Capitalization, Titles
Q. How to treat names of apps? I am copyediting a newsletter for a professional organization. A couple of the articles discuss iPad/smart-phone apps. I am at a loss as to how to treat those names: Initial caps only? Initial caps, roman? Italics? In quotes? Any suggestions? CMOS 16 is mute, alas. I should note that the issue is possibly more complicated because some of the apps carry the same names as the books upon which they are based.
A. When you can’t find a style in your designated manual, you get to decide. For inspiration, browse the CMOS table of contents for something analogous—chapter 8 (“Names and Terms”) looks likely—and scan that chapter’s detailed contents page. “Trademarks” (8.152) is perhaps the most applicable section. There we find a list of products (Bufferin, Kleenex, Pyrex) that are initial capped only. If you think your apps have more in common with books, then you might opt for italics and headline caps (14.94). Either way, update your house style guide for next time.