York University follows a modified lowercase style. The basic rule is to capitalize all proper names, trade names, government departments and agencies of government, names of centres, departments, Faculties, universities, associations, companies, clubs, religions, languages, nations, races, places and addresses. Otherwise, lowercase is favoured where a reasonable option exists. Uppercase slows down the readability and comprehensibility of a sentence.
The Canadian Press Caps and Spelling should be used for other items.
In general use, subjects should be listed in lowercase.
- She is majoring in geography.
- He enjoys his mathematics course.
Exception: When you are describing a subject that is also a language, culture or religion, capitalize it.
- She is an English major.
- He is doing well in his Spanish course.
- York is one of the few universities in the country to offer Jewish studies.
When a subject is being described by its official or short-form name, course or program title, it should be capitalized.
- She teaches in the Department of Geography at York.
- He is taking a course called Elements of Discrete Mathematics.
- Space & Communications Science is one of the specialized streams of study within Earth & Atmospheric Science.
Words such as department, division, centre and program are only capitalized when they are part of a formal or informal name. Proper names, titles of programs, names of Faculties, colleges and departments may be capitalized in the first reference but can be shortened and lowercased for subsequent reference.
| First reference | Subsequent references |
| the Division of Humanities or the Humanities Division | the division |
| the Department of Dance or the Dance Department | the department |
| Calumet College or Calumet | the college |
| the University Board of Governors or York University Board of Governors | the board or University Board of Governors |
| University Senate | the senate |
Lowercase should be used when the context is general, or in the second and subsequent references to a department, college or body whose full name has already been given.
- The humanities courses are popular among undergraduate students.
- All departments must submit their budget projections next week.
- The Department of Dance (uppercase on first reference) is part of the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design.
- The Dance Department is unique in Canada. The department offers a wide range of courses related to different periods in dance history. (Lowercase in all subsequent references, where it is clear which department is being discussed, and where no other departments are mentioned in the same context.)
- Calumet College is located at the west end of the campus. (Uppercase on first reference.) The college’s mandate is technology and the arts. (Lowercase on second and subsequent references.)
- The York University Board of Governors held its first annual meeting. The board meeting ended at 7 p.m.
In plural use, when more than one department or division is being described, use lowercase for the common noun.
- The departments of History and Political Science both offer…
Exceptions:
Faculty
In the case of the word Faculty, where there are two meanings, use the uppercase Faculty when you mean the academic division. When you mean a group of professors, use the lowercase: the faculty.
- The Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies is the largest at York. The Faculty offers a wide range of courses in many subject areas.
- The York faculty union is YUFA.
University
When referring to York, or when York University is implied, the “U” is always capitalized, even in subsequent references.
- The University is located in Toronto.
- It was a pan-University event.
The “u” is lowercased when referring to another university or universities in general.
- York University scientists attended a symposium at the University of Hong Kong. They said the university hosting the event was well equipped. (refers to U of HK)
- The university today faces the challenge of declining government funds and escalating costs. (refers to universities in general)
The “u” is always lowercase in the plural, when more than one university is mentioned, including York University.
- Rutgers, Yale and York universities were well represented at the conference.
Note: When a phrase refers to an administrative unit it should be capitalized. When it refers to an individual’s title it should be lowercased. (See Capitalizing job titles section.)
- The Vice-President University Advancement produces the annual PBA document.
The vice-president university advancement chaired the meeting
Capitalize specific international, national and provincial government departments, ministries, agencies, boards, etc., including short forms of the proper name.
- Ontario Ministry of Education
- B.C. Highways Ministry
- Canada Post Corp. (on first reference), Canada Post (on subsequent references)
- Liquor Control Board of Ontario
Capitalize cabinet portfolios only as part of a title directly preceding a name.
- Health Minister Georgia Pape
but
- Georgia Pape, federal minister of health
Lowercase the cabinet member’s title in subsequent reference and when it stands alone.
- Finance Minister Bernard Hannon addressed the House of Commons yesterday. The finance minister spoke again about the budget he released last week.
