Using Capital Letters Correctly. Capitalize the first word in every sentence. Examples My dog knows several tricks. Does yours? The first word of a directly

Using Capital Letters Using Capital Letters CorrectlyCorrectly

Capitalize the first word in Capitalize the first word in every sentence.every sentence.

ExamplesExamplesMMy dog knows several tricks. y dog knows several tricks. DDoes yours?oes yours?

The first word of a directly quoted sentence should begin with a capital letter.The first word of a directly quoted sentence should begin with a capital letter.ExampleExample

Mrs. Hernandez said, “Mrs. Hernandez said, “DDon’t forget to bring your contributions for on’t forget to bring your contributions for the bake sale.”the bake sale.”

Traditionally, the first word of every line of poetry begins with a capital letter.Traditionally, the first word of every line of poetry begins with a capital letter.ExampleExample

IIn the nightn the nightTThe rain comes down.he rain comes down.YYonder at the edge of the earthonder at the edge of the earthTThere is a sound like cracking,here is a sound like cracking,TThere is a sound like falling.here is a sound like falling.DDown yonder it goes on slowly rumbling.own yonder it goes on slowly rumbling.IIt goes on shaking.t goes on shaking.

Capitalize the first word in both Capitalize the first word in both the salutation and the closing the salutation and the closing

of a letterof a letter

SalutationsSalutations DDear ear SService ervice MManager:anager:

DDear ear EEmily,mily,

ClosingsClosings SSincerely,incerely,

YYours truly,ours truly,

Capitalize the pronoun Capitalize the pronoun II

ExampleExample This week This week II have to write have to write two two essays.essays.

My friend and My friend and II will be will be attending attending the book fair.the book fair.

Capitalize proper nounsCapitalize proper nouns

A A proper nounproper noun names a names a particular/specific person, place, thing, particular/specific person, place, thing, or idea.or idea.

Proper nouns are capitalized.Proper nouns are capitalized. A A common noun common noun names a kind or type names a kind or type

of person, place, thing, or idea.of person, place, thing, or idea. Common nouns are generally not Common nouns are generally not

capitalized unless it begins a sentence capitalized unless it begins a sentence or is part of a title.or is part of a title.

Some proper nouns consist of more than one Some proper nouns consist of more than one word. In these names, short words such as word. In these names, short words such as prepositions (those fewer than prepositions (those fewer than 5 5 letters) and letters) and articles (articles (aa, , anan, , thethe) are generally NOT capitalized.) are generally NOT capitalized.

Example Example House House oof Representativesf RepresentativesIvan Ivan tthe Terriblehe Terrible

Proper NounsProper Nouns Common NounsCommon NounsCCentral entral HHigh igh SSchoolchool high schoolhigh school

SSaturdayaturday dayday

RRigoberta igoberta MMenchuenchu womanwoman

CCambodiaambodia countrycountry

UUSS SS NNautilusautilus submarinesubmarine

SSmokeymokey bearbear

Capitalize the names of persons and Capitalize the names of persons and animalsanimalsPersonsPersons MMonica onica SSone one

AAaron aron NNevilleeville

CCharlayne harlayne HHunter-unter-GGaultault

MMohandas ohandas KK. . GGandhiandhi

AnimalsAnimals SShamuhamu

SSocksocks

TTiggerigger

RRikki-tikki-taviikki-tikki-tavi

Capitalize geographical names.Capitalize geographical names.

