English capitalization may appear simple at a glance but most people still make mistakes in capitalizing some words. For instance, some people do not know when and where to capitalize the word “birthday.” It can be confusing since we frequently see it in greetings and titles, but is the word “birthday” capitalized? Before we conclusively come to an answer, let’s evaluate it with standard English capitalization rules.
1. Capitalize the first word of a sentence. For example: Happy birthday John.
Following the conventional capitalization rules, birthday is not capitalized in this case.
2. Capitalize pronouns and other names of such special occasions. For example: Tomorrow will be Jane’s Birthday.
Birthday, in this case, falls under special occasions, so it is thus capitalized.
3. Capitalize months, days and holidays but not seasons. For example: His birthday will be on 23rd April which is next Monday.
However, there are exceptions to the above capitalization rules.
1. When using quotes in a sentence. In this case, capitalizing both “Happy” and “Birthday” is acceptable. For example: Andrew wished her “Happy Birthday”.
2. When using the phrase as a title case every word in the phrase is capitalized. For example: Helen’s Birthday Party.
So, is birthday capitalized? The answer depends on the sentence structure as seen in the examples above.
Want to learn more title capitalization rules? Try out our free title capitalization tool.
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#1
Hi,
I have seen people (and even Facebook) extend their wishes on someone’s birthday saying «Happy Birthday!» with the capitalization of the word «Birthday». I’m not sure why this «Birthday» needs to be capitalized. I think it just should be «Happy birthday!» without the capitalization of that word.
Can someone of you explain why that «Birthday» is capitalized? In what situation we can just say «Happy birthday!»?
Thanks a lot.
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#2
You can and should write «Happy birthday!» The extra capitalization is probably an affectation from using text and electronic media to communicate.
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#3
We often see it presented graphically on greeting cards and other media as a sort of a title: «Happy Birthday!», «Merry Christmas!» (Christmas, of course, should be capitalized), «Get Well Soon!», …
It looks right and natural after a while.
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#4
Thanks a lot, Myridon. But the question is: Why not «Happy birthday!», why not «Get well soon!»? with
only
the first word being capitalized?
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#5
Thanks a lot, Myridon. But the question is: Why not «Happy birthday!», why not «Get well soon!»? with
only
the first word being capitalized?
You may see those in «normal» conversation or text. If I write to someone who is a bit ill, I will often end the email with «Get well soon!» as a normal salutation. When it is on a card, like Happy Birthday, or Happy New Year etc, they are more like headlines
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#7
It is a matter of preference, and is now quite habitual. In America especially, it is common to capitalize the first letter of every word in a title or headline. This is called ‘title case’. We use ‘sentence case’ in most writing, where only proper nouns and the first word in a sentence are capitalized. The habit may come from «Happy Birthday» being seen as a headline or title if not used in the middle of a sentence.
But also, as a proofreader and editor, I can assure you that people ignore guidelines in English all the time and capitalize any word that they think looks important. Birthday easily fits into that category.
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#8
I think the reason of capitalizing «Birthday» might be that the person who we are conveying our wishes to is the only person having that day of birth — it’s specific for them only (I’m calling it «specific» because we wish that person at
their
birthday at a particular time even though some of our other friends might have the same day of birth). So «Birthday» has become proper in that case and we always capitalize proper nouns in English.
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#9
I think the reason of capitalizing «Birthday» might be that the person who we are conveying our wishes to is the only person having that day of birth — it’s specific for them only (I’m calling it «specific» because we wish that person at
their
birthday at a particular time even though some of our other friends might have the same day of birth). So «Birthday» has become proper in that case and we always capitalize proper nouns in English.
Very creative, but not likely
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#10
I will confess that my phone encourages me to capitalise B. When I want to wish someone ‘Happy birthday!’ very quickly on my mobile through Facebook, my phone automatically changes my ‘Happy birthday’ to ‘Happy Birthday’. In fact, after typing ‘happy’, it automatically suggests ‘Birthday’. And many times it seems too much of an effort to override that.
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#11
In what situation we can just say «Happy birthday!»?
‘I met Anna Bollick in town this morning. She turned 21 today, so I wished her happy birthday and bought her a coffee to celebrate.’
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#12
I would write a card like this….
Dear X,
Happy Birthday!
I hope you have a very happy birthday.