Capitalize descriptions of the department or ministry that refer to their proper name, even when they stand alone.
- The cuts will affect Justice and Communications.
- Over 25 years, she worked in Archives, Housing and Natural Resources.
Lowercase common nouns related to government ministries standing alone and in a group (plural references), and in subsequent references.
- the department, a ministry spokesperson, board members, the authority
- The departments of Justice and Defence
Capitalize formal titles – academic titles and those that are an integral part of a person’s identity – when they directly precede the name.
- York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton
- Vice-President Academic and Provost Lisa Philipps
- Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies Dean J.J. McMurtry
- President Emeritus Murray G. Ross is a member of the York University Founders Honour Society
When the title comes after the name, it should be lowercased (with the exception of the title “Chair”).
- Rhonda L. Lenton, president and vice-chancellor of York University
- Lisa Philipps, vice-president academic and provost
- J.J. McMurtry, dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
- Marshall McCall, Chair of the Department of Physics & Astronomy
- Murray G. Ross, founding president emeritus of York University
When the title is written without the name, it should be lowercased (with the exception of the title “Chair”).
- The president made a speech to the senate.
- The dean spoke to the new students for the first time.
An exception to the above rules are the honorific titles Distinguished Research Professor and University Professor, which are always capitalized, even after a name.
When combining a job title with an academic subject, the subject or program should not be capitalized.
- Adrienne Jones, professor of physics, led the seminar.
After the full name and title have been given once, use only the surname in subsequent references.
- York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton addressed the Canadian Club last week. In her speech, Lenton described her university sector experience, both as an administrator and as a former student.
- Professor Robert Darnell is teaching an undergraduate psychology course. Darnell is a visiting lecturer from Australia.
Chair – Always capitalize Chair when you are referring to someone’s title to distinguish it from other meanings.
- The Chair of the York University Board of Governors officially opens the meetings.
- A new Chair of the Philosophy Department was appointed.
But lowercase it when you are using it as a verb.
- He chaired the meeting.
- He will chair this important meeting.
Lowercase occupational titles. Titles of officials of companies, unions, political organizations and the like are also lowercased.
- Widget president Barbara Sansom, CAW secretary Margaret Wilson, defenceman Patrick Keenan, general manager Art Simpson, commissioner Bert Nobby, coach Guy Lebrun, astronaut John Young
Note: When a phrase refers to an administrative unit, it should be capitalized. When it refers to an individual’s title, it should be lowercased. (See also Capitalization departments and administrative units section.)
- The Vice-President University Advancement produces the annual PBA document.
- The vice-president university advancement chaired the meeting.
(See The Canadian Press Stylebook for more information on titles.)
In titles of plays, books, etc., capitalize the first and last words and all nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives. Avoid capitalizing the prepositions, conjunctions and articles, unless they are the first or last word of the title.
- The Merchant of Venice
- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
- To the Lighthouse
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Honours
When one is referring to a title or degree, always capitalize the “H.”
- The Specialized Honours program is very attractive to students.
- He earned a BA (Honours) in philosophy.
When referring to someone being “honoured” with an award, use the lowercase.
- Professor Manbeck was honoured by the Canadian Psychological Association.
Names of races
Capitalize the proper names of nationalities, peoples, races and tribes.
- Indigenous Peoples, Arab, Caucasian, French Canadian, Inuit, Latin, Asian, Cree, etc.
Joint nationalities/identities are not hyphenated.
- French Canadian
(See Sensitive subjects and preferred language section.)
The
The word “the” is capitalized at the start of titles of books, magazines, movies, TV programs, songs, paintings and other compositions.
The is not capitalized at the start of names of such works as almanacs, the Bible, directories, encyclopedias and handbooks.
When “the” is capitalized in a geographical name, retain the capitalization: The Pas, The Hague, El Salvador. But the Netherlands, the Congo.
For consistency, lowercase “the” in all other names: companies, associations, institutions, newspapers, documents, laws, awards, ships, trains, nicknames, rock groups and so on.