Type of NameType of Name ExamplesExamples

ContinentsContinents EEurope urope SSouth outh AAmericamerica

AAntarctica ntarctica AAsiasia

CountriesCountries AAustralia ustralia EEgyptgypt

EEl l SSalvador alvador SSaudi audi AArabiarabia

Cities, TownsCities, Towns MMiami iami IIndianapolisndianapolis

LLos os AAngeles ngeles MManilaanila

StatesStates TTennessee ennessee DDelawareelaware

RRhode hode IIsland sland WWyomingyoming

(continued)(continued)

*NOTE*NOTE: In a hyphenated street number, the second part of the : In a hyphenated street number, the second part of the number is number is NOT capitalized. NOT capitalized. EXAMPLEEXAMPLE West Thirty-West Thirty-ffourth Streetourth Street

Type of NameType of Name ExamplesExamplesIslandsIslands AAleutian leutian IIslands slands LLong ong IIslandsland

CCrete rete IIsle of sle of PPinesines

Bodies of WaterBodies of Water AAmazon mazon RRiver iver LLake ake OOntariontario

CChesapeake hesapeake BBay ay JJackson’s ackson’s PPondond

SSuez uez CCanal anal IIndian ndian OOceancean

Other Geographical Other Geographical NamesNames

MMayon ayon VVolcano olcano SSinai inai PPeninsulaeninsula

PPainted ainted DDesert esert MMeteor eteor CCraterrater

Streets, HighwaysStreets, Highways MMain ain SStreet treet CCanary anary LLaneane

EEighth ighth AAvenue venue HHighway 71ighway 71

**NoteNote: Words such as : Words such as easteast, , westwest, , northernnorthern, , southerly southerly are NOT are NOT capitalized when the words merely indicate direction. HOWEVER, capitalized when the words merely indicate direction. HOWEVER, they ARE capitalized when they name a particular region.they ARE capitalized when they name a particular region.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES A car was going A car was going ssouth on Oak Street. outh on Oak Street. [direction][direction]

The The SSouth has produced some of America’s great outh has produced some of America’s great writers. writers. [region of the country][region of the country]

Type of Type of NameName

ExamplesExamples

Parks and Parks and ForestsForests

SSherwood herwood FForest orest EEverglades verglades NNational ational PParkark

BBrechtel rechtel PParkark

MountainsMountains CCatskills atskills MMount ount EEverestverest

MMount ount FFuji the uji the AAlpslps

RegionsRegions the the MMiddle iddle EEast ast SSouthern outhern HHemisphereemisphere

NNew ew EEngland ngland CCorn orn BBeltelt

the the WWest the est the SSoutheastoutheast

Capitalize names of organizations, teams, Capitalize names of organizations, teams, institutions, and government bodies.institutions, and government bodies.

Type ofType of NameName

ExamplesExamples

OrganizationsOrganizations CClark lark DDrama rama CClub lub

MModern odern LLanguage anguage AAssociationssociation

JJunior unior LLeagueeague

TeamsTeams BBoston oston CCeltics eltics LLos os AAngeles ngeles DDodgersodgers

DDallas allas CCowboys owboys HHutto utto HHipposippos

InstitutionsInstitutions WWestside estside RRegional egional HHospitalospital

RRoosevelt oosevelt JJunior unior HHigh igh SSchoolchool

Government Government BodiesBodies

UUnited nited NNations ations CCongressongress

PPeace eace CCorps orps YYork ork CCity ity CCouncilouncil

Capitalize the names of historical events Capitalize the names of historical events and periods, special events, calendar and periods, special events, calendar items, and holidays.items, and holidays.

**NOTENOTE: Do not capitalize the name of a season unless it is part of a : Do not capitalize the name of a season unless it is part of a proper proper name.name.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES the the wwinter holidays the Quebec inter holidays the Quebec WWinter Carnivalinter Carnival


ExamplesExamples

Historical Historical Events and Events and PeriodsPeriods

RRevolutionary evolutionary WWar ar

UUnited nited SStates tates BBicentennial icentennial BBronze ronze AAgege

HHolocaust olocaust AAge of ge of RReasoneason

Special EventsSpecial Events TTexas exas SState tate FFair air SSuper uper BBowlowl

SSpecial pecial OOlympics lympics FFestival of estival of SStatestates

Calendar Items Calendar Items and Holidaysand Holidays

MMonday onday FFebruaryebruary

MMemorial emorial DDay ay TThanksgiving hanksgiving DDayay

Capitalize the names of nationalities, Capitalize the names of nationalities, races, and peoples.races, and peoples.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES MMexicanexican NNigerianigerian

AAfrican frican AAmericanmerican IIroquoisroquois

Capitalize the names of businesses and Capitalize the names of businesses and the brand names of business products.the brand names of business products.

