Helena Frye
When it comes to sports, the default setting for the names of games is lowercase, with some exceptions. For example, the names of card games are typically lowercased unless they are words that are normally capitalized, such as poker or Chinese checkers. On the other hand, product names like Prius, Cheerios, and Kleenex are capitalized as they are proprietary. Similarly, the names of teams, leagues, and conferences are capitalized, such as the Cleveland Browns or the Browns. So, is it the same for basketball and football?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Capitalization of basketball and football | The names of competitive sports such as basketball and football are usually lowercase |
| Exceptions | When referring to a specific course, capitalize the name of the sport, e.g. "This semester I'm taking Basketball 101" |
| Team names | Team names are capitalized, e.g. "the Cleveland Browns" or "the Browns" |
| Official designations | Official designations are capitalized, e.g. "Major League Baseball" |
| Proper nouns | Proper nouns within team names are capitalized, e.g. "Manchester" in "Manchester football team" |
| Official job titles | Official job titles are capitalized when they come before the name, e.g. "Head Coach Smith" |
| Sports mascots | The names of sports mascots are capitalized, e.g. "Wally Pilot" |
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What You'll Learn
- Basketball and football are sports that aren't capitalised unless part of a team name
- The names of teams, leagues and conferences are always capitalised
- The names of card games are lowercased, except for words normally capitalised
- Names of games of chance are capitalised, e.g. Russian Roulette, Bingo
- Games that are products are capitalised, e.g. Starcraft 2, Halo: MCC
Basketball and football are sports that aren't capitalised unless part of a team name
Basketball and football are sports that aren't usually capitalized in writing. This is the case for most sports, including baseball, pool, foosball, and air hockey. The default setting for names of games and sports is lowercase, with a few exceptions.
For example, when referring to the sport in a general sense, "basketball" and "football" are not capitalized. However, when these words are used as part of a team name, they are often capitalized. This is true even when the team name does not include a city or school association. For instance, one might write about "the Cleveland Browns" or simply "the Browns," with the "B" in "Browns" capitalized due to it being a proper noun. Similarly, "the Stanford Cardinal" or "the Cardinal" would be capitalized.
There are other exceptions to the lowercase rule for sports. For instance, when referring to a specific course or class, one might write, "This semester, I'm taking Physical Education," with "Physical Education" capitalized as it is the name of the course. Additionally, official designations, such as "Major League Baseball," are often capitalized as they are more than just a description of the sport's level.
It is also important to note that the names of sports mascots, official names, and colors are typically capitalized. For example, the University of Portland's mascot is "Wally Pilot," with "Wally" capitalized as a proper noun.
In summary, while basketball and football are generally not capitalized, there are specific instances where these words may be capitalized in writing, particularly when they are part of a team name, course title, or official designation.
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The names of teams, leagues and conferences are always capitalised
When it comes to sports capitalisation, there are a few rules to keep in mind. Firstly, the names of competitive sports, such as basketball, football, and baseball, are generally not capitalised. However, when referring to specific teams, leagues, or conferences within these sports, the names are always capitalised. For example, "the Cleveland Browns" or "the Browns," and "the Stanford Cardinal" or "the Cardinal." This rule applies even when the team name does not include a city or school association.
It is important to note that there may be slight variations in style depending on the publication or style guide being followed. For instance, some sources suggest that the names of major events, such as "the NBA Finals" or "the Stanley Cup Playoffs," should be capitalised, while others suggest that only generic descriptions of these events should be used in lower case, such as "the finals" or "the playoffs."
Additionally, while team names are typically capitalised, the general titles within a team, such as "captain" or "head coach," are not usually capitalised. Similarly, class years, such as "senior" or "freshman," and terms like "varsity" when referring to varsity sports, are also not capitalised.
It is worth mentioning that there are exceptions to these rules. For example, when a sport is also a trademarked product, such as "Frisbee" in "ultimate Frisbee," the product name is often capitalised. Additionally, the names of sports mascots, official names, and colours are typically capitalised, even if the team name itself is not.
In summary, while the names of competitive sports are generally not capitalised, the names of teams, leagues, and conferences within those sports are always capitalised. It is important to be consistent and follow the specific style guide or publication guidelines when writing about sports to ensure clear and accurate communication.
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The names of card games are lowercased, except for words normally capitalised
When it comes to the names of card games, the general rule is that they are written in lowercase. This means that popular games like poker, bridge, and blackjack should not be capitalised. The only exceptions to this rule are proper nouns or words that are normally capitalised. For example, if a card game includes the name of a specific location, such as "Texas Hold'em," the name of the location ("Texas") would be capitalised as it is a proper noun. Similarly, if a card game has a trademarked name or includes a proper noun as part of its official designation, such as "UNO," it would be appropriate to capitalise the name.
