Capitalization of biological abbreviations at the beginning of a sentence
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In the beginning of a sentence, should I capitalize abbreviations such as the following:
- hPSC (human pluripotent stem cell)
- mESC (mouse embryonic stem cell)
- rDNA (recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid)
I have seen both lower and upper case for the two first, while rDNA always seems to be in lower case. I'm curious which is the linguistically correct form.
capitalization abbreviations
asked Apr 8 '13 at 23:33
joelostblomjoelostblom
13817
add a comment |
In the beginning of a sentence, should I capitalize abbreviations such as the following:
- hPSC (human pluripotent stem cell)
- mESC (mouse embryonic stem cell)
- rDNA (recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid)
I have seen both lower and upper case for the two first, while rDNA always seems to be in lower case. I'm curious which is the linguistically correct form.
capitalization abbreviations
asked Apr 8 '13 at 23:33
joelostblomjoelostblom
13817
Wikipedia, at least, seems to use the lowercase letter at the beginning of a sentence, for example see the article on mRNA: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRNA
– jbeldock
Apr 8 '13 at 23:46
2
Apparently, the Chicago Manual of Style's 16th edition includes a new provision permitting sentences beginning with a brand name (e.g. iPad, iPod) which starts with a lowercase letter to retain the lowercase letter: chicagomanualofstyle.org/about16_rules.html. This might be analogous.
– jbeldock
Apr 8 '13 at 23:51
Yeah, I use the same approach as Wikipedia on this one. I am, however, curious if there exist a correct and incorrect approach. I don't think the iPad rule applies since these are abbreviations rather than names, but it's an interesting one nonetheless.
– joelostblom
Apr 8 '13 at 23:58
We also see this in mathematics. Do not begin a sentence with a variable like x . Instead, re-word. Some extra meaningless word may be used. "Now x is..." or "Then x is..." or "Note x is..."
– GEdgar
yesterday
This is a style issue, rather than "correctness". If you are writing for someone else (eg. a journal, then check their guidelines). If there are no such guidelines, then choose your style and be consistent.
– James Random
yesterday
add a comment |
In the beginning of a sentence, should I capitalize abbreviations such as the following:
- hPSC (human pluripotent stem cell)
- mESC (mouse embryonic stem cell)
- rDNA (recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid)
I have seen both lower and upper case for the two first, while rDNA always seems to be in lower case. I'm curious which is the linguistically correct form.
capitalization abbreviations
asked Apr 8 '13 at 23:33
joelostblomjoelostblom
13817
In the beginning of a sentence, should I capitalize abbreviations such as the following:
- hPSC (human pluripotent stem cell)
- mESC (mouse embryonic stem cell)
- rDNA (recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid)
I have seen both lower and upper case for the two first, while rDNA always seems to be in lower case. I'm curious which is the linguistically correct form.
capitalization abbreviations
capitalization abbreviations
asked Apr 8 '13 at 23:33
joelostblomjoelostblom
13817
asked Apr 8 '13 at 23:33
joelostblomjoelostblom
13817
asked Apr 8 '13 at 23:33
joelostblomjoelostblom
13817
asked Apr 8 '13 at 23:33
joelostblomjoelostblom
13817
asked Apr 8 '13 at 23:33
joelostblomjoelostblom
13817
13817
Wikipedia, at least, seems to use the lowercase letter at the beginning of a sentence, for example see the article on mRNA: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRNA
– jbeldock
Apr 8 '13 at 23:46
2
Apparently, the Chicago Manual of Style's 16th edition includes a new provision permitting sentences beginning with a brand name (e.g. iPad, iPod) which starts with a lowercase letter to retain the lowercase letter: chicagomanualofstyle.org/about16_rules.html. This might be analogous.
– jbeldock
Apr 8 '13 at 23:51
Yeah, I use the same approach as Wikipedia on this one. I am, however, curious if there exist a correct and incorrect approach. I don't think the iPad rule applies since these are abbreviations rather than names, but it's an interesting one nonetheless.
– joelostblom
Apr 8 '13 at 23:58
We also see this in mathematics. Do not begin a sentence with a variable like x . Instead, re-word. Some extra meaningless word may be used. "Now x is..." or "Then x is..." or "Note x is..."
– GEdgar
yesterday
This is a style issue, rather than "correctness". If you are writing for someone else (eg. a journal, then check their guidelines). If there are no such guidelines, then choose your style and be consistent.
