Sentence Case
Sentence case is a capitalization pattern, not a promise that every heading, label, or title must use it. Apply the pattern when the governing style calls for it, while preserving proper nouns and established names.
Sentence case normally capitalizes the first word plus proper nouns and other items that independently require capitals. It contrasts with title-style capitalization, but the exact places where a publication uses sentence case are house-style decisions.
Key details
Important caveats
Boundary
Do not generalize Microsoft or another house style into a universal rule about where sentence case must be used. The existing technical-documentation guide remains the narrower specialist owner for that context.
Further guidance
Contrast
Title case applies additional capitalization rules to major words; sentence case does not simply lowercase proper nouns or branded names.
Decision Path
First determine whether the document or interface calls for sentence case. Then capitalize the opening word and preserve proper nouns or official names.
Worked Example
Sentence case: “How to submit an expense report.” If “OpenAI” appears in the heading, its established capitalization remains even though the rest follows sentence case.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Use sentence-style capitalization (opens in a new tab)Microsoft Style Guide · Microsoft defines sentence-style capitalization as capitalizing the first word of a sentence or phrase and proper nouns.
- Capitalization checklist (opens in a new tab)Microsoft Style Guide · Microsoft applies sentence-style capitalization broadly to headings, labels, titles, and phrases while preserving proper nouns and named products, showing the rule and its exceptions.