Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
the Government
English answer:
lower case according to The Economist style guide
Added to glossary by
mbc
Feb 12, 2004 19:13
20 yrs ago
English term
the Government
English
Other
Government / Politics
This a question about lower case vs upper case in British English. A group of us (various nationalities) is translating a large volume project and I want to standardize the spelling, etc. Many different countries appear and my question is whether or not 'the Government' is always capitalized in UK English or only when referring to the British government. The texts are journalistic in style and I´m coming across conflicting capitalization in online newspapers, etc.
For example:
Turkey:
On April X, the G(g)overnment took measures to combat...
Thanks for your help in advance, I know it is a simple question but my brain is on major overdrive.
For example:
Turkey:
On April X, the G(g)overnment took measures to combat...
Thanks for your help in advance, I know it is a simple question but my brain is on major overdrive.
Responses
| 4 | lower case according to The Economist style guide |
Kim Metzger
|
| 4 +1 | ? |
David Moore (X)
|
| 3 +1 | Choose one convention and use out throughout the document. |
Alaa Zeineldine
|
Responses
5 mins
Kim Metzger
Mexico
Mexico
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Mexico
Committed to Quality and Service
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
52
Selected
lower case according to The Economist style guide
Parliament and Congress are upper case. But the opposition is lower case, even when used in the sense of her majesty's loyal opposition. The government, the administration and the cabinet are always lower case.
http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=...
http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I want to give points to both Kim and David. Kim´s explanation to this very same question was perfect. Aha! I´ve won my argument with my colleagues on this project. Confusing though because I do find the Government in the Times...
Mil gracias"
+1
5 mins
Alaa Zeineldine
Egypt
Egypt
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Egypt
The best in IT ... and in Automotive
Native in: Arabic 
, English
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
12
Choose one convention and use out throughout the document.
.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Textklick
: "Standardising spelling" is tosh (e.g. (US/UK, New/old German). Punctuation guidelines are useful. Consistency is vital, IMHO.
4 hrs
|
+1
7 mins
?
There was a good answer posted by Kim Metzger to this one, as below. I think in summary it was that when the government is name by country, it should be capitalised, otherwise not.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Gareth McMillan
: Only with a capitalist government. How is it with a non-capitalist government then?
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Hilary Davies Shelby
: I would agree with that
16 hrs
|
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