Capitalization: Member of Parliament

On this page

• When to capitalize the title “member of Parliament”
  • When the title is next to a name
  • When the title is used in place of a name
• When not to capitalize the title “member of Parliament”
  • When the title is used in the plural
  • When the title has a modifier before it
  • When the title refers to a role
• Additional information

When to capitalize the title “member of Parliament”

Capitalize the title member of Parliament in the cases outlined below.

When the title is next to a name

Capitalize Member of Parliament when it’s placed next to a person’s name:

• Darla Colbrook, Member of Parliament for Lincolnsfield

When the title is used in place of a name

Capitalize Member of Parliament or Member when it refers to a specific person and is used as a substitute for that person’s name:

• The Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre voted in favour of the bill.
• The Member made no further comment.

When not to capitalize the title “member of Parliament”

Don’t capitalize the title member of Parliament in the cases outlined below.

When the title is used in the plural

Don’t capitalize member of Parliament when it’s used in the plural:

• Several members of Parliament took part in the debate.

When the title has a modifier before it

Don’t capitalize member of Parliament when it’s modified by the indefinite article a, by a possessive noun or pronoun or by another type of adjective:

• The question was raised by a member of Parliament.
• They discussed it with their member of Parliament.
• The group rallied around the former member of Parliament.

When the title refers to a role

Don’t capitalize member of Parliament when it refers to a role rather than a person:

• As member of Parliament [that is, while serving in that role], Agnes MacPhail helped reform the penal system.
• The member of Parliament [that is, any person who occupies that position] must first represent their constituents.

Additional information

• Capitalization: Titles of office or rank