Cabinet names are one of those grammar topics that often cause confusion. Should cabinet names like Secretary of State or Attorney General be capitalized? Here is a detailed overview of when and how to capitalize cabinet position titles.

When to Capitalize Cabinet Position Titles

The basic rule is that cabinet titles are capitalized when used as a formal title before a person’s name. For example:

Secretary of State John Kerry
Attorney General Loretta Lynch
Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter

However, cabinet titles are not capitalized when used generically or informally. For example:

John Kerry serves as secretary of state.
The attorney general is nominated by the president.
The secretary of defense oversees the armed forces.

Why Capitalize Formal Cabinet Titles?

There are a few key reasons formal cabinet titles are capitalized:

Shows respect for the office. Capitalizing a title like Secretary of State demonstrates respect for the authority and prestige associated with the cabinet position.
Indicates it is used as a proper name. Capitalizing the title clearly signals you are using it as part of the person’s official name and title.
Helps identify unique positions. Capitalization distinguishes specific cabinet roles like Secretary of State from generic references to a government secretary.
Consistent with other titles. Formal titles like President and Vice President are capitalized for the same reasons.

When to Use Lowercase Cabinet Titles

As noted earlier, you would use lowercase cabinet titles when:

Referring to the position in a generic sense. For example: “The secretary of education oversees federal education policy.”
Using the title informally or descriptively. For example: “The attorney general announced a new policy today.”
Referring to the role broadly. For example: “He was a secretary in the president’s cabinet.”
Using the title after the person’s name. For example: “Ashton Carter, secretary of defense, addressed the troops.”
Referring to the title in plural form. For example: The secretaries of state met for a conference.

Tips for Handling Cabinet Capitalization

Here are some useful tips when deciding whether to capitalize cabinet titles:

If unsure, use lowercase, as this is never incorrect.
Capitalize the title when used just before a specific person’s name.
Downstyle capitalized titles to lowercase in subsequent generic references.
Remember that formal titles directly preceding a name should be capitalized.
Don’t capitalize cabinet titles used after a name or used generically.
Check for consistency if capitalizing multiple cabinet titles in a document.

Common Cabinet Positions and Capitalization

Here are some of the most common cabinet roles and how their titles should be capitalized:

Secretary of State – Capitalize before name
Attorney General – Capitalize before name
Secretary of the Treasury – Capitalize before name
Secretary of Defense – Capitalize before name
Secretary of the Interior – Capitalize before name
Secretary of Agriculture – Capitalize before name
Secretary of Commerce – Capitalize before name
Secretary of Labor – Capitalize before name
Secretary of Health and Human Services – Capitalize before name
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development – Capitalize before name
Secretary of Transportation – Capitalize before name
Secretary of Energy – Capitalize before name
Secretary of Education – Capitalize before name
Secretary of Veterans Affairs – Capitalize before name
Secretary of Homeland Security – Capitalize before name

Conclusion

To summarize proper capitalization for cabinet titles:

Capitalize when used formally before a name.
Use lowercase for informal, generic, descriptive, or plural uses.
Downstyle to lowercase after initially using a formal capitalized title.
Check for consistency when writing about multiple cabinet members.
When in doubt, using lowercase cabinet titles is always correct.

Following these capitalization rules for cabinet positions will help ensure your writing is grammatically correct and demonstrates respect for the office. Proper capitalization is a key element of formal writing involving government and politics.

Do You Capitalize Cabinet? – FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about capitalizing cabinet titles:

Should I capitalize a cabinet title if I don’t include the person’s name?

No, only capitalize the cabinet title if it directly precedes the name of the office holder. For example:

Attorney General Garland (title capitalized with name)
The attorney general addressed reporters. (lowercase generic reference)

Are deputy cabinet secretaries capitalized?

Yes, deputy cabinet titles directly preceding a name should also be capitalized, for example:

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco

Should White House cabinet titles be capitalized?

Yes, White House cabinet roles are capitalized when used formally before a name, including:

White House Chief of Staff
White House Press Secretary
White House Communications Director

Should former cabinet secretaries keep their title capitalized?

No, former cabinet titles would no longer be capitalized when used after a name. For example:

Eric Holder, former attorney general
Colin Powell, former secretary of state

How do you abbreviate a cabinet department title?

You can abbreviate cabinet department titles when used in subsequent references. For example:

First use: Department of Justice
Abbreviation: DOJ

First use: Department of the Interior
Abbreviation: DOI

When would you capitalize secretary by itself?

Secretary is only capitalized when referring specifically to a Secretary of State. For example:

The Secretary will meet with foreign leaders.
She was a secretary in the administration.

Do You Capitalize Cabinet?