cApItAlIzInG

Capitalize the first word in each heading and subheading of an outline

I. Main topicA. SubtopicB. Subtopic

1. Topic2. Topic

Capitalize proper nouns and proper adjectives

Australia Australian vacation Victoria Victorian England

Capitalize a title used before a person’s name or in a direct address.

Pope Theodore Chief Smith I feel much better, Doctor.

Do not capitalize a title that follows a person’s name.Ronald Reagan, president of the United States, served two terms.

Family relationships

Capitalize a word showing a family relationship if it is either:

before a proper name in place of a proper name

When Cousin Tina arrived, the children were delighted.I hope Mom made peach cobbler.

Do not capitalize a word showing a family relationship if it is preceded by a possessive noun or pronoun.Carol’s mom is a good baker.Your cousin has a swimming pool.

Capitalize the names of ethnic groups, nationalities, and languages

Asian Indian

GermanEnglish

GreekArabic

Capitalize abbreviations of dates, times and proper nouns.

Abbreviations of proper nouns Thurs. U.S.A Sept.

Abbreviations related to dates and timesB.C.A.M.

Abbreviations of titles and states

Maria Garcia, M.D. Lydia Star, Ph.D.

StatesMDVA

Organizations, institutions, political parties, government bodies, business firms, and teams

National Geographic Society New York University Democratic Party/ Democrat Peace Corps Bank One, Incorporated Baltimore Ravens

Do not capitalize words such as court, school and university unless they are part of a proper noun.

I left school at three o’clock.

I attend Atholton High School

Political parties

Do not capitalize when it is used to describe a way of thought or an ideal. We discussed republican theories last

night. How does a democratic government

work?

vs.Are they members of the Democratic or

Republican party?

Roads, parks, towns, cities, counties, townships, provinces, states, regions, countries, continents, other land forms and features and bodies of water.

Third Avenue Jersey City Maryland The Midwest Asia Atlantic Ocean

Capitalize compass points when they refer to a specific region or when they are part of proper name.

the South East Haven

Do not capitalize them when they indicate a direction. south of the city driving east

Planets and other astral bodies

Saturn Neptune Castor

Monuments, buildings, bridges, and other structures

Statue of Liberty Chrysler Building Great Wall of China Midtown Tunnel Washington Bridge

Ships, planes, trains and spacecraft.

Santa Maria Air Force One USS Constitution

Holidays, historical events, special events, and other calendar items

Spanish Civil War Louisiana Purchase Dark Ages Ice Age Chicago World’s Fair Kentucky Derby Inauguration Day

Do not capitalize the names of seasons

spring summer fall winter

Deities, religions, their followers, religious books and holy days

Holy Spirit Joseph Amish Muslim Ramadan

Note: when referring to Greek or Roman deities, do not capitalzie the words god, gods or goddess.

School courses that name a language or are followed by a number.

Spanish Women’s Studies 152

Titles of books, chapters, movies, essays, television series, newspapers, cartoons, and comic strips. the London Times King Lear Wreck-it Ralph

Note: it is common practice not to capitalize the article preceding the title of a newspaper or periodical

Documents, awards, and laws

Fifth Amendment Academy Award

aNY q UESTIONS?