Capitalize professional positions when they are used with the person’s name.

Ex: We gained an understanding of that issue from Professor Pantz.
Ex: Dr. Pantz is a professor at my university.

In the second example, “professor” is not capitalized because it is not used directly with the name; it only describes Dr. Pantz’s position.

When people's titles are used without their names, only capitalize the titles when they refer to individuals with high rank.

Ex: Yesterday, the President voted to renew the engineer's contract.

Capitalize words that indicate family relationship only when they are not used with possessive structures.

Ex: I will take Mom and Dad to dinner to celebrate their anniversary.
Ex: She told me that my father forgot his glasses.

Visit Guide to Grammar and Writing at http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/quiz_list.htm.

1. This weekend, doctor Longman organized the medical convention.

2. The president of the U.S. liked the new proposals given by the committee.

3. We are taking dad out to dinner for Father’s Day.

Answers

1. This weekend, Doctor Longman organized the medical convention.

2. The President of the U.S. liked the new proposals given by the committee.

3. We are taking Dad out to dinner for Father’s Day.

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

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