From
Kency
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#13
I think I can now understand … When «Happy birthday» is used as an exclamation, «birthday» is always capitalized (it will look beautiful then.), but when it is a part of a sentence, then it needn’t be capitalized. (if we do capitalize, it will look ugly.
)
Perhaps someone else can comment on my #8 if they agree with me.
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#14
I would write a card like this….
Dear X,
Happy Birthday!
I hope you have a very happy birthday.
From
Kency
Same here. What I would never write is ‘Happy birthday’.
You will have seen the phrase “Happy Birthday” written both with and without capital letters or combining both. This page looks at whether “Happy Birthday” should be capitalized and whether it is more common to use capitals.
When used in an entire sentence, the words “happy birthday” do not require capital letters. However, when they are used as part of a message or greetings card to wish someone a “Happy Birthday”, the standard practice is to use a capital letter.
Technically it goes against capitalization rules to capitalize “happy birthday” because neither is a proper noun. However, it is more common than not for people to use capital letters when sending messages of congratulation.
On greetings cards, for example, sometimes the entire message is in capital letters, and it wouldn’t be uncommon to see sentences like:
- Wishing You A Happy Birthday
- Hoping That You Have A Happy Birthday
When using the words “happy birthday” as part of a longer sentence or text, there is no reason to use a capital letter.
For example:
- He didn’t have a very happy birthday because he lost his job.
- I want to try and have a happy birthday this year instead of a lonely one like last year.
The Chicago Style Manual states that in a sentence in published literature, only the first word would use a capital:
- “Happy birthday, John!” The guests shouted as he walked through the door.
It goes on to state that as part of a personal greeting or message, you can use all capitals if desired.
- Wishing You Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday
“Happy Birthday” is commonly used as a message of felicitation sent on someone’s birthday. Often people simply send the message “Happy Birthday”, in which case both words tend to have capital letters, or they may send a longer message like “I hope you have a Happy Birthday!”
According to the Chicago Style Guide and the general consensus, it is acceptable to capitalize both words as part of personal messages and greetings, or if you wish, capitalize all words. Also, the song “Happy Birthday” would use capital letters.
Here are some examples of “Happy Birthday” in a sentence:
- Have a Happy Birthday!
- I hope you have a really Happy Birthday!
- Happy Birthday, Pauline!
- We sang Happy Birthday, but he didn’t look impressed.
Happy birthday
“Happy birthday” is the more grammatically “correct” version of the spelling that would be used in literature. This is because the first word of the sentence has a capital letter, and the “birthday” doesn’t because it isn’t a proper noun.
People tend to use a mixture of “Happy birthday” and “Happy Birthday” for personal messages, and both are correct.
Here are some examples of how “Happy birthday” could be used in a sentence:
- “Happy birthday Paul!” the excited guests shouted as he walked into the room.
- “Happy birthday” is sometimes not easy to say when you don’t know the person well.
- Happy birthday Jack! I hope you have a great day.
happy Birthday
The term “happy Birthday” is not grammatically “correct” because the word “birthday” is not a proper noun. However, many people assume it is, and people often use different styling and formats as part of birthday messages. Therefore, using a capital “B” on “Birthday” is widely accepted as a “rule” that can be and is consistently broken.
Here is how the term would look in a sentence:
- I hope you have a happy Birthday!
- Tell your Dad I hope he has a happy Birthday!
- Wishing you a really happy Birthday for this Sunday. Have a great day!
happy birthday
The term “happy birthday” with neither word capitalized is correct when used in the middle of a sentence. Some people may also use it for greetings messages, but it is more common to have capital letters for greetings and short snappy messages.
Here are some examples of how “happy birthday” can be used in a sentence:
- We all wished him a happy birthday, and I think he seemed pleased.
- To be honest, she didn’t look like she had a very happy birthday.
- Having a happy birthday gets less and less likely the older I get.
Which Is Used the Most?
The Google Ngram Viewer shows that since the 1930s, the most common version of the spelling is “Happy Birthday.” However, since the 1990s, there has been growth in the version “Happy birthday”, which is now almost as frequent as “Happy Birthday”, whilst “happy birthday” is not too far behind.
The Google Ngram for the UK shows that “Happy birthday” has become slightly more popular than “Happy Birthday”. However, these statistics obviously do not account for personal text messages and social media posts, which may dramatically skew the results.
