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Editorial Manual
Capitalization in English
Use initial capital letters sparingly, according to the general rules set out below.
Use initial capitals to mark beginnings:
- The first word of a sentence
- The first word of a subparagraph or item on a vertical list
Initial capitals are not used as a mark of respect; neither does the use of lower case imply a lack of respect. Certain words are capitalized when used in a specialized or restricted sense, the purpose of the capital being to point to the specialized or restricted sense (e.g. the consequences of climate change for Indigenous communities; but indigenous species of flora and fauna).
Some points of style
Initial capital letters are used for:
- Proper nouns and adjectives and recognized geographical names:
Mexico City but the city of Chicago
Manatee County; Manatee and Pinellas Counties
Var Department; Var and Loire Departments
Aleppo Governorate; the Governorates of Hasakah and Homs
Ouham Prefecture; the Prefectures of Ouham and Haute-Kotto
the Cayman Islands but the island of Cyprus
Mount Everest; the Andes Mountains
Arctic Ocean
Manihiki Plateau
Province of Herat in Afghanistan; Herat Province; Herat and Farah Provinces
Kayes Region; the Kayes and Kidal Regions
Nile River; the River Nile; the Nile and Congo Rivers
Baltic Sea
but the lower Mekong basin, the Lake Chad basin
- All words in the titles of books, periodicals, publications and court cases (excluding "et al" and "others") except articles, conjunctions and prepositions
Note: The first word in the title is always capitalized, no matter what part of speech it is.
- The first word, proper nouns and other words that are normally capitalized:
- In titles of United Nations documents
- In headings of chapters, sections, subsections, annexes, tables, figures and articles
- In legends on figures and maps
- In titles of articles and unpublished papers
- The official titles of persons, councils, commissions, committees, Secretariat units, organizations, institutions, political parties and organized movements
- The titles of specific posts
- The names of special rooms, halls and buildings: the General Assembly Hall
- Elements of proper names transliterated from Arabic, as follows:
- The definite article al is capitalized when it is the first element in a name (including after Mr. or Ms. or other title) and lower-case when it is in the middle; for example Al-Jazeera, Al-Qaida, Mohammed al-Ansari, Mr. Al-Ansari. The same practice applies to el, where used.
Note: In a limited number of names, Al is not a definite article but rather a noun meaning "House of" or "Family of". In these cases, the word is always written with a capital A and is never attached to the following word; for example Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalif
- The same rule applies to bin, bint and ibn; for example Osama bin Laden, Mr. Bin Hamdan, Khawlah bint al-Azwar, Ms. Bint al-Azwar, Abu al-Walid ibn Rushd (Averro?s), Ibn Sina (Avicenna).
- The definite article al is capitalized when it is the first element in a name (including after Mr. or Ms. or other title) and lower-case when it is in the middle; for example Al-Jazeera, Al-Qaida, Mohammed al-Ansari, Mr. Al-Ansari. The same practice applies to el, where used.
- The main component of an e-compound referring to an established electronic system or tool, such as eDoc or eMeets (and their successors, gDoc and gMeets); otherwise email, e-commerce and so on; also Email and E-commerce at the beginning of a sentence and in titles.
- Proper names for software, including components thereof, operating systems and devices.
Words frequently found in United Nations documents, showing the use of capital or lower-case letters in United Nations practice
An asterisk (*) indicates a change from previous practice.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
when citing the title of a specific act
Administration
in specific references, when used in the sense of "Government"
also in reference to senior management within the United Nations Secretariat
but East Timor under United Nations administration
administrative instruction
advisory opinion (of the International Court of Justice)
agenda, agenda item, agenda item 24
but 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Agenda 21, United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s
Aid for Trade Initiative
but aid for trade in general usage
Ambassador
in reference to a specific representative
also United Nations Goodwill Ambassador(s)
but a seminar for ambassadors and other diplomats
amendment
first amendment to the Anti-Prostitution Law
but Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America
annex, an annex, annex III, the annexes to the report
appendix, an appendix, appendix IV, the appendices
Arabic
language
but arabic numerals
armed forces
when not part of the official title or when used in a general or descriptive sense
article, an article, article 3
but Article in reference to an Article of the Charter of the United Nations and the Statute of the International Court of Justice
Autonomous Community
in specific references: the Autonomous Community of Galicia, the Autonomous Communities of Galicia and La Rioja
but all the autonomous communities of Spain
autumn [see also Usage at the end of this list]
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
bill (before a legislative body)
Board
in specific references to an established body: United Nations Board of Auditors, International Narcotics Control Board
but a proposal to set up an advisory board
bulletin
in reference to a Secretary-General's bulletin
Bureau
in specific references to the officers of an established body: the Bureau of the Economic and Social Council, the Bureau of the Second Committee, the Bureaux of the Main Committees, the Bureau of the Commission on the Status of Women
but the bureaux of the intergovernmental bodies...