**NOTENOTE: Names of types of products are not capitalized.: Names of types of products are not capitalized.

EXAMPLES EXAMPLES Schwinn Schwinn bbicycle, Apple icycle, Apple ccomputer, omputer, Callaway Callaway ggolf olf clubclub


ExamplesExamples

BusinessesBusinesses SSears ears RRoebuck and oebuck and CCo.o.

FFields ields DDepartment epartment SStoretore

TThirfty hirfty DDry ry CCleanersleaners

FFirst irst NNational ational BBankank

Business Business ProductsProducts

SSchwinn chwinn MMesaesa

AApple pple MMacintoshacintosh

GMCGMC JJimmyimmy

CCallaway allaway BBig ig BBerthaertha

Capitalize the names of ships, trains, Capitalize the names of ships, trains, aircraft, and spacecraft.aircraft, and spacecraft.


ExamplesExamples

ShipsShips QQueen ueen EElizabeth 2lizabeth 2 KKon on TTikiiki

TrainsTrains CCity of ity of NNew ew OOrleans rleans SSilver ilver MMeteoreteor

AircraftAircraft MMemphis emphis BBelle elle SSpruce pruce GGooseoose

SpacecraftSpacecraft VVoyager 2 oyager 2 SSputnikputnik

Capitalize the names of buildings and other Capitalize the names of buildings and other structures.structures.EXAMPLESEXAMPLES SSydney ydney OOpera pera HHouse, ouse, SSt. t. LLouis ouis

CCathedral, athedral, AAswan swan DDam, am, EEiffel iffel TTower, ower, BBrooklyn rooklyn BBridgeridge

**NOTENOTE: Do not capitalize such words such as : Do not capitalize such words such as hotelhotel, , theatertheater, or , or highhigh schoolschool unless they are part of the name of a particular building or unless they are part of the name of a particular building or institution.institution.

EXAMPLES EXAMPLES CCapital apital TTheater a theaterheater a theater

LLane ane HHotelotel the hotel the hotel

TTaft aft HHigh igh SSchool the high schoolchool the high school

Capitalize the names of monuments, Capitalize the names of monuments, memorials, and awards.memorials, and awards.


ExamplesExamples

MonumentsMonuments GGreat reat SSphinx phinx

WWashington ashington MMonumentonument

NNavajo avajo NNational ational MMonumentonument

MemorialsMemorials LLincoln incoln MMemorialemorial

TTomb of the omb of the UUnknown nknown SSoldieroldier

the the CCoronado oronado MMemorialemorial

AwardsAwards EEmmy mmy AAward ward

NNobel obel PPrizerize

CCongressional ongressional MMedal of edal of HHonoronor

PPulitzer ulitzer PPrizerize

Capitalize the names of religions and their followers, holy days Capitalize the names of religions and their followers, holy days and celebrations, sacred writings, and specific deities.and celebrations, sacred writings, and specific deities.

**NOTENOTE: The words : The words godgod and and goddessgoddess are not capitalized when they refer to a are not capitalized when they refer to a deity of ancient mythology. However, the names of specific gods and deity of ancient mythology. However, the names of specific gods and goddesses are not capitalized.goddesses are not capitalized.EXAMPLESEXAMPLES The king of the Norse The king of the Norse ggods was ods was OOdin.din.

AAthena was the Greek thena was the Greek ggoddess of wisdom and warfare.oddess of wisdom and warfare.


