The word “city” can be capitalized depending on when and how it is used. When used generically to describe a city which could be any city, then the word “city” is lowercase. This also includes when the word “city” is used before a named place.
However, when used as part of a proper noun, the word “city” is capitalized along with the rest of the proper name.
You can find examples of when the word “city” is capitalized and not capitalized below.
Examples of When “City” Is Capitalized
- New York City streets are mostly one-way.
- Richmond City Hall
- The City gave out several citizens’ awards.
Examples of When “City” Is Not Capitalized
- You can’t fight city hall.
- The city of Chicago is a great place to visit.
- The city government is too bureaucratic.
To learn more about proper title capitalization rules, give our free title capitalization tool a try.
Read More:
- Is city hall capitalized?
- Is government capitalized?
- Is mayor capitalized?
“City” is commonly written in two ways. It can be capitalized and uncapitalized. It would help to know when the capital letter applies to the noun. This article will explain all there is to understand about it, so you don’t have to get it wrong.
“City” is not capitalized in most sentences. It is a regular noun, and you do not need to capitalize any noun unless it is a place or person’s name. You should only capitalize “city” when it is included as a proper noun (i.e. New York City).
“City” doesn’t often need to be capitalized. If you’re using it in a general sense, you can keep it lower case, like this:
- I’m going to visit the city later today. Do you want to come with me?
This example will demonstrate when it makes sense to capitalize “city:”
- Here I come, New York City! Watch out for me!
Is “City” Capitalized AP Style?
The AP Style guide does not require “city” to be capitalized. It is considered a regular noun, meaning that no capital letter needs to come at the start of the word. The only time you should capitalize it in AP Style is if it’s part of a proper noun.
You may also refer to The Chicago Manual of Style if you would like to see other style guides that support the capitalizing (or lack thereof) of “city.” All major style guides agree that it is a regular noun and uncapitalized in most cases.
When to Capitalize “City”
City is capitalized when referring to a specific city, but that’s the only time it is. These examples will show you how that works.
- I just love Chicago City and everything about it! I think it’s one of the greatest places in the world. I’ll always come back.
- New York City is busy today! I don’t think I’m going to have enough time to get around to everything in here.
- We are part of the Washington City Council, and we would like for you to be honest with us about what happened the other day.
- Mexico City is good fun. If you haven’t visited it before, we highly recommend it. You really can’t go wrong with it.
- I’m a keen supporter of Manchester City! They’re my favorite sports team, and I will support them until the day I die!
As you can see, “city” is capitalized when it is included as part of a city’s name. You will usually see other words written with capital letters to help you determine whether it’s part of a proper noun.
When to Not Capitalize “City”
Here are a couple of examples to help you understand when “city” is not capitalized.
- You should get out more. I hear the city is quite a nice place to visit at this time of year. Maybe that’s something you should explore.
- I’m not one for city living, but I totally understand why other people like it. I just wish I had some friends in the country.
- This is the greatest city on earth, New York! It’s the best place to come if you want to do a major shopping haul.
- I really like Chicago. It’s my favorite city, and I think you would be foolish to not at least spend a little bit of time getting to know it.
- Isn’t this city supposed to be bustling? I feel like I haven’t seen any new people on the streets yet.
“City” is not typically capitalized. When it is only used as a regular noun referring to a place, the “c” is left in the lower case. You should only capitalize it when it belongs to a proper noun.
Is “City” Capitalized In the US?
The US English rules are the same for “city” as they are elsewhere. You do not need to capitalize “city” in your writing as it is a regular noun. The only time that it should be capitalized in the US is when it’s included as part of a city’s name (i.e. New York City or Mexico City).
Is “City” Capitalized In the UK?
UK English allows “city” to be capitalized when it’s part of a city name (i.e. Manchester City or Leicester City). There is no reason to capitalize the word outside of a place name or proper noun. It should be left lower case when it’s used as a regular noun.
