accounting vs. Accounting

[Sweetpumpkin]

Hi,

Usually the names of departments in a company starts with a capital letter. For example, (the) Sales Department, Accounting Department, etc.

Then, How about this?

a. I'm looking for someone in charge of accounting.
b. I'm looking for someone in the accounting department.
c. I'm looking for someone in accounting.

I think b is okay with 'the Accounting Department'. However, what about others? 'In charge of Accounting' 'in Accounting' are okay?

Thanks,
sweetpumpkin

[Cerberus™]

Hello Sweetpumpkin, I'm afraid I am too lazy to look up how this should be done, but I'll tell you how I'd do it.

Capitals are mostly used for proper names, that is, names of things there is only one of. Therefore, when I want to refer to a specific sales department of this company I am writing about, I might use capitals; when I am writing about accounting departments in general, or when it doesn't matter to which one I am specifically referring, I should use lower case.

Note: I do not find it very important, I doubt whether it'd be called a mistake at all if you did it the wrong way.

Note: the best policy might be to just follow the custom of the company itself, if you know it.

In your example c, there might be ambiguity. It could also mean "I am looking to hire someone who is trained in the field of accounting".