– James Random
yesterday
add a comment |
Wikipedia, at least, seems to use the lowercase letter at the beginning of a sentence, for example see the article on mRNA: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRNA
– jbeldock
Apr 8 '13 at 23:46
2
Apparently, the Chicago Manual of Style's 16th edition includes a new provision permitting sentences beginning with a brand name (e.g. iPad, iPod) which starts with a lowercase letter to retain the lowercase letter: chicagomanualofstyle.org/about16_rules.html. This might be analogous.
– jbeldock
Apr 8 '13 at 23:51
Yeah, I use the same approach as Wikipedia on this one. I am, however, curious if there exist a correct and incorrect approach. I don't think the iPad rule applies since these are abbreviations rather than names, but it's an interesting one nonetheless.
– joelostblom
Apr 8 '13 at 23:58
We also see this in mathematics. Do not begin a sentence with a variable like x . Instead, re-word. Some extra meaningless word may be used. "Now x is..." or "Then x is..." or "Note x is..."
– GEdgar
yesterday
This is a style issue, rather than "correctness". If you are writing for someone else (eg. a journal, then check their guidelines). If there are no such guidelines, then choose your style and be consistent.
– James Random
yesterday
Wikipedia, at least, seems to use the lowercase letter at the beginning of a sentence, for example see the article on mRNA: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRNA
– jbeldock
Apr 8 '13 at 23:46
Wikipedia, at least, seems to use the lowercase letter at the beginning of a sentence, for example see the article on mRNA: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRNA
– jbeldock
Apr 8 '13 at 23:46
2
2
Apparently, the Chicago Manual of Style's 16th edition includes a new provision permitting sentences beginning with a brand name (e.g. iPad, iPod) which starts with a lowercase letter to retain the lowercase letter: chicagomanualofstyle.org/about16_rules.html. This might be analogous.
– jbeldock
Apr 8 '13 at 23:51
Apparently, the Chicago Manual of Style's 16th edition includes a new provision permitting sentences beginning with a brand name (e.g. iPad, iPod) which starts with a lowercase letter to retain the lowercase letter: chicagomanualofstyle.org/about16_rules.html. This might be analogous.
– jbeldock
Apr 8 '13 at 23:51
Yeah, I use the same approach as Wikipedia on this one. I am, however, curious if there exist a correct and incorrect approach. I don't think the iPad rule applies since these are abbreviations rather than names, but it's an interesting one nonetheless.
– joelostblom
Apr 8 '13 at 23:58
Yeah, I use the same approach as Wikipedia on this one. I am, however, curious if there exist a correct and incorrect approach. I don't think the iPad rule applies since these are abbreviations rather than names, but it's an interesting one nonetheless.
– joelostblom
Apr 8 '13 at 23:58
We also see this in mathematics. Do not begin a sentence with a variable like x . Instead, re-word. Some extra meaningless word may be used. "Now x is..." or "Then x is..." or "Note x is..."
– GEdgar
yesterday
We also see this in mathematics. Do not begin a sentence with a variable like x . Instead, re-word. Some extra meaningless word may be used. "Now x is..." or "Then x is..." or "Note x is..."
– GEdgar
yesterday
This is a style issue, rather than "correctness". If you are writing for someone else (eg. a journal, then check their guidelines). If there are no such guidelines, then choose your style and be consistent.
– James Random
yesterday
This is a style issue, rather than "correctness". If you are writing for someone else (eg. a journal, then check their guidelines). If there are no such guidelines, then choose your style and be consistent.
– James Random
yesterday
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
Whenever you encounter a situation where a "rule" (such as begin a sentence with an upper case letter) will reduce the readability of your test (Is MESC the same as mESC?) then rewrite.
Do not try to find a loophole or a special rule that will need to be explained or justified. The meaning of your text is paramount.
There is a reason why chemistry texts do not begin a sentence about acids and bases with pH.
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:56
FortiterFortiter
4,295915
1
I side with your advice more than my own accepted answer, i.e. do away with the ambiguity altogether!
– Andrew Cheong
Apr 19 '13 at 20:32
Revisiting my question, I also prefer this advice as it explains the reasoning behind the rules of acheong87's answer.
– joelostblom
Jun 19 '13 at 3:21
add a comment |
According to Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers (C B E Style Manual),
Even if the editor chooses a style that calls for initial capitalization of every term, some terms should retain an initial lowercase letter. [...] 3 A standard symbol or abbreviation that begins with a lowercase letter (pH, pK', mRNA).
Also, according to apsstylemanual.org,
An abbreviation that begins with a lowercase letter, or a term that must remain lowercase should not be changed to all caps when it begins a sentence; it should not be expanded. The word following should be is lowercase unless it is a proper noun or another acronym. If possible, reword the sentence so that it does not begin with the lowercase term
I don't see anything (other than the one regarding brand names) in the Chicago Manual of Style.
