This guide to capitalization rules is especially for ESL students. It contains clear explanations for each rule with simple examples of correct sentences. Once you understand these rules, try a capitalization rules quiz to test yourself.
First Word in a Sentence
Always capitalize the first word of a new sentence.
There is something wrong with this cheese. However, I’m hungry.
Strange things have happened recently. I think the police should investigate.
The Pronoun I
Only the pronoun «I’ is capitalized. All other pronouns (she, they, him, me, us, etc.) are NOT capitalized.
He asked me where I had bought my jacket.
If I see her, I will give her your message.
Proper Nouns
There are many special rules concerning proper nouns. Generally, Proper nouns can be understood as the names of specific people, places, things, pets, organizations, etc. Here are some specific rules to follow:
I visited California on my vacation.
She gave Peter a present for his birthday.
The Directions
Capitalize North, South, East, and West when contained in the name of a place (state, country, etc.) but not when used for giving directions.
Correct
My friend lives in South Carolina.
We are planning a vacation in South Africa.
Incorrect
She lives in Southern Europe. SHOULD BE She lives in southern Europe.
I’m going to visit my friends in Eastern Oregon. SHOULD BE I’m going to visit my friends in eastern Oregon.
Members of an Organization
The Neighborhood Players are presenting a musical next week.
Some Washington Democrats would like to see the company up.
Names of Companies
The name of a company is similar to the name of a person and needs to be capitalized.
My niece loves Converse shoes.
Do you prefer Siesta or Aloha products?
Periods of History
Capitalize periods of time in history that have specific names.
The Dot Com Era lasted far shorter than many people expected.
Events
Names of specific events should be capitalized.
I went to the Tomato Growers Conference in Salinas last weekend.
Have you ever attended the Technoland Convergence Festival?
Acronyms
Each letter of an acronym (a letter for the first letter of every word: CIA -> Central Intelligence Agency)
I prefer to watch PBS tv whenever possible.
The ICAM commissioned a study on OBLOG.
The Gods
Names of gods are capitalized, including Allah, Vishnu, and God. The word god is generally not capitalized if it is used to refer to the generic idea of a deity, nor is it capitalized when it refers to multiple gods.
Wotan is one of the gods in Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
The pastor prayed that God should deliver us from our sins.
Days, Months But Not Seasons
Both days and months are capitalized but not NOT seasons.
Correct
She flew to Dallas in September.
Do you have any time on Monday?
Incorrect
I love skiing in Winter. SHOULD BE I love skiing in winter.
They visited Bob last Summer. SHOULD BE They visited Bob last summer.
Countries, Languages, and Nationality Adjectives
All words the indicate a specific country should be capitalized including adjectives describing food, customs, etc.
I lived in Italy for over 10 years.
Have you ever had any really expensive French wine?
Do you speak Russian?
Mom and Dad
Capitalize family relationships when used in place of a name
Have you given Mom her present yet?
I think Dad needs some time off work.
Titles Before Names
Titles are capitalized only when they are part of the name.
Correct
The soldier wrote to General Smith and asked for advice.
Have you spoken to Vice Principal Smithers yet?
Incorrect
George Washington was the first President of the United States. SHOULD BE George Washington was the first president of the United States.
Peter Smith was elected Mayor in 1995. SHOULD BE Peter Smith was elected mayor in 1995.
Beginning and Ending of Letters
Start and end your letters with capital letters.
Dear Mr. Smith,
Best regards,
First Word in a Quote
This is true even if the quote occurs in the middle of a sentence.
The last time I talked to Peter he said, «Study hard and get to bed early!»
Thomas Patterman was a simple man who said, «Give me life, liberty and a bottle of rum!»
Main or Content Words in Titles
Remember that content words include nouns, pronouns, principal verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
Rainy Days and Mondays
How to Win Friends and Influence your Neighbors
First Word in Each Line of Poetry
Each first word in a poem should be written with capital letters.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
I think I said He’s in love with you!