You may also like:
Is “County” Capitalized? (Full Explanation)
Is “State” Capitalized? (Full Explanation)
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
Last Update: Jan 03, 2023
This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!
Asked by: Brandt Legros
Score: 4.3/5
(63 votes)
When used generically to describe a city which could be any city, then the word “city” is lowercase. This also includes when the word “city” is used before a named place. However, when used as part of a proper noun, the word “city” is capitalized along with the rest of the proper name.
Should city be capitalized?
Such words as city, state, county and village are capitalized only when they refer to the actual government.
Do you capitalize the first letter of city?
Few things scream bureaucrat like capitalizing the word city at every opportunity. City is not a proper noun, and should not be capitalized like one.
Is city of London capitalized?
By the way, the City of London is a specific district in the British capital, and references to that specific area should be capitalized.
When should a place be capitalized?
Names are proper nouns. The names of cities, countries, companies, religions, and political parties are also proper nouns, so you should capitalize them, too.
45 related questions found
What are the 10 rules of capitalization?
Thus, here are 10 capitalization rules you should know for a well written write-up:
- Capitalize the first word of every sentence.
- “I” is always capitalized, along with all its contractions. …
- Capitalize the first word of a quoted sentence. …
- Capitalize a proper noun. …
- Capitalize a person’s title when it precedes the name.
What is capitalization and examples?
Capitalization is the recordation of a cost as an asset, rather than an expense. … For example, office supplies are expected to be consumed in the near future, so they are charged to expense at once.
Is London bigger than New York?
As of 2013, London and NYC had comparable populations. London’s stood at 8.3 million, while NYC stood at 8.4 million. London, however, has much more room for its inhabitants — it’s 138 square miles bigger than NYC.
Does Tuesday need a capital letter?
The days of the week are: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. When we write the days of the week, we always use a capital letter. Common nouns are the names of things. These don’t use a capital letter unless they are at the start of a sentence.
Which sentence is capitalized correctly?
The sentence which is capitalized correctly is “My easiest classes are Chemistry and Spanish”. Here “Chemistry” and “Spanish” are the proper nouns. The correct answer is option C. In option A, the word “Chemistry” is only capitalized leaving the other proper noun in lower case.
Do you capitalize I’m in a sentence?
The letter I
Notice that only the I that appears by itself is capitalized—you don’t need to capitalize every I in the sentence. … For instance, the I in I’m is capitalized because I’m is a contraction of I am. I’ve is a contraction of I have, so I is capitalized there too.
Is a city name a proper noun?
The noun ‘city’ is a common noun. It does not name a specific city, so it is common, not proper, and is not capitalized.
Is street a proper noun?
The word »street» can function as either a common noun or proper noun, depending on if a specific street is named and if the word »street» is part…
Is the word department capitalized?
The word department should only be capitalized when it precedes the name of the program. When used in plural form (departments), it should not be capitalized. … Proper names of divisions of University offices or departments should be capitalized.
Does anyone live in the City of London?
Today 8,000 people live in the City, a small but growing number since a review of the residential policy. … Most residents live in the Barbican, a well-maintained City of London estate where most of the flats and maisonettes are now owner-occupied.
Does the Queen need permission to enter the City of London?
Even though she is sovereign of the United Kingdom, Her Majesty the Queen is not allowed to enter the City of London without the permission of its Lord Mayor.
Does the City of London have its own police force?
About the City of London Police
The City of London Police has been responsible for policing the Square Mile since 1839. The City of London, the financial centre of the UK, may only be ‘One Square Mile’ but it has its own police force, separate from the Metropolitan Police.
Is London bigger than Chicago?
Chicago (city) is 0.39 times as big as London (UK)
Is London more expensive than NYC?
Consumer Prices in London are 16.52% lower than in New York, NY (without rent) Rent Prices in London are 30.45% lower than in New York, NY. Restaurant Prices in London are 13.79% lower than in New York, NY.
What is an example of something that should be capitalized?
