In formal writing (MLA format essay) when should you capitalise the word colonies? I imagine the in the phrase "The Thirteen Colonies" it would be as that is a title, but I'm not sure if it is indeed correct. Also would it be capitalised in a sentence like one I'm writing, "This caused a rise in Christian influence in the Colonies" is that correct? Or should it be lowercase?
Thanks.
Learn English – In formal writing, should you capitalise the word “colonies” referring to the thirteen colonies
capitalization
Related Solutions
From Great Grammar Practice Grade 2 copyright 2015 Scholastic Teachables. Here it is demonstrated in one reference book. The exercise shows what letters need to be capitalized.
From Good English Form Book in Business Letter Writing, 1904 another source dictates (p. 17):
Begin every sentence, line of poetry, or formal quotation with a capital. NEVER USE A CAPITAL LETTER UNLESS YOU HAVE A REASON FOR IT.
The book is accessible for free at archive.org with ample exercises and examples. I am concerned that these two authorities might offer only for preference of style, but it is the same in regards to capitalization after a greeting in the body of a letter.
In a comment, EdwinAshworth mentioned these sources as well, which may prove more helpful, so I include:
Letter Writing Guide, Reading Rockets, and the Centre for Academic Success (which capitalises a phrase!) all use/require the capitalise-the-first-word-after-the-salutation convention.
Best Answer
I don't think that in the sentence you quote that I would capitalise colonies.
There are instances, where, for example, if I was referring to them as an entity, I might use capitals - 'The Thirteen Colonies', or even 'The Colonies'.
e.g. The population of Britain at the time was about 9 million, France 25 million and The Thirteen Colonies about 4 million.
But there are other instances, where if, for example, I was just writing about British expansion generally I might say something like -
...Britain's influence in North America following the Seven Years' war with France, was at its peak - across the whole of Canada and in the thirteen colonies of Virginia, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey etc.