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EM
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Articles
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Style
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Capitalization
Summary
Capitalize the first word of a sentence. Also capitalize proper nouns: names of people, places, organizations, departments, bridges, parks, buildings, and geographical features (oceans, mountains, deserts, etc.). But don’t capitalize words such as department when they are used as common nouns. Follow generally accepted style guidelines (e.g., Chapter 7 but page 7, Table 5 but column 5). In titles and headings, capitalize the first and last words and all other words except articles, prepositions, and conjunctions. Official titles such as president and chairman should be capitalized only when used with a name (President Lincoln) or as a name (Mr. President).
Which words to capitalize in a sentence
In addition to the first word of a sentence, other words, such as proper nouns, are also capitalized. Listed here are the general guidelines. Avoid capitalizing words merely for emphasis.
People, places, and companies
Capitalize names of people, places, and companies.
Examples
- I spoke to Anita over the phone yesterday.
- Nesbit and Rita have gone to Bali on holiday.
- It must be nice to have Tooksie back home from college.
- John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 while traveling through Dallas, Texas, in an open-top Lincoln Continental convertible.
- All refrigerators made by General Electric simultaneously went sentient on October 7.
- It can get a little cold in Antarctica.
Countries
Capitalize the names of countries. However, lowercase any articles (like the), prepositions (of, in, etc.), and conjunctions (like and) that occur within the name.
Examples
- Much of the land area of the Netherlands consists of reclaimed land.
- Trinidad and Tobago lies on the continental shelf of South America, which is why its ecology is similar to that of Venezuela.
- One hundred fifty-six meteorites have been observed and recovered within the United States of America in the last 212 years.
Tip
An initial the in the name of a city is capitalized.
Example
- One of my favorite cities in the Netherlands is The Hague.
Proper adjectives
Proper adjectives (adjectives derived from proper nouns) are usually capitalized as well.
Examples
- Lulu enjoys eating Italian food.
- Did you study Euclidean geometry in school?
- Many Dutch expatriates visit this hotel.
Regions and geographical features
Names of oceans, seas, continents, mountains, valleys, rivers, plains, deserts, plateaus, and other geographical features are capitalized.
Examples
- The Pacific Ocean is the largest body of water in the world.
- How did we make the Aral Sea disappear?
- Numerous empires have risen and fallen in the fertile Indo-Gangetic Plain of Asia.
- Which is the longest river in the world—the Nile or the Amazon?
- They lived in a cabin beside Lake Hudson.
Names of regions of the world are also capitalized.
Examples
- India is the largest country in South Asia.
- The territory of Siberia spans much of Eurasia and North Asia.
Buildings and structures
Names of specific buildings and structures such as bridges and monuments are capitalized. If the word the precedes a name, it is lowercased.
Examples
- The president of the United States lives in the White House.
- Have you seen the Bent Pyramid of Dahshur?
- Millions of tourists visit the Taj Mahal in Agra every year.
- The Yongji Bridge of Chengyang is one of the most beautiful bridges in the world.
- She lives in a white house with blue curtains.
- We lived in a cozy little apartment in sight of the Egyptian pyramids.
- Anita is an engineer who loves to build bridges.
but
Departments and organizations
Capitalize names of departments, ministries, institutions, and organizations. Lowercase an initial the when it falls within a sentence, and words such as of, for, and and that may form part of the name. (In short, lowercase articles, prepositions, and conjunctions.)
Examples
- The Department of Education has announced that schools no longer be needed.
- Nesbit received his master’s degree from the University of Nusquam in 2001.
- Anita is an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
- The case of the missing lawnmower has been handed over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
- Doesn’t Poco work for the Ministry of Magic?
Don’t capitalize words like department and court when they are used as common nouns.
Examples
- Lulu is the best worker in the department.
- Nesbit went to university in Nusquam.
- Four posts have fallen vacant within the bureau.
Academic subjects
Lowercase names of school subjects such as physics, history, and biology.
Examples
- Ms. Scalene was my mathematics teacher in school.
- Maya studied philosophy in college.
- Nesbit is a physics major from Princeton.
Names of languages, which are proper nouns, are capitalized.
Examples
- I am tired of teaching English literature to kids who steal all their assignments off the
- If I had taken Spanish instead of Latin in school, I would have been better prepared to travel the world.