Note: le Bureau de l'Assemblée générale = the General Committee of the General Assembly
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
when referring to a Cabinet of senior ministers or secretaries of State
category
category 5 hurricane; General Service and related categories
central
in reference to an area within a country or a body of water (e.g. the central Mediterranean)
but Central in reference to a major region: Central Africa
Chair of the Third Committee, Chairs of the Main Committees of the General Assembly
Note: “Chair”, rather than “Chairman”, is the preferred title in the context of United Nations bodies, in line with the United Nations guidelines for gender-inclusive language in English. Titles such as “Chairperson”, when used by officials in bodies that are not part of the United Nations, should not be changed, for example Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
chapter, chapter II
but Chapter in reference to a Chapter of the Charter of the United Nations and the Statute of the International Court of Justice
Chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Andorra to the United Nations
Charter
Charter of the United Nations, Charter of the League of Arab States, Charter of the Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries
city
when not part of the official name: the city of Chicago
but New York City, Mexico City
civilian police
as a component of a United Nations peacekeeping operation
Co-Chair (noun)
Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group (see note under Chair)
co-chair (verb)
Task Force on Children and Armed Conflict, co-chaired by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and the United Nations Children's Fund
cold war
Commander, Force Commander
in specific references: the post of Force Commander of the United Nations Operation in C?te d’Ivoire
Commission
in specific references, and when used as a short title
but the regional commissions, the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council
Committee
in specific references, and when used as a short title
but the committees of the General Assembly (other than the Main Committees), Security Council committees, the sanctions committees
common country assessment
Conference
in specific references, and when used as a short title
conference room, conference room paper
but Conference Room 4
consolidated appeal process
Constitution
in a reference to a specific Constitution of a State, a specialized agency and the like: article 28 of the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia; as provided in the Constitution of the World Health Organization
but a new constitution, the constitutions of many States
Consulate
in specific references
consultant
continent
the continent of Africa
continental shelf
Contracting Party, High Contracting Party, non-Contracting Party
in a formal text such as the text of a treaty: the Contracting Parties to the present Convention
but the contracting parties to the Treaty (in other texts)
Convention
in citing the title of a specific instrument: the Convention on the Rights of the Child
but the international anti-terrorism conventions, to draft a convention on the rights of disabled persons (see also draft)
Council
when using it as a short title, as noun or adjective: Council resolution 1979/81
County
in specific references: Manatee County; Manatee and Pinellas Counties
*customs (in the sense of douane)
cyclone
unless followed by a name: Cyclone Laila
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Dag Hammarskj?ld Library (Auditorium, Building)
daily subsistence allowance
decade
but First United Nations Development Decade, United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty
Declaration
when citing the title of a specific declaration made at the government or international organization level
Decree
when citing the title of a specific decree
delegation, a delegation, the delegation
but Delegation if used as equivalent of Permanent Mission: the Delegation of the European Union
demarcation line
Department
in specific references: the Department of Political and 国产AVbuilding Affairs of the Secretariat, the Department of Commerce of the Government of the United States
also Var Department; Var and Loire Departments
but one of the three Secretariat departments dealing with the question
document
draft Convention in reference to a text that has been under discussion for a long time
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
in reference to the planet
but earth in reference to soil
east, eastern
in reference to a geographical direction or an area within a country or a body of water (e.g. the eastern Mediterranean)
but East, Eastern in reference to a major region or in a political context: East Africa, East-West dialogue; the East Atlantic
eDoc, eFolder, eMeets
but e-commerce, e-flow, email
Embassy
in specific references
Eurostat
executing agency
executive heads
of the specialized agencies
executive secretaries
of the regional commissions
but Executive Secretary of ECA, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP or ESCWA
expert
a group of experts
but the Group of Experts on Global Warming
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
financial regulation 3.5, financial rule 103.7
but Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations
force
defence force(s), national defence force(s)
foreword
funds-in-trust
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
category of the staff of the United Nations
*Government (noun only)
when making reference to a Government representing a State or a Non-Self-Governing Territory, including a transitional administration established under a peace agreement: the Government of India, the National Transitional Government of Liberia, the Government of South Sudan, the national Government of Canada, territorial Government, any Government wishing to participate, all Governments concerned
but local or municipal government, pro-government elements, a system of government, a change of government, a government department, the government-sponsored project, the provincial government of Ontario, the government officials concerned, anti-government forces, seat of government
Governorate
in specific references: Aleppo Governorate, the Governorates of Hasakah and Homs
group, group of experts, working group
but Group of 77, Group of African States, Working Group on Minorities, United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
but the General Assembly Hall, in this Hall
Head
Head(s) of State, Head(s) of Government, and in specific titles: Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Central African Republic and Head of the United Nations 国产AVbuilding Support Office in the Central African Republic
but head of a delegation or mission; heads of entity
headquarters
the headquarters of ESCAP, the Commission headquarters building
but United Nations Headquarters, the Headquarters Building when referring specifically to the United Nations building in New York
hemisphere
northern, southern, eastern, western
high-level [plenary] meeting of the General Assembly on ...
