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Index C
- caddie
- caddy
- Caesar
- Caesarean
- Caesarism
- caldron
- Calgarian
- Calgary
- call a halt to
- call an end to
- call into question
- camomile
- Canada
- Canada Day
- Canadian dollar (symbol) (Linguistic recommendation from the Translation Bureau)
- Canadianisms: Prairies
- CANDU
- Candu
- can not
- cannot
- cantaloup
- cantaloupe
- canvas
- canvass
- capable of
- capacity for
- capital
- capitalization: astronomical terms
- capitalization: biological terms
- capitalization: buildings
- capitalization: chemical and medical terms
- capitalization: compounds
- capitalization: copyrighted names
- capitalization: cultural periods
- capitalization: deities
- capitalization: family relationships
- capitalization: general points
- capitalization: geographical terms
- capitalization: governments and government bodies
- capitalization: headings
- capitalization: initial words
- capitalization: institutions
- capitalization: legal usage
- capitalization: lists
- capitalization: medals
- capitalization: military terms
- capitalization: modes of transportation
- capitalization: names of institutions
- capitalization of logos
- capitalization: parts of a book or document
- capitalization: personal names
- capitalization: personifications and abstractions
- capitalization: political parties and movements
- capitalization: publications and works of art
- capitalization: races; languages; peoples
- capitalization: salutation and complimentary close
- capitalization: school subjects
- capitalization: scientific names containing personal names
- capitalization: seasons
- capitalization: SI/metric units
- capitalization: single letters used as words
- capitalization: sporting events and trophies
- capitalization: terms indicating time or sequence
- capitalization: terms related to religion
- capitalization: time references and historical periods and events
- capitalization: words derived from proper nouns
- capitalizing member of Parliament
- capitalizing shortened titles
- capital letters for emphasis
- capitals in titles of office or rank
- Capitol
- carat
- caret
- Cariboo
- caribou
- carousal
- carousel
- carrot
- carrousel
- carry out an examination of
- case law
- cast
- caste
- catalyse
- catalyze
- cater-corner
- catsup
- cauldron
- CDT
- ceed and cede
- CEGEP
- censor
- censure
- centi-
- Central Daylight Time
- Central Standard Time
- centre on
- chamomile
- chaperon
- chaperone
- chapter and verse
- characteristic
- chargeable
- Charlottetonian
- Charlottetown
- Charlottetowner
- Chechen
- check
- check in
- check-in
- cheque
- chord
- Christmas
- circum-
- cite
- City of Gardens
- City of Québec
- classic
- classical
- clear communication: choose positive over negative phrasing
- clear communication: coherence
- clear communication: overview of the writing process and techniques
- clear communication: polish your paragraphs
- clear communication: reduce redundancy
- clear communication: responsibilities of writers
- clear communication: simplify your sentences
- clear communication: transition words
- clear communication: turn nouns into verbs
- clear communication: use clear words and expressions
- clear communication: use the active voice
- clear communication: write clear and effective briefing notes
- clear communication: write relevant and effective emails
- clear verbal communication
- cliché
- close proximity
- close scrutiny
- closure
- cloture
- cluster together
- co-
- collectable
- collectible
- collocate
- colloquial
- co-locate
- colon
- coloration
- colour
- colourful
- combat
- combine
- combine together
- come as a disappointment
- comma after a clause acting as subject
- comma before because
- commas for clarity and emphasis
- commas for omitted words
- commas in a date
- commas in geographical names and addresses
- commas properly omitted
- commas with absolute expressions
- commas with adjective clauses
- commas with adverb clauses
- commas with appositives
- commas with direct address
- commas with interjections
- commas with introductory elements
- commas with names and titles
- commas with non-restrictive elements
- commas with parenthetic expressions
- commas with such as
- commas with tag questions
- commence
- commend for
- commensurate with
- common
- compare
- compare to
- compare with
- compass points
- complement
- completely revolutionize
- complex sentence
- compliment (1)
- compliment (2)
- compliment on
- comply with
- compose
- compound-complex sentence
- compound personal pronouns
- compound sentences
- comprise (1)
- comprise (2)
- concern
- concerned
- concur in
- concur with
- conformity with
- conform to
- conjunctive adverb
- connaisseur
- connoisseur
- consensus
- consensus of opinion
- consistent with
- consist in
- consist of
- constitute
- contend with
- continual
- continuous
- contra-
- contrast
- contrast with
- converge on
- conversant with
- coolist
- co-op
- co-operate
- co-operation
- co-operative
- coordinate elements
- coordinating conjunctions
- Coppermine
- copy
- cord
- correlate with
- correlative conjunctions
- correspond to
- correspond with
- cosy
- could have
- could of
- could’ve
- council
- councillor
- counsel
- counsellor
- counter-
- couple more
- couple of
- courses and degrees
- Cowtown
- cozy
- cracker
- Croat
- Croatian
- CST
- cue
- cue up
- culminate in
- custom
- Cypro-
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capitalization: words derived from proper nouns
The general guidelines below will help you to decide whether to capitalize a word derived from a proper noun. However, check proper noun derivatives carefully. Usage in this regard is not standardized.
Adjectives
As a general rule, capitalize a name used adjectivally or an adjective derived from a proper noun:
- Digby chicken
- Canadian whisky
- Franciscan friar
- Newtonian physics
Proper adjectives are associated with the person or place from whose name they are derived. When this association is remote, the adjective becomes common and in most cases no longer takes a capital, as illustrated below:
- bohemian lifestyle
- chinaware
- french fry
- manila envelope
- platonic relationship
Verbs
Verbs derived from proper nouns are also capitalized unless their association with the proper noun is remote:
- Germanize
- Russify
but
- italicize
- vulcanize
Exception: Note that the verb anglicize is now usually spelled with a lower case a.
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