If academic subjects form part of the name of a department, capitalize them.
Examples
- The Department of Philosophy is hosting a thought workshop today.
- It took her forty years to become head of the Department of Mathematics.
Time periods: Days, months, seasons, decades, centuries, eras, historical periods
Capitalize names of days and months.
Examples
- We leave for Thailand on Tuesday.
- In January, the world seems renewed.
- It was on October 18 that the revolution finally began.
Tip
When a day of the week is pluralized, it is still capitalized.
Examples
- I love Saturdays!
- It took me a month of Sundays to finish reading this book.
Also capitalize names of holidays, festivals, and other special days (which are proper nouns).
Examples
- We met at a party on New Year’s Eve.
- Did you call your mom on Mother’s Day?
- Today is Veterans Day.
- We celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah.
Lowercase names of seasons, unless used to denote a journal issue or a collection.
Examples
- The purple sneezeweed blooms in summer.
- All the trees danced with joy, glad that the long winter was finally over.
- The Fall 2021 issue of is out in stores now.
but
Lowercase names of decades and centuries.
Examples
- She is a child of the nineties.
- The pandemic of the twenty-first century affected more people across more continents than any plague of the past.
The names of eras and historical periods are usually capitalized but not always. Terms that are merely descriptive are often lowercased.
Examples
- For women, the Renaissance was no different from any other period in history.
- No, Johnny, electricity had nothing to do with the Dark Ages being
- These pieces of jewelry are from the early centuries of the Common Era.
- This school still uses colonial-era teaching methods.
- Some call this book the last great novel of the postmodern era.
but
Note
Descriptive terms such as “postmodern” and “modern” may sometimes be capitalized in writing when used to refer to time periods or art movements, although lowercasing them is usually preferred. Follow a consistent style within a document.
Historical events
Capitalize the names of specific events in history.
Examples
- The Russian Revolution broke out before World War I was over.
- Nobody knows how many people died in the Massacre of Xuzhou.
- The Battle of Waterloo marked Napoleon’s final defeat.
- It will take a revolution to end this war.
- Hundreds of people were slaughtered in the massacre.
- A battle was fought on this field 200 years ago.
but
Celestial bodies
Names of galaxies, stars, planets, and other celestial bodies are generally capitalized.
Examples
- How far away from us is Alpha Centauri?
- For millennia, humans looked up in wonder at the Milky Way.
- We were guided on our travels by the North Star.
- Travelers to Neptune are advised to wear their space suits at all times to avoid freezing to death.
An exception is the “solar system,” which is usually lowercased. Also, the word earth, even when used to mean our planet, may be lowercased, especially when preceded by the word the.
Examples
- What on earth are you talking about?
- Some people still believe the earth is the center of the universe.
However, when used with names of other planets or in scientific writing, the word is capitalized.
Examples
- I would rather live on Venus than Earth.
- Here is a photograph of Earth as seen from space.
Similarly, the words sun and moon are not usually capitalized, except in scientific writing.
Examples
- “The Sun is a yellow dwarf star, a hot ball of glowing gases at the heart of our solar system.”
- The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite.
- The sun and all the stars will fade away someday.
- All her crayons have melted in the sun.
- In the light of a gibbous moon, the princess crept toward the moonlit pond.
but
When used as common nouns (for example, in the plural), these words are always lowercased.
Examples
- There are seventy-nine known moons of Jupiter, none of which I have visited.
- Our new planet has two suns, so it’s always day wherever you are.
Nouns before numerals or letters
In general, capitalize nouns followed by numerals or letters that are part of a series.
Examples
- In Chapter 3, we discuss the importance of tea in the life of a human being.
- The routing graph is presented in Figure 4.
- For data collected in February, see Table 3.
- Here are the results of Experiment 9.
- I present to you Exhibit A, a screwdriver covered in blood.
- For a discussion on tea leaves specifically from Darjeeling, see Appendix C.
- She gave away the entire plot right in the first chapter of the book.
- Could you check whether the fourth figure on this page is correct?