Final Thoughts
It is perfectly acceptable, but not required, to use capital letters on “Happy Birthday” in messages of congratulations or on greetings cards. However, when used as part of a more significant, complete sentence, “happy birthday” should be used because neither word is a proper noun.
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.
Why is birthday capitalized?
This is an exception to the normal rules of capitalization. When you’re simply using the two word phrase as in, “Happy Birthday, Nick!” it would be capitalized. However, if you wrote, “He had a very happy birthday, I enjoyed it.” It would not be capitalized.
Is it rude to write in capital letters?
WRITING ENTIRELY IN BLOCK CAPITALS IS SHOUTING, and it’s rude. But in email etiquette, online chats and/or forum posts, writing in capitals is the online equivalent of shouting. It’s rude, so best not to do it unless you really do want to shout at someone.
Should job titles have capital letters UK?
Titles should be capitalized, but references to the job are not. For instance, if you are using a job title as a direct address, it should be capitalized.
Do you capitalize the names of drugs?
Pharmaceutical drug brand names, if used, should be written with a capital letter, but international standard drug names should not be capitalized. The genus name starts with an upper-case letter, and the species name is all lower case. Both are italicized.
Is the emergency department capitalized?
Emergency department: Do not capitalize unless it’s part of a proper noun, but it is OK to use ED on second reference. ER: If it’s part of a proper name, it’s OK to keep. Otherwise the term is emergency department (not capitalized) or ED.
What makes a good writer?
An effective writer is able to distill complex thoughts and ideas into simple, clear language that’s quickly and easily understood by others. This valuable quality helps them tackle even the densest subject matter by breaking it down into uncomplicated pieces.
How can I write best English?
Tips on How to Improve English Writing Skills
- Read as much as you can.
- Keep an English dictionary.
- Brush up your grammar.
- Check your spelling before and after writing.
- Keep a diary in English.
- Learn how to expand your basic sentences into more elaborate ones.
- Learn how to organize a paragraph.
- Write an outline.
How do I just start writing?
8 Great Ways to Start the Writing Process
- Start in the Middle. If you don’t know where to start, don’t bother deciding right now.
- Start Small and Build Up.
- Incentivize the Reader.
- Commit to a Title Up Front.
- Create a Synopsis.
- Allow Yourself to Write Badly.
- Make Up the Story as You Go.
- Do the Opposite.
How can I improve my English speaking fluency?
7 tips on speaking English fluently and confidently
- Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Your goal is to deliver a message, not speak perfect English, with the right grammar and vocabulary.
- Practise, practise, practise. Practice makes perfect.
- Listen.
- Celebrate success.
How can I improve my writing skills in English grammar?
7 Tips to Improve Your Grammar Skills
- Read. Reading may be the number one way you can improve your grammar skills.
- Get a grammar manual. It is useful to have a thorough reference book nearby that you can consult when writing.
- Review the basics.
- Practice.
- Listen to others.
- Proofread…out loud.
- Write.
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: Cornelius Greenholt
Score: 4.2/5
(1 votes)
Explanation: Words like birthday, anniversary, reunion and gala are lowercase. If you describe an event with a proper name (Lizzy’s Surprise 30th Birthday Bash), then it’s uppercase.
Should Happy belated birthday be capitalized?
Belated happy birthday is the correct way to say this phrase. … Belated happy birthday means you are late wishing someone a happy birthday. Happy belated birthday means that someone’s birthday came late, which is usually not the case.
Do you capitalize an event in a sentence?
Specific periods, eras, historical events, etc.: these should all be capitalized as proper nouns. … Since there are many periods, eras, wars, etc., the capital will differentiate the specific from the common. Consider the examples below: Most of the World War I veterans are now deceased.
Does years need to be capitalized?
Spell the year out in lowercase. Except in wedding invitations, where the first letter is capitalized because everyone does it.
Why are months capitalized?
Days, months, and holidays are always capitalized as these are proper nouns. Seasons aren’t generally capitalized unless they’re personified. … Thanksgiving in November , Christmas in December , and New Year’s in January : North America has a lot of winter holidays.
18 related questions found
What are the 10 rules of capitalization?
Personal Development10 Capitalization Rules
- 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.
Which words should be capitalized?
In general, you should capitalize the first word, all nouns, all verbs (even short ones, like is), all adjectives, and all proper nouns. That means you should lowercase articles, conjunctions, and prepositions—however, some style guides say to capitalize conjunctions and prepositions that are longer than five letters.
