications may vary, leading to different practices in capitalization.
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Capitalization of nouns in the US Constitution
The US Constitution is a significant document in the country's history, and its capitalisation has been a topic of discussion and analysis. The use of capitalisation in the Constitution has evolved over time and is part of a sociolinguistic process. While the specific rules and conventions regarding capitalisation have changed, the Constitution's language retains certain capitalisation conventions.
In the eighteenth century, the use of initial capital letters was more common, and it was typical to capitalise all nouns. However, by the 1750s, this practice began to decline due to pressure from writers who wanted more flexibility in emphasising specific words. This shift in linguistic style led to the eventual abandonment of universal noun capitalisation.
In the US Constitution, there appears to be a mix of capitalisation practices. While most nouns are capitalised, there are exceptions, such as the word "defence" in the preamble. Additionally, certain adjectives and common nouns take initial capitals, such as "Judicial," "Citizens," "Subjects," "Foreign," and "State." This inconsistent usage raises questions about the drafters' decisions regarding capitalisation.
The convention in American law suggests that a noun that is not a proper noun and is capitalised indicates that it is defined elsewhere in the document. This convention helps identify important terms and their specific meanings within the legal context. However, it is worth noting that the US Constitution's capitalisation may not align with modern conventions, as it was drafted during a period of linguistic transition.
When referring to a specific country's constitution, it is generally treated as a proper noun and capitalised. This is especially true when using a common word as a shorthand name for the official title, such as "The Constitution" when referring to "The Constitution of the United States of America." This capitalisation serves as a linguistic convention to distinguish the specific document being discussed.
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US Constitution: a named document or committee
The US Constitution is a named document, officially titled "The Constitution of the United States of America". It is also sometimes referred to as "The US Constitution". As a named document, it is generally appropriate to capitalise "Constitution" when referring to it in this context. This is a common practice when using a common word from the official title as a shorthand name for the entity.
The US Constitution is a written document that serves as the supreme law of the United States of America. It establishes the framework of the federal government and outlines the powers and responsibilities of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Constitution is interpreted, supplemented, and implemented by a body of federal constitutional law, and it has undergone amendments since its original drafting.
The process of drafting the US Constitution involved several committees and conventions. One notable committee was the Committee of Detail, which included representatives from various states, such as John Rutledge from South Carolina and Edmund Randolph from Virginia. This committee played a crucial role in drafting the detailed content of the Constitution.
The final document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus and presented to Congress. The Constitution was ratified by the Americans in the late 1780s, and it superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The ratification process involved obtaining unanimous consent from the states, with Benjamin Franklin playing a pivotal role in achieving consensus.
In terms of capitalisation, it is worth noting that the US Constitution itself follows a unique capitalisation style. While it generally adheres to the practice of capitalising proper nouns, there are instances where common nouns are capitalised, contributing to a distinct constitutional style of capitalisation.
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US Constitution: a proper noun
The rules for capitalizing the word "constitution" depend on the context and style of the document.
Technically, the word "constitution" is not a proper noun, so it doesn't need to be capitalized. However, when referring to a specific country's constitution, such as the US Constitution, it is common to treat it as a proper noun and capitalize it. This is a linguistic convention where the word becomes a proper noun when it is part of a title. For example, when referring to "The Constitution of the United States of America" or "The US Constitution," it is standard to use the capitalized form "the Constitution" as a shorthand term after the full name has been mentioned once.
The convention in American law is that if a noun that is not typically a proper noun is capitalized in a contract, statute, or regulation, it indicates that the term is defined elsewhere in the document. This may explain why the US Constitution, ratified in the late 1780s, is often capitalized, as it is a specific reference to the nation's founding document.
Additionally, the decision to capitalize certain terms can be influenced by media style guides and the attitude of the publication. For example, the UK publication The Guardian may choose not to capitalize such terms, even for UK institutions.
In summary, while "constitution" is not inherently a proper noun, it is often treated as one when referring to the US Constitution, emphasizing the significance of this document in American political and legal discourse.
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US Constitution: a stochastic sociolinguistic process
The use of capitalisation in the US Constitution has been a topic of discussion and debate. While the word "constitution" is not a proper noun and thus does not require capitalisation, it is often capitalised when referring specifically to the US Constitution or America's Constitution. This capitalisation can be seen as an indication of the American veneration for their political system and its institutions, elevating these terms to the status of proper nouns.
A stochastic process, or random process, can be defined as a collection of random variables that are indexed by some mathematical set. Each random variable is associated with an element in the set, known as the index set. The values of a stochastic process can be numbers, vectors, or other mathematical objects, and they can have multiple outcomes due to their randomness. In the context of the US Constitution, the process of determining capitalisation can be considered a stochastic sociolinguistic process. This suggests that the capitalisation practices within the document were influenced by the social and linguistic norms of the time.
The use of extra initial capitals in English writing increased during the first half of the eighteenth century, reaching nearly 100% by the 1750s. However, this practice was later abandoned due to pressure from writers who wanted to emphasise individual words. The ratified version of the US Constitution from the late 1780s reflects this shift, as it differs in punctuation and capitalisation from the official printed archetype, which had remained a secret for many years.
While the specific reasons behind the capitalisation choices in the US Constitution are not clear, it appears that most, if not all, nouns in the document are capitalised. This inconsistent capitalisation can be seen in the preamble, where the noun "defence" is not capitalised while all other nouns are. The varying capitalisation practices within the US Constitution highlight the stochastic nature of the process, influenced by the linguistic conventions and preferences of the time.
Constructing a statistical model of capitalisation practices during the relevant time period could provide valuable insights into the sociolinguistic processes that shaped the US Constitution. However, it is important to note that the US Constitution is a legal document, and the use of capitalisation within it may have been intended to provide clarity or emphasis on certain terms. The capitalisation choices may also have been influenced by the conventions of American law at the time, where the capitalisation of a term could indicate that it is defined elsewhere in the document.
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Frequently asked questions
The word "constitution" is not a proper noun, so it shouldn't be capitalized. However, when referring to the US Constitution, it is common practice to capitalize the word as it is part of the document's title.
The decision to capitalize certain terms is often codified in media style guides. The US Constitution is often capitalized out of veneration for the country's political system and its institutions.
Yes, when referring to a specific country's constitution by its full name, it is generally treated as a proper noun and capitalized. For example, "In the 1978 Constitution of China...".
In legal writing, it is common to see the term "constitution" capitalized, especially when referring to a specific country's constitution. This is because, in law, a capitalized term typically indicates that it is defined elsewhere in the document.
No, the adjective "constitutional" is never capitalized, even when referring to the US Constitution. For example, "federal constitutional law".