- Pricing details are provided in an appendix to the report.
one of a series of chapters (Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, . . .)
but
Words such as page, paragraph, line, stanza, row, and column are not usually capitalized, even when followed by a number.
Examples
- I am still on page 7 of this book.
- Please check the number in row 9, column 3.
Tip
When speaking about the parts of a book or a document, the general rule is that if a word can act as a heading, it is capitalized. Thus, while “Chapter 3” is capitalized, “page 3” isn’t. Similarly, “Table 5” should be capitalized, but “row 5” should not.
Nouns followed by numerals or letters that are not items in a numbered series but merely act as placeholders are generally lowercased.
Examples
- This car is no Ferrari, but it will take you from point A to point B.
- Let’s go with option 1 then.
Models, theories, and schools of thought
Do not capitalize the names of models and theories unless they contain proper nouns.
Examples
- The motivational theory we use is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
- The competitive strength of an organization can be assessed using Porter’s five forces model.
- A brand positioning map can help you understand how consumers perceive your brand in comparison to others.
- Psychologists have finally proven Freud’s repressed memory theory.
- Only the privileged can speak blithely of existentialism.
- We used the differential equation model to compare the two sets of data.
- Albert Einstein is famous not just for his hairdo but also his general theory of relativity.
Note
Schools of thought and philosophical approaches are sometimes capitalized (e.g., Existentialism), although most style manuals recommend lowercasing them. Such questions of capitalization are a matter of style rather than grammar. Follow a consistent style within a document.
Diseases and disorders
Don’t capitalize the names of diseases, conditions, and disorders.
Examples
- Diseases such as malaria and cholera can be prevented by taking certain precautions.
- I wasn’t in at work last week because I had the flu.
- She was diagnosed with postpartum depression but insisted it was merely a case of acute nihilism.
However, do capitalize any proper nouns that form part of the name.
Examples
- Studies show that may slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Farley was about five years old when symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy began to appear.
Species
Do not capitalize the common names of species.
Examples
- There are fewer than four thousand tigers left in the world.
- The tiger is the largest member of the cat family.
- The spur-winged goose lives on a diet of blister beetles, which makes this goose poisonous to predators.
Proper adjectives that form part of the name are capitalized.
Examples
- The Egyptian goose is native to Africa.
- The Tasmanian tiger went extinct in 1936.
Latin names of species are italicized. Capitalize the genus, and lowercase the species name (even if it is a proper adjective).
Examples
- The Mangifera indica, or the mango, is native to the Indian subcontinent.
- The Chinese mountain cat belongs to the genus Felis.
Directions
Lowercase words such as east and west (and derivative words such as eastern) when referring to direction or location.
Examples
- Wheat is grown in the western region of the country.
- We went up a narrow road north into the mountains.
Capitalize the names of regions and places.
Examples
- Uruguay is a beautiful country in South America.
- Baltimore is a major city in the Northeast.
For more examples, see North, South, East, West: Are Directions Capitalized?
Official titles
Capitalize official titles when used before a person’s name or in place of it.
Examples
- Lulu interviewed President Clinton in 1999.
- Early this morning, Vice Chancellor Wang announced her resignation.
- We invited Premier Johnson to watch the launch of the space shuttle.
- Fortunately, Deputy Prime Minister Femy will not be present.
- Four former presidents attended the funeral.
- When will Anita be promoted from vice chancellor to chancellor?
- We went to hear the premier speak in Ontario.
- Who knows what the duties are of a deputy prime minister?
but
For more examples, see this article on capitalizing civil and official titles.
Kinship terms
Lowercase words such as “mom” and “dad” when you use them as common nouns.
Examples
- My dad likes to tell the strangest jokes.
- My mother’s childhood photographs smell of the past.
- Maya’s aunt is an astronaut and a scientist.
But capitalize familial terms used as a name or before a name.
Examples
- I wonder why Mom and Dad haven’t called me yet.
- Please, Mother, try to understand!
- Lulu visited Grandpa last week.
- I hope Aunt Lily enjoys her trip to Mars.
For more examples, see this article on when to capitalize family titles.
