We hear the term Artificial Intelligence all the time in our tech world. But as you write about AI, do you wonder if you should capitalize Artificial Intelligence?
This seemingly simple question has subtleties depending on context, style guides and personal preference. In this post we’ll go over the rules and considerations for capitalizing “Artificial Intelligence” and give you clear guidance on when and how to do so.
Introduction Capitalize Artificial Intelligence
AI is where machines simulate human intelligence, especially in computers. The Capitalize artificial intelligence Learning, reasoning and self-correction. It is impacting every industry from healthcare to finance so it’s a hot topic today.
Why Capitalization Matters
Capitalization is not just a footnote; it helps and consistency. Proper capitalization shows respect and importance and specificity; bad capitalization shows confusion and unprofessionalism.
General Capitalization Rules
Before we get into capitalizing “Artificial Intelligence,” let’s cover some general capitalization rules:
- Capitalize the first word of a sentence: This is true for all writing styles.
- Capitalize proper nouns: People, places, organizations, and sometimes things.
- Capitalize titles and headings: Depending on the style guide, big words in titles and headings are capitalized.
- Capitalize acronyms and initialisms: Each letter in an acronym or initialism (e.g., NASA, AI).
When to Capitalize “Artificial Intelligence”
Beginning of a Sentence
As with any phrase, if “artificial intelligence” starts a sentence, both words should be capitalized: “Artificial intelligence is changing everything.”
Proper Noun Usage
When “Artificial Intelligence” is part of a specific name or title, it should be capitalized: “The Artificial Intelligence Department at MIT is awesome.”
Titles and Headings
In titles and headings, the capitalization rules vary depending on the style guide you follow, but generally, big words, including “Artificial Intelligence,” are capitalized:
“Future of Artificial Intelligence”
Style Guide Recommendations
Different style guides have different recommendations. Here are a few of the most popular:
AP Style
The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook says to capitalize proper nouns and common nouns only when they’re part of a full name for a person, place, or thing: “Artificial intelligence (AI) is big.”
Chicago Manual of Style
The Chicago Manual of Style says to capitalize proper nouns and adjectives derived from proper nouns, and generally not to capitalize unless necessary:
“In artificial intelligence, something new is found every day.”
MLA and APA Guidelines
The Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA) say to capitalize only proper nouns and titles: “Artificial intelligence research has been growing.”
Contextual Considerations
Academic Writing
In academic writing, “Artificial Intelligence” is not capitalized unless it’s a title or proper noun: “The artificial intelligence has worked.”
Professional and Technical Writing
In professional and technical writing, follow your style guide, but clarity and consistency above all:
“We’re investing in artificial intelligence stuff.”
Correct and Incorrect Examples
- Correct: “Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing everything.”
- Incorrect: “artificial Intelligence is changing everything.”
- Correct: “The Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning conference was great.”
- Incorrect: “The conference on artificial intelligence and Machine Learning was great.”
Mistakes to Watch Out For
- Inconsistent Capitalization: Switching between “Artificial Intelligence” and “artificial intelligence” in the same document is confusing. Pick one and stick to it.
- Overcapitalization: Capitalizing “Artificial Intelligence” every time is messy. Capitalize only when necessary.
Final Thought
Whether to capitalize “Artificial Intelligence” is context, usage, and style guides. It’s not always necessary, but it helps. Now you know the rules.
