Events in general
If the event has a proper name, use title-case capitalization (where the first and last words are capitalized as well as the “important” words in between).
Return to the Classroom
Cornell Entrepreneurship Summit
Women in Tech
Spell out the full name of the event on first mention, with the shortened form in parentheses.
The Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference (CALC) is an annual event. CALC 2017 was well attended. The conference gathered alumni leaders from all across the country.
If the event has a proper name (as is the case with annual events), capitalize. If it is a generic event, lowercase.
Last year, a few of us had a reunion at a local restaurant. This year, we attended our class Reunion and reconnected with old friends on the Hill.
Exhibits
If the exhibit has a proper name, place the title in italics, apart from applying title-case capitalization. Exhibit titles may sometimes be a combination of a descriptive title (not to be italicized) and the particular, proper title (italicized), separated by a colon.
Beyond Earth Art
Escaping the Ordinary: Artistic Imagination in Early Modern Prints
Architecture Thesis Posters: Last Words
In general, don’t include the name of the artist in the title, unless the name is really part of the proper title. When referring to an exhibit in a generic way, use the lowercased common noun.
Lectures
If the lecture has a proper name, place the title in quotes, apart from applying title-case capitalization. Sometimes, a lecture is a combination of a series title and the particular title of the lecture, separated by a colon. In addition, lecture titles may include a main title and a subtitle, also separated by a colon.
“Building a Life Worth Living”
SEAP Gatty Lecture Series: “Creole Chinese Crossings: Spirits, Ancestors, and Early Postcolonial Indonesia’s Ethnic Boundaries”
“Deregulated Disparities: The Political Economy of Racial Health Disparities”
In general, don’t include the name of the lecturer in the title. That detail should be in the description. When referring to the lecture in a generic way, use the lowercased common noun.
Creating new event names
AAD event owners have the final say in what the proper event name should be and whether to capitalize the full name when planning a new event.
When an event name reads like a sentence fragment, consider capitalizing it. But, when it reads like a full sentence, consider using sentence case. This is especially true for event names that include a colon.
Return to the Classroom: Democracy in America
In Trustees We Trust: How Cornell’s Board of Trustees shapes the future of the university
Reunion 2021: Class of 1966 Wine Tasting
Reunion 2021: Virtual wine tasting with the Class of 1966
All examples here are technically correct. When the name reads as more of a full official event title or a sentence fragment, consider capitalizing it. But, when it reads more like a description, subtitle, or a full sentence, consider using sentence case.