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:09
Andrew CheongAndrew Cheong
45321026
add a comment |
Because the original post is speaking of abbreviations, I recommend following the rule to spell out the word. For example, mRNA could become "Messenger RNA..."
answered yesterday
Fred L JohnsonFred L Johnson
12
New contributor
Fred L Johnson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Whenever you encounter a situation where a "rule" (such as begin a sentence with an upper case letter) will reduce the readability of your test (Is MESC the same as mESC?) then rewrite.
Do not try to find a loophole or a special rule that will need to be explained or justified. The meaning of your text is paramount.
There is a reason why chemistry texts do not begin a sentence about acids and bases with pH.
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:56
FortiterFortiter
4,295915
1
I side with your advice more than my own accepted answer, i.e. do away with the ambiguity altogether!
– Andrew Cheong
Apr 19 '13 at 20:32
Revisiting my question, I also prefer this advice as it explains the reasoning behind the rules of acheong87's answer.
– joelostblom
Jun 19 '13 at 3:21
add a comment |
Whenever you encounter a situation where a "rule" (such as begin a sentence with an upper case letter) will reduce the readability of your test (Is MESC the same as mESC?) then rewrite.
Do not try to find a loophole or a special rule that will need to be explained or justified. The meaning of your text is paramount.
There is a reason why chemistry texts do not begin a sentence about acids and bases with pH.
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:56
FortiterFortiter
4,295915
1
I side with your advice more than my own accepted answer, i.e. do away with the ambiguity altogether!
– Andrew Cheong
Apr 19 '13 at 20:32
Revisiting my question, I also prefer this advice as it explains the reasoning behind the rules of acheong87's answer.
– joelostblom
Jun 19 '13 at 3:21
add a comment |
Whenever you encounter a situation where a "rule" (such as begin a sentence with an upper case letter) will reduce the readability of your test (Is MESC the same as mESC?) then rewrite.
Do not try to find a loophole or a special rule that will need to be explained or justified. The meaning of your text is paramount.
There is a reason why chemistry texts do not begin a sentence about acids and bases with pH.
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:56
FortiterFortiter
4,295915
Whenever you encounter a situation where a "rule" (such as begin a sentence with an upper case letter) will reduce the readability of your test (Is MESC the same as mESC?) then rewrite.
Do not try to find a loophole or a special rule that will need to be explained or justified. The meaning of your text is paramount.
There is a reason why chemistry texts do not begin a sentence about acids and bases with pH.
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:56
FortiterFortiter
4,295915
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:56
FortiterFortiter
4,295915
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:56
FortiterFortiter
4,295915
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:56
FortiterFortiter
4,295915
4,295915
1
I side with your advice more than my own accepted answer, i.e. do away with the ambiguity altogether!
– Andrew Cheong
Apr 19 '13 at 20:32
Revisiting my question, I also prefer this advice as it explains the reasoning behind the rules of acheong87's answer.
– joelostblom
Jun 19 '13 at 3:21
add a comment |
1
I side with your advice more than my own accepted answer, i.e. do away with the ambiguity altogether!
– Andrew Cheong
Apr 19 '13 at 20:32
Revisiting my question, I also prefer this advice as it explains the reasoning behind the rules of acheong87's answer.
– joelostblom
Jun 19 '13 at 3:21
1
1
I side with your advice more than my own accepted answer, i.e. do away with the ambiguity altogether!
– Andrew Cheong
Apr 19 '13 at 20:32
I side with your advice more than my own accepted answer, i.e. do away with the ambiguity altogether!
– Andrew Cheong
Apr 19 '13 at 20:32
Revisiting my question, I also prefer this advice as it explains the reasoning behind the rules of acheong87's answer.
– joelostblom
Jun 19 '13 at 3:21
Revisiting my question, I also prefer this advice as it explains the reasoning behind the rules of acheong87's answer.
– joelostblom
Jun 19 '13 at 3:21
add a comment |
According to Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers (C B E Style Manual),
Even if the editor chooses a style that calls for initial capitalization of every term, some terms should retain an initial lowercase letter. [...] 3 A standard symbol or abbreviation that begins with a lowercase letter (pH, pK', mRNA).
Also, according to apsstylemanual.org,
An abbreviation that begins with a lowercase letter, or a term that must remain lowercase should not be changed to all caps when it begins a sentence; it should not be expanded. The word following should be is lowercase unless it is a proper noun or another acronym. If possible, reword the sentence so that it does not begin with the lowercase term
I don't see anything (other than the one regarding brand names) in the Chicago Manual of Style.