Titles and headings
Titles and headings may be capitalized using either title case or sentence case. Various style guides prescribe different rules. In general, in title case, the first and last words and all words except articles (a, an, the), prepositions (of, in, on, at, etc.), and conjunctions (and, or, but, etc.) are capitalized.
Examples
- The Unbearable Lightness of Being
- To the Lighthouse
- Stranger in a Strange Land
- The Book of Laughter and Forgetting
Caution
In title case, capitalize all forms of the be verb (is, are, were, etc.).
Examples
- How to Be an Antiracist
- Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
- When We Were Orphans
In sentence case, only the first word and all proper nouns are capitalized.
Examples
- A pair of blue eyes
- Jane Eyre
- The truth about Mary
For more examples, including how to capitalize hyphenated terms, see Words to Capitalize in Titles and Headings.
Usage guide
Capitalize names of people, places, companies, departments, and geographical features. In names of countries, organizations, and departments, as well as in titles and headings, articles (a, an, the), prepositions (of, in, etc.), and conjunctions (and, or, etc.) are lowercased. Avoid unnecessary capitalization. While words used as names should be capitalized (“Mom lives in the Rocky Mountains”), common nouns are lowercased (“Nesbit’s mom lives in the mountains”).
In all my years of teaching grammar and conventions, the simplest rules seem to be the hardest for many students to remember.
As surprising as it is, the elementary lesson of capitalization use is often the most elusive – and these basic errors create confusing sentences. The writing also ends up looking incomplete and it is difficult for future employers to take anyone seriously when basic grammar is ignored.
Let’s review the rules of capitalization to help you remember how they should be applied so your writing is clear, concise, and understandable.
What are the Rules of Capitalization?
You were most likely first introduced to the rules of capitalization in early elementary school. Capitalization serves an important role in writing to indicate important words and signal new thoughts.
For capitalization in English, there are three common rules on which everyone can agree:
- Capitalize the first letter in every sentence.
- Capitalize initial letters of proper nouns.
- Capitalize the pronoun I.
But, there are many rules governing the use of capitalization, and we are going to review the most widely accepted rules below.
Using Capitals for First Words
The most widely used and recognized rule of capital letters is to capitalize the first word of a sentence. They serve as a visual clue to the reader by making certain words stand out more prominently on a page.
Capital letters signal the start of a new idea in a sentence.
First Word Rule #1: Sentences
Capitalize the first word in declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences.
For example:
- Sarah visited the beach while on vacation.
- Did you pick up the groceries?
- Put that book away.
- I can’t believe I was awarded the scholarship!
First Word Rule #2: Sentences
Capitalize the first word in interjections and incomplete sentences.
For example:
- Darn! Wow!
- When? How?
First Word Rule #3: Sentences
Capitalize the first word of a complete sentence following a colon. If a list or dependent clause or phrase follows a colon, it is not a complete sentence and, therefore, no capital letter is used.
For example:
- Consider a note about this rule: It is sometimes more acceptable to use a semi-colon instead of a colon if the following sentence is a complete sentence (see what I did there?).
First Word Rule #4: Quotations
Capitalize the first word in the quotation at the quotation is a complete sentence.
For example:
- I always loved the picture Muir paints with his words when he wrote, “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
First Word Rule #5: Poetry
Capitalize the first word in each line of most poetry even if the line does not begin a new sentence.
For example:
Water falling
I watched it stream
Gently down to earth
First Word Rule #6: I and O
Capitalize I and O through a sentence.
For example:
- She wasn’t sure when the paper was due, but I knew it had to be done before Friday.
- She looked up, surprised, her mouth a round O as she stood, speechless.
Using Capitals for Proper Nouns
Proper nouns are nouns that name a specific person, place, or thing. They must be capitalized to properly indicate their importance to a sentence.
Proper Noun Rule #1: Names
Capitalize all proper nouns, including each part of a person’s name.
The given first, middle, and surname (last name) of a person must be capitalized, as do initials.
For example:
- Sanna L. Hamilton
- Lisa O’Hera
- Michael St. John
Capitalization beginning with la, le, de, Mac, van, von, or D’ may vary depending on the family spelling and preference of the name.