Use capitals for proper nouns. In other words, capitalize the names of people, specific places, and things. For example: We don’t capitalize the word «bridge» unless it starts a sentence, but we must capitalize Brooklyn Bridge because it is the name of a specific bridge.
What is uppercase example?
Alternatively referred to as caps and capital, and sometimes abbreviated as UC, uppercase is a typeface of larger characters. For example, typing a, b, and c shows lowercase, and typing A, B, and C shows uppercase. It’s bad etiquette to have everything you type in ALL UPPERCASE CHARACTERS. …
What does it mean to capitalize a cost?
A capitalized cost is an expense added to the cost basis of a fixed asset on a company’s balance sheet. Capitalized costs are incurred when building or purchasing fixed assets. Capitalized costs are not expensed in the period they were incurred but recognized over a period of time via depreciation or amortization.
Do you capitalize the word city?
Do Not Capitalize Such words as city, state, county and village are capitalized only when they refer to the actual government.
Is City of New York capitalized?
Even as nouns, these words do not need to be capitalized: “The city of New York is in the state of New York” (but it’s New York City).
Is City capitalized in AP style?
city Capitalize city as part of a proper name: Kansas City, New York City, Oklahoma City, Jefferson City. Lowercase elsewhere: a Texas city; the city government; the city Board of Education; and all city of phrases: the city of Boston. Capitalize when part of a formal title before a name: City Manager Francis McGrath.
Is City A common?
The noun ‘city’ is a common noun. It does not name a specific city, so it is common, not proper, and is not capitalized.
What city name is in all 50 states?
The name “Springfield” is often thought to be the only community name appearing in each of the 50 States, but at last count it was in only 34 states. The most recent count shows “Riverside” with 186 occurrences in 46 States; only Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Oklahoma not having a community so named.
What is the most common name for a city?
Most Common Town And City Names In The U.S.A.
| Rank | Most Common Place Names In The U.S. | Occurrences of Place Name Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | 88 |
| 2 | Springfield | 41 |
| 3 | Franklin | 35 |
| 4 | Greenville | 30 |
What is the most popular city name in the world?
Here, a list of the world’s most popular cities by overnight visitors:
- Bangkok, Thailand: 22.78 million.
- Paris, France: 19.10 million.
- London, U.K.: 19.09 million.
- Dubai, U.A.E.: 15.93 million.
- Singapore: 14.67 million.
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: 13.79 million.
- New York City: 13.60 million.
- Istanbul, Turkey: 13.40 million.
What is the most loved city?
Not-So-Lonely At the Top
| Rank | City | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hong Kong | China (SAR) |
| 2 | Bangkok | Thailand |
| 3 | London | United Kingdom |
| 4 | Macau | China (SAR) |
Which is the cleanest city in the world?
The world’s cleanest cities
- #1: CALGARY. Calgary in Canada is the world’s cleanest city, and with a population of more than a million, that’s quite something.
- #2: ZURICH. Zurich in Switzerland attracts thousands of tourists every year, especially those who enjoy the winter snow.
- #3: LUXEMBOURG.
- #4: ADELAIDE.
- #5: SINGAPORE.
What is the least popular city in the world?
Here are some of the best least-visited cities in the world.
- Lichinga, Mozambique.
- Banja Luka, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
- Liepaja, Latvia.
- Solo, Indonesia.
- Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.
- Karak, Jordan.
- Rotorua, New Zealand.
- Concepción, Chile. This truly is the least visited city in the world.
What is the most famous city?
Paris. Paris, perhaps the most famous city in the world, also happens to be one of the most visited. Around 17.44 million tourists touched down in Paris in 2018.
What is the ugliest city in the world?
Top 10 Ugliest Cities in the World
- Guatemala City, Guatemala. This fumes-and-crime-filled city is the capital of an otherwise beautiful country.
- Mexico City, Mexico.
- Amman, Jordan.
- Caracas, Venezuela.
- Luanda, Angola.
- Chisinau, Moldova.
- Houston, USA.
- Detroit, USA.
What are the 3 world cities?