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:09
Andrew CheongAndrew Cheong
45321026
add a comment |
According to Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers (C B E Style Manual),
Even if the editor chooses a style that calls for initial capitalization of every term, some terms should retain an initial lowercase letter. [...] 3 A standard symbol or abbreviation that begins with a lowercase letter (pH, pK', mRNA).
Also, according to apsstylemanual.org,
An abbreviation that begins with a lowercase letter, or a term that must remain lowercase should not be changed to all caps when it begins a sentence; it should not be expanded. The word following should be is lowercase unless it is a proper noun or another acronym. If possible, reword the sentence so that it does not begin with the lowercase term
I don't see anything (other than the one regarding brand names) in the Chicago Manual of Style.
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:09
Andrew CheongAndrew Cheong
45321026
add a comment |
According to Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers (C B E Style Manual),
Even if the editor chooses a style that calls for initial capitalization of every term, some terms should retain an initial lowercase letter. [...] 3 A standard symbol or abbreviation that begins with a lowercase letter (pH, pK', mRNA).
Also, according to apsstylemanual.org,
An abbreviation that begins with a lowercase letter, or a term that must remain lowercase should not be changed to all caps when it begins a sentence; it should not be expanded. The word following should be is lowercase unless it is a proper noun or another acronym. If possible, reword the sentence so that it does not begin with the lowercase term
I don't see anything (other than the one regarding brand names) in the Chicago Manual of Style.
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:09
Andrew CheongAndrew Cheong
45321026
According to Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers (C B E Style Manual),
Even if the editor chooses a style that calls for initial capitalization of every term, some terms should retain an initial lowercase letter. [...] 3 A standard symbol or abbreviation that begins with a lowercase letter (pH, pK', mRNA).
Also, according to apsstylemanual.org,
An abbreviation that begins with a lowercase letter, or a term that must remain lowercase should not be changed to all caps when it begins a sentence; it should not be expanded. The word following should be is lowercase unless it is a proper noun or another acronym. If possible, reword the sentence so that it does not begin with the lowercase term
I don't see anything (other than the one regarding brand names) in the Chicago Manual of Style.
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:09
Andrew CheongAndrew Cheong
45321026
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:09
Andrew CheongAndrew Cheong
45321026
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:09
Andrew CheongAndrew Cheong
45321026
answered Apr 9 '13 at 2:09
Andrew CheongAndrew Cheong
45321026
45321026
add a comment |
add a comment |
Because the original post is speaking of abbreviations, I recommend following the rule to spell out the word. For example, mRNA could become "Messenger RNA..."
answered yesterday
Fred L JohnsonFred L Johnson
12
New contributor
Fred L Johnson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Because the original post is speaking of abbreviations, I recommend following the rule to spell out the word. For example, mRNA could become "Messenger RNA..."
answered yesterday
Fred L JohnsonFred L Johnson
12
New contributor
Fred L Johnson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Because the original post is speaking of abbreviations, I recommend following the rule to spell out the word. For example, mRNA could become "Messenger RNA..."
answered yesterday
Fred L JohnsonFred L Johnson
12
New contributor
Fred L Johnson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Because the original post is speaking of abbreviations, I recommend following the rule to spell out the word. For example, mRNA could become "Messenger RNA..."
answered yesterday
Fred L JohnsonFred L Johnson
12
New contributor
Fred L Johnson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
Fred L JohnsonFred L Johnson
12
New contributor
Fred L Johnson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered yesterday
Fred L JohnsonFred L Johnson
12
answered yesterday
Fred L JohnsonFred L Johnson
12
12
New contributor
Fred L Johnson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Fred L Johnson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Fred L Johnson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Wikipedia, at least, seems to use the lowercase letter at the beginning of a sentence, for example see the article on mRNA: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRNA
– jbeldock
Apr 8 '13 at 23:46
2
Apparently, the Chicago Manual of Style's 16th edition includes a new provision permitting sentences beginning with a brand name (e.g. iPad, iPod) which starts with a lowercase letter to retain the lowercase letter: chicagomanualofstyle.org/about16_rules.html. This might be analogous.
– jbeldock
Apr 8 '13 at 23:51
Yeah, I use the same approach as Wikipedia on this one. I am, however, curious if there exist a correct and incorrect approach. I don't think the iPad rule applies since these are abbreviations rather than names, but it's an interesting one nonetheless.
– joelostblom
Apr 8 '13 at 23:58
We also see this in mathematics. Do not begin a sentence with a variable like x . Instead, re-word. Some extra meaningless word may be used. "Now x is..." or "Then x is..." or "Note x is..."
– GEdgar
yesterday
This is a style issue, rather than "correctness". If you are writing for someone else (eg. a journal, then check their guidelines). If there are no such guidelines, then choose your style and be consistent.
– James Random
yesterday