Final answer:
It is true that titles preceding a person's name are capitalized as a sign of respect and formality. Professional titles following the person's name do not require capitalization. Formatting rules also apply to titles of works, with MLA style requiring italics for long works and quotation marks for shorter works.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a title appears before a person's name, it is capitalized. This is true. For example, if we refer to a doctor, it would be incorrect to write "doctor Atul Gawande". Instead, we should write "Dr. Atul Gawande".
Similarly, for a senator, we should write "Senator Tammy Baldwin" rather than "senator Tammy Baldwin". This rule is upheld to show respect and formality in written communication. Moreover, titles serve to clarify a person's role or professional status immediately to the reader.
Furthermore, when writing titles in a non-contextual manner or after the person's name, you do not need to capitalize the professional title. For example, "Atul Gawande, a doctor" or "Tammy Baldwin, a senator". It is only when the title directly precedes the name that it is capitalized.
In addition to titles of people, titles of works such as books, films, and articles are also subject to specific capitalization and formatting rules.
According to MLA style, titles of long works are italicized, while titles of shorter works should be placed in quotation marks. This differentiation helps with clarity and reinforces the status of the works within the literary and academic arenas.