For example:
- De Ville vs. de Ville
Proper Noun Rule #2: Animals
Capitalize the proper names of animals.
For example:
- Hazel Fuzzy Butt
- Ginger the Wonder Dog
- Wrigley the Weasel
Proper Noun Rule #3: Geography
Capitalized geographical names.
Street names, towns, cities, counties, states, provinces, countries, continents, valleys, mountains, rivers, and oceans are all capitalized. If it can be found on a map, capitalize it.
For example:
- South America
- Galapagos Islands
- Boston
- Lea County
Compass points are only capitalized if they are referring to a specific location.
For example:
- We were driving southwest on the highway.
- We were driving through the South to reach our destination on the East Coast.
Proper Noun Rule #4: Places
Capitalize the names of monuments, buildings, and meeting rooms or classrooms
For example:
- Lincoln Memorial
- Joe Louis Arena
- Room 212
Proper Noun Rule #5: Events and Periods of Time
Capitalize the names of specific events, such as historic periods, events, documents, days and months, holidays, and special events.
For example:
- Middle Ages
- Civil War
- Homestead Act
- Saturday
- June
- Memorial Day
- Christmas
- Belmont Stakes
Proper Noun Rule #6: Seasons
Do not capitalize the seasons.
For example:
- We could tell spring was on the way due to the warm breeze.
Proper Noun Rule #7: Organizations, Nationalities, Languages
Capitalize the names of various organizations, businesses, government bodies, political parties, nationalities, and languages.
For example:
- Debate Club
- United Farm Workers
- University of Michigan
- BioCorps, Inc.
- Department of Defense
- Republicans, Libertarians
- American, Brazilian, Hispanic, Italian
- English, Spanish, Portuguese
Proper Noun Rule #8: Religion
Capitalize references to religions, deities, religious figures, holy books, and religious sculptures.
For example:
- God
- Allah
- Lord
- Holy Spirit
- Bible
- Torah
- Islam
- Buddhism
- Prophets
Do not capitalize the words god or goddess when referring to mythological deities, but do capitalize their proper names.
For example:
- Our studies on Greek and Roman gods and goddesses was very interesting.
Proper Noun Rule #9: Awards
Capitalize the names of awards. Do not capitalize the word “the” preceding the award name.
For example:
- the Nobel Peace Prize
- the Oscars
- the Pulitzer Prize
Proper Noun Rule #10: Vehicles
Capitalize the names of specific types of air, space, and land craft.
- Boeing 747
- Sputnik
- Camaro
- USS Alabama
Using Capitals for Proper Adjectives
Proper adjectives are proper nouns used as an adjective, or are formed from a proper noun.
Proper Adjective Rule #1
Capitalize most proper adjectives.
For example:
- American people
- French government
- Gothic style
Proper adjectives used in popular expressions are not capitalized.
For example:
- venetian blinds
- french fries
Proper Adjective Rule #2
Capitalize brand names used as adjectives.
For example:
- Hercules luggage
Proper Adjective Rule #3
Do not capitalize prefixes attached to proper adjectives unless the prefix refers to a nationality.
For example:
- pre-Renaissance architecture
- Indo-China
USe Adjective Rule #4
In a hyphenated adjective, capitalize only the proper adjective.
For example:
- Italian-speaking Americans
Using Capitals for Titles
Title Rule #1: People
Capitalize a person’s title when it is used with the person’s name or when it’s used in direct address in place of a person’s name.
For example:
- Major Johnson reviewed the reports and gave a nod of approval.
- The Major’s approval allowed us to get started with the next step.
Do not capitalize if used as a general reference.
For example:
- The reports required the approval of a higher official, such as a major.
Title Rule #2: People
Capitalize titles of government officials when they are followed by a proper name or used in direct address.
For example:
- Senator Davis met with the people before elections began.
- Will you be meeting us at a specific time, Senator?
Do not capitalize if used as a general reference.
For example:
- It would be nice if all senators were willing to meet with their constituents.
Title Rule #3: People
Capitalize titles of certain high government officials if they refer to the incumbent even when the titles are not followed by proper name or used in direct address.