It is important to note that while the names of card games are generally lowercased, there may be variations in different style guides or publications. Some style guides might choose to italicise or enclose the names of card games in quotation marks, especially if the games have a narrative element similar to films. Additionally, specific game variations or expansions may have capitalised names, treating the game title as a product name. For example, while the game "Magic: The Gathering" is generally lowercase, its various expansions, like "Magic: The Gathering - Innistrad," capitalise the expansion name.
Furthermore, when referring to a card game within a sentence, the general rule for capitalisation still applies. For example, "I enjoy playing poker" or "Bridge is a challenging game" would be the correct lowercase format. However, if the card game includes a proper noun or a trademarked name, you would capitalise it accordingly, such as in "UNO is a fun family game" or "I'm learning how to play Texas Hold'em."
It is worth mentioning that while the names of card games are typically lowercased, there might be instances where capitalisation is used for emphasis or stylistic choices, especially in marketing or promotional materials. Additionally, some publications might have their own style guides that dictate the use of capitalisation for specific card games or within specific contexts.
In summary, when writing about card games, it is standard practice to lowercase their names, except for words that are normally capitalised, such as proper nouns or trademarked names. This guideline ensures consistency and clarity in written communication about card games and allows for easy recognition of the games being discussed.
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Names of games of chance are capitalised, e.g. Russian Roulette, Bingo
When it comes to sports, the general rule is that competitive sports names are written in lowercase. For example, basketball and football are not capitalised. However, when referring to specific leagues or conferences, these are usually capitalised. For instance, the NBA Finals and the NFL.
Team names are also capitalised, whether or not they include the city or school they are associated with. For example, the Cleveland Browns or the Browns.
Now, when it comes to games of chance, these are generally capitalised. Examples include Russian Roulette and Bingo. Other games that are considered 'games of chance' include craps and confidence games like three-card monte. These games straddle the line between legitimate and illegitimate forms of gambling and are also capitalised.
It is important to note that the names of card games are generally not capitalised, except for words that are normally capitalised, such as Poker or Texas Hold 'em. Strategy games like chess and checkers are also not capitalised, except for Chinese Checkers. Traditional children's games like tag, hopscotch, and hide-and-seek are not capitalised either.
Brand names of trademarked games, on the other hand, are usually capitalised, such as Monopoly, Scrabble, and Chutes and Ladders.
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Games that are products are capitalised, e.g. Starcraft 2, Halo: MCC
When it comes to the capitalisation of game titles, the general rule is that product names are capitalised. This includes video games like Starcraft 2 and Halo: The Master Chief Collection (MCC). These games are similar to products like Prius, Cheerios, and Kleenex, which are all capitalised as brand names.
However, it's important to note that not all games are capitalised. Traditional or generic games like poker, chess, and dominoes are not capitalised because no company holds the trademark for their names. For example, while companies produce chess sets, the name "chess" itself is non-proprietary. Similarly, traditional children's games like tag, hopscotch, and hide-and-seek are not capitalised.
In the case of Starcraft 2, it is the official name of the video game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. The capitalisation of "Starcraft" is consistent with the game's branding and packaging. The game's title is always spelled with a capital "S" and with the second word in lowercase, as in "Starcraft".
For Halo: The Master Chief Collection, also known as Halo: MCC, the capitalisation is also consistent with the game's branding. The official title includes the colon and capitalises "Master Chief Collection". This capitalisation is used in marketing materials, packaging, and in-game menus.
It's worth noting that some style guides and publications may have specific rules or preferences for capitalising game titles. For example, a publication might choose to capitalise all game titles for consistency or to emphasise the names of certain games. Ultimately, the capitalisation of game titles can vary depending on the style guide or publication, but the general rule is to capitalise product names like Starcraft 2 and Halo: MCC.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the names of sports are generally not capitalized, including basketball and football.
"Basketball" and "football" would be capitalized if they are used as part of a proper noun or title. For example, "NBA Basketball" or "NFL Football".
Yes, there are always exceptions! For example, if a sport is a product or trademark, it may be capitalized. Frisbee is capitalized when referring to the product, and when combined with "ultimate," some publications chose to write it as "Ultimate Frisbee" to avoid using the trademarked name.
If you are referring to a specific team, league, or conference, you would capitalize the name. For example, "the Cleveland Browns" or "the Browns".
Yes, if you are referring to a specific player by their position, you would capitalize the position. For example, "Football Player takes the field" or "Basketball Player shoots the ball".
