# Capitalization

## Use title case and sentence case appropriately

### Headings

According to the AP style guide, title case should be used for all headings at level 1 and 2. Level 1 is typically the title for a page and level 2 is the largest heading option. 

Sentence case should be used for any headings at level 3, and beyond. 

### People’s titles (occupational) 

Capitalize if using directly before a person’s name in running text: The keynote will be delivered by Meenakshy Aiyer. Capitalize when the person’s complete name and title are standing alone: Meenakshy Aiyer, Regional Dean. Lowercase and set off with commas when the title follows the person’s name in running text: Meenakshy Aiyer, regional dean, will deliver the keynote. Lowercase if using generically: Meenakshy Aiyer is a dean at UIC. If a title is occupational, do not capitalize: faculty member Kevin Johnson, movie star Nicole Kidman, astronaut Neil Armstrong.

### Proper Nouns 

Capitalize common nouns when they are an integral part of the official name of a place or thing, e.g. College of Medicine, Library of the Health Sciences, Office of Graduate Medical Education. Lowercase these nouns when they stand alone in subsequent references: The College of Medicine is located at 1 Illini Drive in Peoria. The college is inviting high school students to attend an event. When writing the names of multiple institutions of the same type, lowercase the common noun: The colleges of Medicine and Nursing are located on the campus.

### Button text

Sentence case should also be used for call-to-action buttons.

### Other capitalization guidelines

Read more about how to handle capitalization of the college name, academic and job titles, departments and programs:

{% content-ref url="terminology-and-language/ui-com-name-usage" %}
[ui-com-name-usage](https://uiccom.gitbook.io/style-guide/college-of-medicine-logos-brand-and-style/write-with-the-college-web-style/terminology-and-language/ui-com-name-usage)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="terminology-and-language/names-and-titles" %}
[names-and-titles](https://uiccom.gitbook.io/style-guide/college-of-medicine-logos-brand-and-style/write-with-the-college-web-style/terminology-and-language/names-and-titles)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="terminology-and-language/departments" %}
[departments](https://uiccom.gitbook.io/style-guide/college-of-medicine-logos-brand-and-style/write-with-the-college-web-style/terminology-and-language/departments)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="terminology-and-language/degrees-and-programs" %}
[degrees-and-programs](https://uiccom.gitbook.io/style-guide/college-of-medicine-logos-brand-and-style/write-with-the-college-web-style/terminology-and-language/degrees-and-programs)
{% endcontent-ref %}