For example:
- The President traveled to the hurricane affected areas.
- The King of England was sworn in recently.
- The trail will be taken on by the Supreme Court.
Title Rule #4: People
Capitalize the important words in the compound titles, but not prefixes and suffixes added to the title.
For example:
- ex-Senator Smith
- Lieutenant Governor
Title Rule #5: People
Capitalize titles showing family relationships when they refer to a specific person unless they are preceded by a possessive noun or pronoun.
For example:
- My Aunt Mary lived to be 93 years old.
- Sarah’s aunt was as spry as ever in her old age.
Title Rule #6: People
Capitalize abbreviations of titles before and after names.
For example:
- Mr. Smith
- Mrs. Davis
- Ms. Johnson
- Mr. Johnathon Smith, Sr.
- Mr. Jonathan Smith, Jr.
Title Rule #7: Titles of Written Works and Art
Capitalize the first word and all other key words in the titles of books, periodicals, poems, stories, plays, paintings, and other works of art.
For example:
- Little Women
- Reader’s Digest
- The Phantom of the Opera
Title Rule #8: Titles of Courses
Capitalize titles of courses when the courses are language courses or when the courses are followed by a number.
For example:
- Sociology 101
- Spanish
- New Mexico History 2B
Other Points to Remember
In modern writing, there are simultaneous trends toward and away from capitalization. The trend in informal writing and much journalistic writing is away from it. Meanwhile, there is an unfortunate trend in business, corporate, and marketing writing to capitalize words for emphasis or to give words a little extra heft.
But if you use instant messaging, text messaging, email, or social networking, you’ve probably noticed that many people don’t capitalize at all in these mediums.
Regardless of what writers do in business and marketing (where trying to enforce good writing is a lost cause), the best rule of thumb for capitalization is to err on the side of minimalism. Follow the rules listed above, avoid capitalizing common nouns just because other people do, avoid capitalization for emphasis (that’s what italicization is for), and never use all caps (LIKE THIS). Beyond those guidelines, here are a few other points:
- Different publications have different standards for capitalizing titles and headings. Use what looks best to you.
- Complete sentences within sentences should be capitalized. This includes quoted sentences (e.g., She said, “How are you?”) and complete sentences following colons (e.g. One thing’s for sure: You’ll get your money’s worth).
- In abbreviations, capitalize letters that stand for capitalized words (e.g., USMC for United States Marine Corp, BoA for Bank of America).
- Some great 19th-century poets had a habit of capitalizing abstract and personified nouns such as Nature and Love, but that doesn’t make it a good idea in general.
Let’s Review
There are many instances in which you will use a capitalization, but all mainly follow the three common rules: capitalize the first letter of every sentence, the initial letter of proper nouns, and the pronoun “I”.
If you can remember this, then it is easier to apply them to the scenarios in which a capital letter is required.
Use the above guidelines for capitalization to answer any questions you may have and help make corrections to your own writing.
When To Use Capital Letters
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Some English capitalization rules are rigid, but others are a matter of style. We’ll go over the most common “capitalization” guidelines.
- Capitalization is when certain letters are written in uppercase instead of lowercase.
- There are several rules to keep in mind when deciding when to use capital letters.
- ○ Mrs. Johnson states that our homework assignments are due every week on Friday.
The rules of capitalization in English may seem pretty direct. For example, most people know to capitalize the first letter of every sentence and the personal pronoun “I.” There are some gray areas, though. Should sentences after colons begin with a capital letter, too? How about titles and headlines? We’ll answer these questions and go over some basic guidelines for capitalization.
1. “Capitalizing” the First Word of a Sentence
This one is first because it’s the most common and straightforward rule: The first letter of a sentence must always be capitalized. A capital letter shows the reader that a new sentence has begun, the same way a period shows that a sentence has ended.
Yesterday I visited my grandma. We went to the mall, the movies, and then dinner. Afterwards, I dropped her back off at home. It was truly a great time.
Direct quotes within a sentence should also be capitalized:
She was so excited, I remember her saying, “This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
However, if the quote is a phrase or sentence fragment, then it does not need to be capitalized.
