Grammar Rules: Capitalization

Let’s see what you know already!Circle the capitalization mistakes in

the following sentence.

during the month of july, mr. crane read six books for english class, including the hunger games.

When should I use capital letters?1. Proper nouns• names of people, specific places, groups,

organizations, religions, nationalities, languages, specific buildings, historical events, months, days, and holidays

• Donnie, River Bend Middle School, Sterling, September, Monday, Labor Day, Girl Scouts, Catholic, Home Depot, World War II, English, Spanish, White House

When should I use capital letters?

2. I• May I have another chocolate chip

cookie?• Monica and I are best friends.

When should I use capital letters?

3. First word in a sentence• Marisa sauntered down the stairway wearing

a ballroom gown.• On my first day of school, I was nervous.

When should I use capital letters?

4. Titles of people• President Obama• Coach Smith• Miss Miley Cyrus• Dr. Haug

When should I use capital letters?

5. Titles of books, songs, television shows, etc.

• I loved reading The Hunger Games.• American Idol is my favorite show. • She swoons every time she hears

“That’s What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction.

**Titles of books, TV shows, and album titles are underlined. Chapters, episodes, and songs are set in quotation marks.

When should I use capital letters?

6. The first word in dialogue • Mr. Dolar asked, “Did the Indians win the

game last night?”• I shrugged and said, “Check the score report.”

When should I use capital letters?

7. Opening of a letter• Dear• To Whom It May Conern8. Closing of a letter (first word only)• Sincerely,• Yours truly, • Your friend,

Common Capitalization Mistakes

School Subjects• School subjects like math, language arts,

science, social studies, history, and art are NOT capitalized in formal writing.

• School subjects that are languages, like English, French, Chinese, and Spanish, ARE capitalized.

• College courses, like History 101 and Interpersonal Communications, are capitalized.

Common Capitalization Mistakes

Seasons• Seasons are NOT capitalized unless they become

adjectives to proper nouns. NO!• It was a beautiful fall day.• The beach is the best way to beat the summer

heat!YES!• Our school’s Winter Carnival is next week.• Join us for the Summer Block Party!

Common Capitalization Mistakes

Compass/Direction• North, south, east, and west are not

capitalized unless they are used to identify a region or as part of a proper noun.

NO!• Head west on Route 7. Then go north

on Route 15. YES!• He lives in the Northeast region of the

United States on West 204 Street.

Common Capitalization Mistakes

Family• If there is a personal pronoun (my, your,

his/her/it, our, their) directly before the family role, there is no capital letter.

• Personal pronoun=no capital NO!• Marisa will go with her mom to the store. • She loves her grandma to pieces. YES!• Marisa will go with Mom to the store.• She loves Grandma to pieces.

Independent Practice

_________ __randma,

This __ummer __ read a book called ___________________. My teacher,

____ _________ recommended it me last school year.

I can’t wait to begin school in ______________ at

_______________________! ____________ and ______________ are

two of my favorite subjects. ______ you think ____________ will be a

challenge? My _______ said, “_____ you study hard, I know you will do

well!”

__ours __ruly,Ryan