At AZ World, we believe that excellence is also found in the small details. This guide offers a brief overview of how and when to use uppercase or lowercase letters when translating between English and Spanish, some of the most common pitfalls and some best practices.
Capitalization in titles
When translating into Spanish, it is common for confusion to arise as to whether every significant word in a title should be capitalized. Unlike English, where all the initial letters in the words of a title are typically capitalized, Spanish generally capitalizes only the first word. For example:
Dry-Stack Tailings Storage Almacenamiento de relaves en seco
How to Reach your Target Audience Cómo alcanzar a tu público objetivo
Capitalization in creative works
In English, according to most style guides, all proper nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in the titles of books and articles are to be capitalized. Also, major style guides such as the Chicago Manual of Style and the Modern Language Association recommend italicizing titles of complete works such as books, newspapers and magazines.
On the other hand, the Royal Spanish Academy (“RAE”) recommends that titles for creative works like books, movies, sculptures, songs, radio programs, TV shows, etc., should be italicized. Capitalization is reserved for the first word and proper nouns within the title; everything else remains lowercase. For example:
One Hundred Years of Solitude Cien años de soledad
To Kill a Mockingbird Matar a un ruiseñor
Pride and Prejudice Orgullo y prejuicio
Capitalization in job titles and positions
While job titles and positions are usually capitalized in English, the RAE establishes that they should be written in lowercase since they are common nouns. For example:
The Chairman or senior management representative. El presidente o representante de la alta gerencia The nominee must attach a letter from the General Manager. La persona nominada deberá adjuntar una carta del gerente general
Capitalization in professions or degrees
In English, it is common to capitalize titles of professions or academic degrees when using the full name of the degree, such as Bachelor of Arts or Master of International Affairs. However, a common translation pitfall is to replicate this style into Spanish.
Unlike English, Spanish typically writes the titles of professions and academic degrees, such as “profesor”, “ingeniero químico” and “medico” in lowercase. Capitalization is reserved for the official degree name, as in “licenciado en Ciencias de la Educación” or “licenciado en Ingeniería de los Alimentos”, etc.
Capitalization in names of institutions (companies, brands, agencies) and internal divisions of organizations
In English, all significant words in the names of entities, institutions, organizations – such as companies, brands, agencies, and hospitals – and administrative departments or divisions are typically capitalized as they are proper nouns. However, small words within these names, such as prepositions, may remain in lowercase – for example: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); etc.
It’s important to note that, in English, when referring to a specific department within an organization by its formal name, it is customary to capitalize it. For example, “She works in the Marketing Department.” However, if simply referring to a department in general terms without specifying a particular one, then lowercase should be used. For instance, “Our company needs to strengthen its marketing department.”
Similarly, in Spanish all significant words in the names of entities, institutions, organizations and administrative departments or divisions are to be capitalized (mostly, adjectives and nouns). Articles, prepositions, and conjunctions are typically written in lowercase in Spanish. However, there are exceptions. When these words have a significant meaning within the name, they are capitalized. For example, in “Asociación Contra la Violencia”, the preposition “Contra” is essential to defining the purpose of the association and, therefore, it is capitalized. For example:
The United Nations La Organización de las Naciones Unidas
American Medical Association Asociación Médica Estadounidense
Capitalization in names of plans, projects, programs and conferences
Both English and Spanish typically capitalize significant words in the titles of plans, projects, programs, and conferences. For example:
Symposium on Language and Literature Simposio de Lengua y Literatura
Employee Training Program Programa de Capacitación para Empleados
Some companies and style guides have their own preferences. For guidance on Spanish language usage, consult reliable sources such as the Royal Spanish Academy (“RAE”), the Fundéu (Foundation of Urgent Spanish), or the APA guidelines.
At AZ World, we have a pool of qualified translators and editors who are not only subject matter experts on the topics that they translate, but also take into account all of these language intricacies to deliver top-tier translations that resonate with your target audience.
If you need to bridge the language divide and connect with a wider audience, contact us today at info@a-zworld.ca or visit www.a-zworld.ca; the AZ World team will be happy to assist you