MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Writing Practice Test

Which of the following terms should be written in lowercase?

1. Democracy

2. Capitalism

3. transcendentalist

4. Environmentalism

The correct answer is: transcendentalist

The term "transcendentalist" should be written in lowercase because it refers to a philosophical movement or school of thought rather than a proper noun or a title. In general, lowercase is used for common nouns, adjectives, and general references that do not specify a unique entity. In this context, democracy, capitalism, and environmentalism are often treated as proper nouns because they can denote specific ideologies or movements that have significant historical and cultural importance. However, when talking about "transcendentalist" in a general sense, it describes a broader philosophical concept rather than identifying a unique entity, thus warranting its lowercase usage. This distinction is crucial for achieving correct capitalization in academic writing.