Simone Lawson
When writing about the US Constitution, it can be tricky to know whether to use a capital or lowercase c. While constitutional is always lowercase because it is an adjective, the general rule is that when constitution is being used as a common noun, it should be lowercase, and when it is being used as a proper noun, it should be capitalized. When referring specifically to the US Constitution, it is typically capitalized, as it is a proper noun and a named, legally binding document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When referring to the US Constitution | Capitalize |
| When referring to the constitution as an adjective | Lowercase |
| When referring to the constitution descriptively | Lowercase |
| When referring to a specific country's constitution | Capitalize |
| When referring to a government document | Capitalize |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution is a proper noun
The US Constitution is often treated as a proper noun and thus capitalized, especially in American English. This is due to the American veneration for their political system's institutions, which has elevated the status of certain terms to that of proper nouns. However, this is not a universal rule, and some style guides, such as the UK's Guardian, choose not to capitalize these terms.
When using the word "constitution" as an adjective or in a descriptive manner, it is written in lowercase. For example, one might say, "Our singing group needs a better constitution," or refer to something being "constitutional" or "unconstitutional". In these cases, "constitution" is not being used as a proper noun and does not require capitalization.
It is important to note that the capitalization of "constitution" can also depend on the context and style of the writing. While it is generally accepted that the US Constitution is capitalized in American English, the convention may vary in other countries or when following specific style guides.
In summary, when specifically referring to the US Constitution as the founding document of the United States, it is appropriate to capitalize it as a proper noun. However, when using "constitution" in a more general or descriptive sense, it is written in lowercase.
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'Constitutional' is an adjective and is not capitalised
When discussing the US Constitution, it is important to distinguish between the document itself and the adjective derived from it. While "Constitution" with a capital "C" specifically refers to the founding document of the United States, "constitutional" is an adjective that describes something related to or in accordance with this document.
The capitalisation of "Constitution" when referring to the US Constitution is a convention that reflects the American reverence for their political system and its institutions. This veneration has elevated the term "Constitution" to the status of a proper noun when specifically referring to this document. Thus, when using "Constitution" as a shorthand reference to "The Constitution of the United States of America" or "The US Constitution", it is customary to capitalise it.
However, the adjective "constitutional" is not afforded the same capitalised status. Adjectives derived from proper nouns are not generally capitalised, and "constitutional" falls into this category. For example, one might refer to "a constitutional amendment" or "an unconstitutional act", with "constitutional" remaining lowercase in both instances.
This distinction between the capitalised proper noun "Constitution" and the lowercase adjective "constitutional" is an important one to maintain. It helps to clarify whether one is referring specifically to the US Constitution as a named document or using "constitutional" more generally to describe something related to or in accordance with this document.
In summary, while "Constitution" is capitalised when referring specifically to the US Constitution, "constitutional" is an adjective that is not capitalised. This adherence to linguistic convention ensures clear and consistent communication when discussing the US Constitution and its associated concepts.
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'Constitution' is not a proper noun but is capitalised in the US
The word "constitution" is not a proper noun and, as such, should not be capitalised. However, in the US, the word is often capitalised when referring to the country's founding document. This is due to the American reverence for their political system's institutions, which has elevated the term to the status of a proper noun.
When discussing a named document, committee, or similar entity, it is common to capitalise a common word used as shorthand for the entity's full name. For example, in an article about "The Constitution of the United States of America" or "The US Constitution", it is standard practice to use the shorthand "the Constitution" after initially writing out the full name. This practice is also reflected in the media style guides of some publications.
The Chicago Manual of Style, for instance, advises capitalising "Constitution" when referring to the US Constitution. Similarly, when referring to specific country constitutions, treating "Constitution" as a proper noun and capitalising it is common. This is evident in the citation format for the US Constitution, where subdivisions and names are capitalised.
However, it is important to distinguish between the noun "Constitution" and the adjective "constitutional", which is never capitalised. For example, one would write about a constitutional amendment in lowercase. Additionally, when using "constitution" descriptively or as an adjective, it should be lowercase. For instance, "our club needs a new constitution" or "this website censored me, and it's unconstitutional".
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Capitalisation is dependent on style and context
The capitalisation of "constitution" depends on the style guide being used and the context in which it is being applied.
When referring to the US Constitution as a specific, legally binding document, it is often capitalised. This is because, despite "constitution" not being a proper noun, American reverence for their political system's institutions has elevated the term to proper-noun status. This is reflected in media style guides, which often prescribe capitalisation in this context. For example, "America's original Constitution has been stored in the National Archives".
However, when used as an adjective or in a descriptive sense, "constitution" should be lowercase. For instance, "our club needs a new constitution" or "this website censored me, and that's unconstitutional".
In general, when discussing a named document, committee, or similar entity, a common word in the official title may be capitalised when used as shorthand. For example, in an article about "The Constitution of the United States of America", it would be normal to use "the Constitution" as a shorthand term after the full name has been initially spelled out. This convention is not universal, however, and some publications, like *The Guardian*, may choose not to capitalise these terms, even for UK institutions.
It is worth noting that different countries may have different conventions for capitalising terms related to their political systems.
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The UK's Guardian does not capitalise 'constitution'
When it comes to the question of capitalising the word "constitution", there are a few rules to consider. Firstly, the word is generally not a proper noun and therefore shouldn't be capitalised. However, when referring to the specific founding document of a country, such as "the Constitution" of the United States, it is often capitalised as a sign of respect for the political system and its institutions. This is a common convention in the US, and other English-speaking countries may follow suit.
However, The Guardian, a UK-based publication, takes a different approach. It often chooses not to capitalise terms like "constitution", even when referring to the US Constitution, and it only capitalises "Queen" when specifically referring to Queen Elizabeth II. This stance is somewhat iconoclastic, even among UK media outlets.
The decision to capitalise "constitution" or not depends on the style guide and conventions of the publication or country in question. When referring to the US Constitution, it is common to capitalise it as a shorthand term after the full name has been mentioned once in an article. For example, "The Constitution of the United States of America" or "The US Constitution" may be abbreviated as "the Constitution" in subsequent references.
Additionally, when using "constitution" as an adjective or in a descriptive sense, it is always lowercase. For example, one would write about a "constitutional amendment" or how "our club needs a new constitution". This rule applies to state constitutions as well, which are not capitalised in textual sentences.
In summary, while there are general guidelines, the capitalisation of "constitution" can vary depending on the context, style guide, and country-specific conventions. The UK's Guardian, in particular, takes a unique approach by not capitalising the term, even when referring to the US Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, when referring to the US Constitution as a legally binding document, the word 'constitution' should be capitalized. For example, "America's original Constitution has been stored in the National Archives".
The word 'constitution' is capitalized when referring to the US Constitution as it is treated as a proper noun.
The word 'constitution' should not be capitalized when used as an adjective or in a descriptive manner. For example, "This website censored me, and it is unconstitutional".
