In formal and ceremonious letters or addresses to dignitaries, in which neither the name nor the full title of the person addressed is specifically mentioned, it is customary to capitalize the synonym and its preceding pronoun in the salutation, as:
- Your Grace
- Your Reverence
- Your Honor
- Your Royal Highness, etc.
- Your Majesty
When only the title of a person is mentioned, preceded by the article the, and the context shows that this title is intended for one person only, it should have a capital, as the Pope, the President, the Sultan, the Czar, the Chief-justice. The capital should not be selected when the context shows that the title is not intended for one person, but may be applied to two or more persons.
When complimentary salutations appear, not at the beginning, but within the text, of a sentence or paragraph of dialogue matter, as sir, my lord, madam, your honor, they do not take a capital.
A title distinctly intended as the synonym of a particular person thereby becomes a proper noun, and should be capitalized.
- Good morning, General.
- Mr. Speaker, I rise to a point of order.
- He sent his credentials to the President.
- The Sultan proceeded in state to the mosque.
Two capitals are not needed in a compound title, as:
- Major-general Merritt.
- Chief -justice Fuller.
- Ex-president Cleveland.
- Vice-president Little.
