Capitalization Conundrum: Should Pediatrics be Proper Noun?

Hello everyone! I've been wondering about something and I thought I'd bring it up here for discussion. I've noticed that sometimes people capitalize 'pediatrics' and other times they don't. Is there a rule about this or is it a matter of personal preference? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Top Replies

Great question, PedsProfessor! According to AP style, medical specialties like pediatrics should be capitalized when used as a proper noun (e.g. 'I am a Pediatrician') but should be lowercase when used as a common noun (e.g. 'I specialize in pediatrics'). I hope that helps!

Thanks for asking this, PedsProfessor! I've always been confused about it too. It's good to know that it's based on usage. I'll make sure to be more mindful of how I use it in the future.

I think it's important to note that even though the capitalization rules might seem confusing, the most important thing is to make sure we're all providing the best care possible for our young patients. Pediatrics, whether capitalized or not, is a vital and rewarding field.