hurricane
unless followed by a name: Hurricane Emily
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
when referring to cultures, communities, lands, languages, etc., of Indigenous Peoples, e.g.: Indigenous culture in Ecuador; Indigenous languages are dying out
but indigenous if referring to flora or fauna
Indigenous Peoples
information circular
information services
international civil servant, international civil service
Internet (see also web)
intranet
introduction
in the introduction to his report, he stated that …
introductory note
island(s)
when not part of the official name: the island of Cyprus
but the Cayman Islands
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
unless followed by the name of a specific person: Judge Claude Jorda
Judgment
initial capital in the formal citation of a specific judgment: East Timor (Portugal v. Australia), Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1995, p. 90; Attention is drawn to Judgment No. 61, Crawford et al. (1955), of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal
lower case in a general or abbreviated citation: In its judgment of 11 September 1992, the Court decided ... ; the judgments of the Tribunal are final
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
language proficiency examination
language training programme
law
including all references to the profession of law
but Law, in citing the title of a specific legal instrument
liaison officer
Local level
in reference to a category of United Nations staff
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
of the General Assembly
*Member
in reference to a State Member or States Members of the United Nations
also Member of Parliament
but a State not a member of the United Nations, a non-member State, a member of a United Nations organ, e.g. member or members of the Security Council, member or members of the Economic and Social Council, etc.
Note: "States Members of the United Nations or members of specialized agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency…" and "States Members of the United Nations or members of organizations of the United Nations system"
memorandum of understanding
but Memorandum of Understanding in reference to a specific agreement between two States
Mesoamerica, Mesoamerican
Millennium Development Goals
also in reference to a specific Goal: Millennium Development Goal 5
Minister, Ministry
the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
but a meeting of finance ministers, posts in the principal ministries
Mission
the Permanent Mission of Solomon Islands to the United Nations
but members of permanent missions at United Nations Headquarters
also as the short title of a peacekeeping/peacebuilding mission, if included in the full title: the United Nations Mission in South Sudan … the Mission (contrast with "the United Nations Operation in C?te d'Ivoire" … "the mission")
Moon
but moon(s) of planets other than Earth
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
north, northern
in reference to a geographical direction or an area within a country or a body of water (e.g. the northern hemisphere, the northern Atlantic)
but North, Northern in reference to a major region or in a political context: North America, North-South dialogue, the North Atlantic
note, note verbale
a note by the Secretary-General, in response to the Chair's note verbale dated . . .
number, No.
No. only when followed by a numeral: Supplement No. 2
The plural form is Nos.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
the United Nations military observer in San Salvador, organizations having received a standing invitation to participate as observers in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly, observer State
but Permanent Observer of the Holy See, of the African Union
office, term of office
but Office in official titles: the Office of Legal Affairs, the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator, the Office of the High Representative (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Organization
when used as a short title for the United Nations or for an entity name containing "Organization"
organizational
Other level
of General Service staff (G-6 and below)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
unless referring specifically to a legislative body that is actually called “Parliament”
part
as stated in part one of the report
but Part one as a heading
Party
in a formal text such as the text of a treaty: the Parties to the present Convention
but the States parties to the Treaty (in other texts)
also when referring to a specific political party: the Conservative Party, the Socialist Party
*Peninsula
Korean Peninsula, Prevlaka Peninsula
permanent
permanent member of the Security Council
also permanent missions at United Nations Headquarters
but the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations
the Permanent Missions of France and Samoa to the United Nations
the Permanent Observer for the University of 国产AV
the Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations
Pledging Conference
in specific references: Fourth Pledging Conference for the World Food Programme
plenary
but Plenary Meetings in citing the Official Records series
police
United Nations civilian police, national police, police force
Power
in reference to a State: a great Power, a super-Power, the administering Power of a Non-Self-Governing Territory
also when used adjectivally in that sense: a three-Power agreement
preamble
but Preamble in reference to the Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations
preface
*presidency
President
of the General Assembly, of a United Nations council, of a State or of a recognized international or national body
but president in a generic reference: the Conference of the Parties is invited to elect a president
presidential
elections, statement (of the Security Council)
Principal level
of General Service staff (G-7)
Professional
category of the staff of the United Nations: staff in the Professional and higher categories
Programme
in specific references to a separately constituted body: the World Food Programme; or to an adopted text: the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States
Province
in specific references: Province of Herat in Afghanistan, Herat Province, Herat and Farah Provinces
Protocol
in specific references: the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Geneva Conventions and the Additional Protocols thereto