The World’s Best Cities
- London.
- New York.
- Paris.
- Moscow.
- Tokyo.
- Dubai.
- Singapore.
- Barcelona.
Who is the famous city in world?
Delhi, India India is such a big country and is so popular with tourists that several of its main cities are among the most visited cities in the world, including Delhi.
Which city has most beautiful girl in world?
Top 10 Cities of the World With The Most Beautiful Women
- Stockholm, Sweden. It seems like every woman in Stockholm is amazingly beautiful.
- Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Varna, Bulgaria.
- Los Angeles, California.
- Moscow , Russia.
- Caracas, Venezuela.
- Montreal, Canada.
Which is best city to live in world?
The top 10 most livable cities in the world, and their scores according to The Global Liveability Index 2021, are:
- Auckland, New Zealand (96.0)
- Osaka, Japan (94.2)
- Adelaide, Australia (94.0)
- Wellington, New Zealand (93.7)
- Tokyo, Japan (93.7)
- Perth, Australia (93.3)
- Zurich, Switzerland (92.8)
- Geneva, Switzerland (92.5)
Which is the beautiful city in India?
Udaipur – Home of Kings The royal past of Udaipur undoubtedly makes it the most beautiful city in India.
Which is the poorest city in India?
Asia’s largest slum, Dharavi, is spread over an area of 1.75 km along the Mahim river in central Mumbai. Dharavi is just one of many slum areas in city of Mumbai. In”The Heart of India” the Slum population was considered as 20% of the total population of Delhi, It also has largest child labours.
Which is the No 1 city in India?
Ease of Living Index; check top 10 cities in India: Bengaluru tops list followed by Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Surat, Navi Mumbai, Coimbatore, Vadodara, Indore, and Greater Mumbai. Bengaluru has emerged as the top Indian city on the government’s Ease of Living (EOL) Index 2020.
Which is the cleanest city in India?
If you seek clean tourist destinations, take note of the following list of the cleanest cities in India.
- Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
- Surat, Gujarat.
- Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh.
- Mysore, Karnataka.
- Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
- Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
- New Delhi, Delhi.
Which is the dirtiest city in India 2020?
Top ten dirtiest cities in Indian in 2020
- Patna.
- East Delhi.
- Chennai.
- Kota.
- North Delhi.
- Madurai.
- Meerut.
- Coimbatore.
Which is the dirty city in India?
Patna
What country has cleanest air?
Puerto Rico
Which country has worst air quality?
List of most-polluted cities by particulate matter concentration
| Position | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 2016 |
| 2 | India | 2016 |
| 3 | India | 2016 |
| 4 | India | 2016 |
Which country has no pollution?
Sweden
welcome to EL&U. It depends on the context like so much in English. If you are writing about the City of London (that’s the square mile around St Paul’s cathedral, not the rest of it), and particularly about the financial market based there then you should use a capital letter because the word City is then a proper noun. It’s a little like calling you Steve or me Ben, it’s a short form of the name.
In the UK at least people also use The City as a generic term for the financal market as a whole, for example «Utility privatisation was an opportunity for people to make huge profits in The City.» or «City traders made huge profits from utility privatisation.» Most of the transactions took place in the City of London but some may have been conducted elsewhere. When you use The City or City in this sense you should alwsys use a capital letter.
The same thing applies when you write about city administrations. For example «In Philadelphia trash collections are the responsibility of the City.» However if you were writing about Philadelphia you could also say «The city has many fine historic buildings, some of which are National Historic Landmarks». Here you would not use a capital letter because not all the historic buildings are owned by the city authorities so you are talking about the city as a whole.
So in terms of your question it depends on what is being written about, if you are writing about technological advances in British financial trading you would write «…spark innovation in The City», if you were writing about forces driving the adoption of new technologies by individual entrepeneurs in Philadelphia then you would write «…spark innovation in the city» since neither the London financial markets nor the Philadelphia city authorities would be directly involved. The same considerations apply to your other quotes.
I hope this helps.