I told her “not to worry,” because I’d be coming to visit more often now that we live in the same state.
2. “Capitalizing” Proper Nouns
Proper nouns are always capitalized. These are words that identify individual or unique nouns, unlike common nouns (which identify general or nonspecific nouns). Proper nouns include names of people, places, events, companies, and organizations.
Josiah and I visited Disney World. We took pictures with Mickey Mouse, Pluto, and Donald Duck. On the last day, when we met with Samuel and Jason and went to Animal Kingdom, Josiah accidentally spilled a Pepsi drink all over me.
How about titles like uncle, mom, and grandpa? When they immediately precede a proper name, then the first letters of those words should be capitalized. When they’re used in place of a personal name, they should also start with a capital letter.
I was surprised to see Uncle John at my graduation.
Uh-oh! Wait until Mom sees this.
However, if these titles are preceded by a possessive pronoun, noun, or article, if they follow a personal name, or if they don’t refer to a specific person, then they do not need to be capitalized.
My dad will not be happy that no other fathers helped with the fundraising event.
Because specific days, months, and holidays are proper nouns, they also have to be capitalized.
Every Friday during the month of November, my mom goes shopping for Christmas gifts.
Keep in mind that proper adjectives should be capitalized, too.
Bonus Tip
LanguageTool is a multilingual text editor that can correct any mistakes in capitalization, even in proper nouns. Additionally, this writing assistant can also fix grammar and spelling errors and easily provide synonyms that’ll strengthen your writing. Try it out.
3. “Capitalizing” Titles in Names
An additional, identifying name or title, like Dr. Strange or Mr. Bean, are always capitalized.
Professor Acosta had a guest speaker for today’s lecture.
President Joe Biden was nominated by the Democratic Party.
Mrs. Davis is a favorite among the students.
4. “Capitalizing” Titles and Headlines
Capitalizing titles differs depending on the style guide. However, the most common rule is this: Nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs should be capitalized. Prepositions, articles, and conjunctions should be left in lowercase (unless they are the first word).
The Chronicles of Narnia
5. What About “Capitalizing” After Colons?
Should sentences after colons be capitalized as well? This is another rule that depends on style. Most of the time, words after colons are not capitalized. Some exceptions are if (one or more) complete sentences or a proper noun is found right after the colon.
Johanna said there are two reasons she prefers to work from home: One, she can concentrate more. And two, she can be with her pets.
All of these guidelines are important. But the two capitalization rules you must always adhere to is capitalizing the first word in a sentence and proper nouns. Capitalization rules of titles and after colons vary, so always make sure to ask for a style guide if you’re unsure what to do.
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The PowerPoint Blog
How To Correctly Capitalize Each Word
Capitalize My Title is an online app that applies the professional typesetting rules to title capitalization. You paste in a sentence and get back the same sentence updated to each word capitalized based on Title Case, AP/APA/Chicago/MLA style, UPPERCASE, lowercase, and more.
The top tabs select which typography rules to follow (I recommend APA or Chicago as these are the most common/universal)
The bottom set of tabs is the selection of Capitalization option.
- Title Case
- Sentence Case
- UPPER
- Lower
- First Letter
- AIT CaSe
“Title Case” is the option I recommend using, as this is where many do not know the rules and ultimately have slides with content that is not aligned to the professional typesetting standards. A good rule of thumb is to capitalize words that are more than 3 letters long, unless it is the word at the beginning of a sentence, and unless that word falls into one of the many special instance rules.
1. Manually type or paste text into app. Text is automatically updated based on the top tab option and bottom tab option.
Note: tabs can be changed and see if any of the different rules or titling options change the results. As example: on this sample sentence I would capitalize “Out” but the official rules do not…
Tips for PowerPoint text
(From Christie on the TLC Creative design team) The first item I check on any presentation is going through all my titles to ensure consistencies. A helpful tip for medical presentation is to look for any disease, medical terms, drug names, etc. that should never be capitalized. Because the web app will not recognize these words, after I go through all slide titles using the “Capitalize My Title” website, I do a quick review to double check the specialty words are capitalized correctly as it was intended since the
Troy @ TLC
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