The
Old English
is seldom used but in acts of parliament, proclamations, &c. The
Roman
is chiefly in vogue for books and pamphlets, intermixed with
Italic
, to distinguish proper names, chapters, arguments, words in any foreign language, texts of scripture, citations from authors, speeches or sayings of any person, emphatical words, and whatever is strongly significant.
The use of capitals, or great letters, is to begin every name of the Supreme Being, as God, Lord, Almighty, Father, Son, &c. All proper names of men and things, titles of distinction, as King, Duke, Lord, Knight, &c. must also begin with a capital. So ought every book, chapter, verse, paragraph, and sentence after a period. A saying, or quotation from any author, should begin with a capital; as ought every line in a poem. I and O, when they stand single, must always be capitals; any words, particularly names or substantives, may begin with a capital; but the common way of beginning every substantive with a capital is not commendable, and is now much disused.
Capitals are likewise often used for ornament, as in the title of books; and also to express numbers, and abbreviations.