Is “State” Capitalized? (Full Explanation)

You might find that some people capitalize “state” while others leave it uncapitalized. It would help to know when the capital letter applies to the noun. This article will explain all you need to know about the capitalization rules.

Is “State” Capitalized?

You do not have to capitalize “state” in most written cases. It is a regular noun, meaning that no capital letter comes at the start of the word. You should only capitalize it when it is part of a proper noun. This is done to refer to specific places.

is state capitalized

“State” shouldn’t be capitalized when you are using it as a regular noun. This example should demonstrate that:

  • I wanted to play for my state in this sport, but I don’t think I’m good enough anymore.

You can capitalize “state” when it’s part of a proper noun, like this:

  • Washington State isn’t going to be ready for the likes of me!

Is “State” Capitalized AP Style?

The AP Stylebook teaches that “state” (and other place-related nouns) do not need to be capitalized. Generally speaking, they are regular nouns. Capital letters only belong on nouns like these when they are included as part of a proper noun.

You can also refer to other style guides like the Chicago Manual of Style or the Microsoft Manual of Style. Both of these guides suggest the same thing, showing that “state” is a regular noun that is only capitalized when part of a proper noun.

When to Capitalize “State”

Since it’s now clear that state is capitalized when referring to a specific state, it would help to go through some examples to support this.

  1. Washington State is the best place you can be right now. I think you’d be foolish to move out of this state in today’s climate.
  2. I’m not sure I want to go back to New York State. There’s only one good city there, but otherwise, it’s not worth the travel.
  3. Ohio State has the best sports team of all the local universities. That’s why I’m trying to get the chance to play for them.
  4. I’m not sure if the State of New Mexico is going to want to be included in this mess. It could be disastrous if done incorrectly.
  5. The United States of America is having a tough time with its identity right now. Nobody knows what to expect from them.

“State” is capitalized when it’s included as a proper noun. Generally, the name of a state comes first and is capitalized. This helps you to understand when “State” should be capitalized alongside it.

When to Not Capitalize “State”

“State” doesn’t need to be capitalized when it’s not in a proper noun. These examples will show you how that looks.

  1. I haven’t heard much about the state’s decision on this topic. Is there anything that you think you’ll be able to tell me about?
  2. I’m not sure about the state of this problem. It’s not something that I’ve ever considered as an option.
  3. New York is having a hard time with this. I hear that the state can’t seem to agree on the policy that they stand for.
  4. I’m not sure about the state we live in right now. I’m really worried about the way these things are going.
  5. The state is being governed by someone new. You should find out more about them before you decide whether you like them.

You never need to capitalize “state” when you are generally talking about a state in your writing. It is a regular noun that can refer to a general place rather than a specific name. The lower-case format is correct.

Is “State” Capitalized In the US?

You only need to capitalize “state” in the US when you are referring to a place name or proper noun. Most of the time, “state” can remain lower case because it is a regular noun that does not need to be supported with a capital letter.

Is “State” Capitalized In the UK?

“State” does not need to be capitalized in the UK. The UK doesn’t have a lot of place names that have “state” in it, so it’s uncommon to ever come across it with a capital letter. Nevertheless, it’s still possible to capitalize it when it’s part of a proper noun.

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