Is American football capitalized?

As a language expert with a keen interest in orthographic conventions, I often find myself discussing the nuances of capitalization in English. The question of whether "American football" should be capitalized is an interesting one, as it touches upon the broader topic of capitalization rules in English, particularly in relation to the names of sports and their governing bodies.
Firstly, it's important to understand that English capitalization rules can sometimes be complex and are subject to change over time, especially as new terms and phrases enter the lexicon. In general, proper nouns are capitalized, while common nouns are not. Proper nouns refer to specific entities, places, people, or organizations, whereas common nouns are more generic and refer to a category or class of things.
When it comes to sports, the names of the sports themselves are typically not capitalized unless they are part of a proper name. For example, "baseball" and "basketball" are not capitalized because they are common nouns referring to the sports in general. However, "American football" is a bit different because it is a specific type of football that is distinct from other forms of football, such as "soccer" or "rugby." This specificity might suggest that it should be capitalized, but the general rule still applies: common nouns are not capitalized unless they are part of a proper name.
The reference to "Major League Baseball" (MLB) is a good example of this rule in action. "Baseball" is a common noun and would not be capitalized on its own, but when it is part of the proper name "Major League Baseball," it is capitalized because it is now referring to a specific organization. Similarly, "American football" could be capitalized if it were part of a proper name, such as "National Football League" (NFL), but when referring to the sport in general, it remains lowercase.
It's also worth noting that capitalization can be influenced by the style guide that a publication or organization follows. Different style guides may have different rules, and capitalization can vary accordingly. For instance, some style guides might capitalize "American Football" when it is used as a title or at the beginning of a sentence, while others might not.
In conclusion, the capitalization of "American football" depends on the context in which it is used. Generally, it is not capitalized when referring to the sport in a generic sense, as it is a common noun. However, it may be capitalized when it is part of a proper name or when following specific style guide rules. Understanding these nuances is crucial for anyone looking to use English effectively and accurately.

Names of competitive sports such as baseball, basketball, and football are lowercase, but note that Major League Baseball is not merely a description of the highest level of professional baseball in the United States but also the official designation and is thus capitalized.