The beginning of a chapter or section is sometimes given emphasis by
enlarging the initial letter of the first paragraph. A descending
initial aligns the top of the enlarged character with the top of the
first line of text, and aligns the bottom of the enlarged character with
the base line of the last line of
text that it displaces. An ascending initial keeps its baseline
aligned with the first line of the paragraph. When an enlarged initial
capital is used, the word, phrase, or line which it begins may be set
uppercase or in small caps. If the first word of a proper name is set in
this way, the remaining words of the name should be as well.
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Last updated 20 November 1995
