How to Punctuate Organization Titles

Titles of Individuals at an Organization

• 1

  Place a period after abbreviated titles preceding names.

  Mr. Name Name or Mr. Name

  Mrs. Name Name or Mrs. Name

  Ms. Name Name or Ms. Name

  Dr. Name Name or Dr. Name

  Miss is not an abbreviation and does not require a period.

• 2

  Only use an abbreviated academic title when a first name or initial is included.

  Prof. N. Name

  Prof. Name Name

  or

  Professor Name

• 3

  Use a comma after an individual's name when it is followed by an abbreviated academic degree or a familial abbreviation.

  Name Name, M.D.

  Name Name, Jr.

  Name Name, Sr.

• 4

  Do not use both an abbreviated title and an abbreviated academic degree. Use only one or the other.

  Dr. N. Name

  or

  Name Name, M.D.

  not

  Dr. N. Name, M.D.

• 5

  Capitalize and spell out titles when they precede a name in a sentence.

  I voted for Senator Name.

  Capitalize titles that appear after a name in a document signature line. There should also be a comma between the name and title.

  Name Name, Executive Editor

• 6

  Capitalize and spell out titles when they follow a name in a sentence if the word "the" does not precede the title. Include commas on both sides of the title.

  Name Name, Treasurer, will emcee the event.

  Do not capitalize a title following a name if it includes the word "the." Do still use commas on both sides of the title.

  Mr. Name, the club president, sang a song.

Organization Titles

• 7

  Abbreviate the portion of an organization or business title that includes a legal designation such as "Company," "Limited" or "Incorporated." Use a period after the abbreviation and do not use commas before the abbreviation.

  Arby's Restaurant Group Inc.

  CVS Caremark Corp.

  Allied Domecq Financial Services Ltd.

  Dow Chemical Co.

• 8

  Do not use an organization or company's abbreviated legal designation in non-formal writing when the content will not affect the organization's business.

  Arby's Restaurant

  CVS Caremark

  Allied Domecq Financial Services

  Dow Chemical

• 9

  Always capitalize and never abbreviate any portion of a government organization's name on first reference. However, it is okay to use abbreviations and non-formal names on second reference.

  National Science Foundation (NSF)

  Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)