Which statement correctly describes capitalization of a family title preceding a name?

Which statement correctly describes capitalization of a family title preceding a name?

• A. Family titles are always capitalized when preceding a name
• B. They are never capitalized
• C. They are capitalized only at the end of a sentence
• D. They are capitalized only if the next word is capitalized

Answer: (A)

Capitalizing a family title before a name treats the title as part of the person’s proper name. When you say Aunt Mary, Uncle Joe, or Mrs. Smith, the word that shows the family relationship functions like a title attached to a specific individual, so it’s capitalized. The rule doesn’t depend on sentence position or on whether the next word is capitalized; it’s about using a title directly before a name to identify a particular person. So stating that family titles are always capitalized when preceding a name aligns with how these titles function in standard writing.

Capitalizing a family title before a name treats the title as part of the person’s proper name. When you say Aunt Mary, Uncle Joe, or Mrs. Smith, the word that shows the family relationship functions like a title attached to a specific individual, so it’s capitalized. The rule doesn’t depend on sentence position or on whether the next word is capitalized; it’s about using a title directly before a name to identify a particular person. So stating that family titles are always capitalized when preceding a name aligns with how these titles function in standard writing.