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.
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.
Why is birthday capitalized?
Correct: Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes! Explanation: Words like birthday, anniversary, reunion and gala are lowercase. … Also, Happy Birthday is capitalized if you write, «Happy Birthday, Zack!» It’s lowercase when you write, «I hope you have a happy birthday!»
How do you apologize for late birthday wishes?
I’m so sorry this is getting to you late, but please know I was thinking of you and wishing you everything wonderful. I can’t believe I missed your birthday, because you’re too special to ever forget. I’m actually kind of glad this is late because now it’s a happy surprise!
Does birthday have a capital?
To name the traditional song, both words are capitalized: “Happy Birthday to You,” or “Happy Birthday.” In dialogue (as in a published novel or story), the first term would normally be capitalized at the beginning of a sentence: “Happy birthday, Rhoda!” But in a personal greeting, you can style it however you wish: …
Which sentence is capitalized correctly Carlotta?
The correct sentence is «Carlotta and I love Halloween». This is the sentence that is capitalized correctly. Here Carlotta is the name hence it needs to be in capital and «I», «Halloween» should be capitalized.
Which sentence is capitalized correctly I have shopped?
The correct capitalized sentence is option 3 I have shopped for clothes from Old Navy on the store’s website. I in here used as promuom and also the old navy is a name of an institution or store so it’s a nominal noun.
Which title is capitalized correctly?
Capitalize the first and the last word of titles and subtitles. Capitalize nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs (including phrasal verbs such as “play with”), adverbs, and subordinate conjunctions (major words). Lowercase articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions of four letters or fewer.
What two items surprised you that a company is allowed to capitalize?
Companies are allowed to capitalize costs associated with trademarks, patents, and copyrights. Capitalization is allowed only for costs incurred to defend or register a patent, trademark, or similar intellectual property successfully.
What is capitalization explain?
Definition: Capitalization is the process of recording an expense or cost in a permanent account and systematically allocating over future periods. In other words, capitalization takes an expense, which would normally be recorded in a temporary account, and records it in a permanent account like an asset account.
What is the meaning of asset capitalization?
Capitalizing assets simply means you are carrying an asset to balance sheet. It indicates you purchased an asset, the life of which is more than one financial year. In other words capitalizing can be defined as ‘spreading of asset value into number of years equals to the life of the asset by means of depreciation’.
Is as capitalized in a title?
Let’s find out. (Okay, if you’re looking for the quick answer, it’s: yes, you should capitalize is in titles. … First, let’s review which words get capitalized in titles (according to The Chicago Manual of Style).
Which words in a title should not be capitalized?
Words Which Should Not Be Capitalized in a Title
- Articles: a, an, & the.
- Coordinate conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet & so (FANBOYS).
- Prepositions, such as at, around, by, after, along, for, from, of, on, to, with & without.
Which three titles are capitalized correctly?
According to most style guides, nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are capitalized in titles of books, articles, and songs. You’d also capitalize the first word and (according to most guides) the last word of a title, regardless of what part of speech they are. A few parts of speech tend to be lowercase.
How do you teach capitalization?
Tell the students that their mission is to find all of the words in the text that should be capitalized. Let them know that there are 32 words in the text that need a capital letter. Give them 15-20 minutes to work through the text, then go over the answers with them in class.
What are the nine rules for the use of capital letters?
What are the nine rules for the use of capital letters?
- Capitalize the First Word of a Sentence.
- Capitalize Names and Other Proper Nouns.
- Don’t Capitalize After a Colon (Usually)
- Capitalize the First Word of a Quote (Sometimes)
- Capitalize Days, Months, and Holidays, But Not Seasons.
- Capitalize Most Words in Titles.
Why is capitalization important?
They have three main purposes: to let the reader know a sentence is beginning, to show important words in a title, and to signal proper names and official titles. … This is a stable rule in our written language: Whenever you begin a sentence capitalize the first letter of the first word.
Which sentence is capitalized correctly on a cloudless night?
On a cloudless night, I studied Pisces, a constellation in the North sky. O needs to be capitalized since it is at the beginning of the sentence, I needs to be capital, Pisces is a specific constellation so it is a proper noun, and likewise North is proper noun. So, option 2 is correct.