purposes and principles
of the United Nations, as set out in the Charter
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
the question of children and armed conflict, the Palestinian question
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
in specific references: the Rapporteur of the Second Committee
region
except in a specific reference to an administrative division of a State
regional commission
Registrar
of the International Court of Justice, of the International Criminal Court, of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone, of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal, of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal
regulation
regulation 2.1 of the Staff Regulations
report
report of the Secretary-General
representative
a representative, the representative of France, a personal representative of the Secretary-General
but the Special/Personal Representative of the Secretary-General (as a title), the Permanent Representative of Algeria
Resident Representative/Coordinator
in specific references: the Resident Representative of UNDP in Türkiye, John Smith; the Deputy Special Representative for Sierra Leone also serves as the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator
resolution
road map
in reference to a national or international programme of action or similar document
roman
numerals and type
room
rule
rule 104.5 of the Staff Rules
rules of procedure
rule 15 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly
but the Rules of Procedure and Evidence (of the Tribunals)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
in reference to the United Nations Secretariat only
Secretary
in specific references: the Secretary of the Second Committee
section
section 3 of the budget, section V of the report
but Section in the official title of a Secretariat unit
Seminar
in reference to a specific seminar with an established title; otherwise seminar
session
the fifty-fourth session of the General Assembly, the eighteenth special session, the substantive session of 2004 of the Economic and Social Council
but Fifty-eighth Session, on cover/title page of Official Records or in footnote reference to Official Records
south, southern
in reference to a geographical direction or an area within a country or a body of water (e.g. the southern hemisphere)
but South, Southern in reference to a major region or in a political context: South-Eastern Europe, North-South dialogue, the South Pacific, the Southern Ocean (also known as the Antarctic Ocean)
*special account
but United Nations Special Account
specialized agency
Note: "specialized agencies" or "specialized agencies of the United Nations system"; the expression "United Nations specialized agencies" is incorrect
spring (the season) [see also Usage at the end of this list]
staff members of the United Nations
staff regulation 4.5, staff rule 210.1
but Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations
State
in reference to a country, whether generic or specific; or to a specific state or states in a federation: the host State; all States concerned; State institutions (in reference to the institutions of a country); the State of New York; the State of Uttar Pradesh, India; Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States
but welfare state (when used to refer to a system, as opposed to a national territory)
status-of-forces agreement
status-of-mission agreement
Statute
the Statute of the International Court of Justice, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; otherwise statute
subcommission(s), subcommittee(s)
but Subcommission, Subcommittee when used as a short title
summer [see also Usage at the end of this list]
Sustainable Development Goals
in references to goals and targets: Sustainable Development Goal 9; target 15.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals; targets 7.b and 15.3 of the Goals
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
in the title of an established body
Territory
in reference to a Non-Self-Governing Territory or Trust Territory
also Occupied Palestinian Territory
but overseas territory of Pitcairn, overseas territories
The Hague
but the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention IV of 1907
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Note: name changed to North Macedonia with effect from 14 February 2019
Treaty
in citing the title of a specific instrument; otherwise treaty
trusteeship
under trusteeship
*trust fund, trust funds
whether in reference to a generic or a specific trust fund
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
but Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review
United Nations country team
United Nations Development Assistance Framework (superseded by the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework)
United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework
United Nations Volunteers programme
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
of the General Assembly, of a United Nations council, of a State or of a recognized international or national body
but vice-president in a generic reference: the Conference of the Parties is invited to elect a president and four vice-presidents
volume, vol.
vol. only when followed by a numeral (usually roman): vol. II
The plural form is vols.
Volunteer(s)
in reference to United Nations Volunteers only
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
during the world wars, the cold war, the threat of a third world war, the Iran-Iraq war
but the First World War, the Second World War
west, western
in reference to a geographical direction or an area within a country or a body of water (e.g. the western Mediterranean)
but West, Western in reference to a major region or in a political context: West Africa, the Western Powers, the West Pacific
winter [see also Usage at the end of this list]
Working Group
when referring to a specific group with an established title; otherwise working group
working paper
workshop
may occasionally be capitalized in specific references: Pacific Island Countries Workshop on Small Arms
Usage
As the designations of the seasons relate to different times of the year in the northern and southern hemispheres, they should be used with care. A phrase such as “a meeting to be held in the spring” is ambiguous; a precise date (or month or quarter) should be given, if this can be ascertained.