ExamplesExamples

Religions and Religions and FollowersFollowers

JJudaism udaism CChristianhristian

HHinduism induism MMuslimuslim

Holy Days Holy Days and and CelebrationsCelebrations

EEaster aster YYom om KKippurippur

AAll ll SSaints’ Day aints’ Day CChristmas hristmas EEveve

Sacred Sacred WritingsWritings

KKoran oran DDead ead SSea ea SScrollscrolls

BBible ible UUpanishadspanishads

Specific Specific DeitiesDeities

GGod od JJehovahehovah

AAllah llah KKrishnarishna

Capitalize the names of planets, stars, Capitalize the names of planets, stars, constellations, and other heavenly bodies.constellations, and other heavenly bodies.


ExamplesExamples

PlanetsPlanets MMercury ercury VVenusenus

StarsStars RRigel igel PProxima roxima CCentaurientauri

ConstellationsConstellations UUrsa rsa MMajor ajor AAndromedandromeda

Other Other Heavenly Heavenly BodiesBodies

MMilky ilky WWay ay CComet omet KKohoutekohoutek

Capitalize proper adjectives.Capitalize proper adjectives. A A proper adjectiveproper adjective is formed from a proper is formed from a proper

noun and is capitalized.noun and is capitalized.

Proper NounProper Noun Proper AdjectiveProper Adjective

GGreecereece GGreek theaterreek theater

MMarsars MMartian moonsartian moons

DDarwinarwin DDarwinian theoryarwinian theory

JJapanapan JJapanese tea apanese tea ceremonyceremony

Do not capitalize the names of school Do not capitalize the names of school subjects, except course names subjects, except course names followed by followed by numeralsnumerals and names of and names of languagelanguage classes. classes.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLEShhistory, istory, ttyping, yping, aalgebra, lgebra, EEnglish, nglish, SSpanish, panish, LLatin, atin, HHistory 101, istory 101,

MMusic III, usic III, AArt rt AAppreciation Ippreciation I

Capitalize titles.Capitalize titles. Capitalize the title of a person when the title Capitalize the title of a person when the title

comes before a name.comes before a name.EXAMPLESEXAMPLES PPresident Lincoln resident Lincoln MMrs. Oliver Wendellrs. Oliver Wendell

MMayor Bradleyayor Bradley CCommissioner Rodriguezommissioner Rodriguez

Generally, a title that is used alone or following a person’s name is Generally, a title that is used alone or following a person’s name is not capitalized, especially if the title is preceded by not capitalized, especially if the title is preceded by aa or or thethe..

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES The The ssecretary of ecretary of ddefense held a news conference.efense held a news conference.Lien Fong, our Lien Fong, our cclass lass ssecretary, read the minutes.ecretary, read the minutes.

However, a title used by itself in direct address is usually However, a title used by itself in direct address is usually capitalized.capitalized.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES Is it very serious, Is it very serious, DDoctor?octor?How do you do, How do you do, SSir?ir?

Capitalize a word showing a family Capitalize a word showing a family relationship when the word is used before relationship when the word is used before or in place of a person’s name.or in place of a person’s name.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES We expect We expect UUncle Fred and ncle Fred and AAunt Helen soon.unt Helen soon.Both Both MMom and om and DDad work at the hospital.ad work at the hospital.

However, do not capitalize a word showing a family However, do not capitalize a word showing a family relationship when possessive comes before the word.relationship when possessive comes before the word.

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE We asked Pedro’s We asked Pedro’s mmother and his other and his aaunt Celia unt Celia to be chaperons.to be chaperons.

Capitalize the first and last words Capitalize the first and last words and all important words in titles and and all important words in titles and subtitles.subtitles.

Unimportant words in titles includeUnimportant words in titles include articles (articles (aa, , anan, , thethe)) coordinating conjunctions (coordinating conjunctions (andand, , butbut, , forfor, ,

nornor, , oror, , soso, , yetyet)) prepositions of fewer than five letters (such prepositions of fewer than five letters (such

as as byby, , forfor, , onon, , withwith))

Type of NameType of Name ExamplesExamplesBooksBooks TThe he MMask of ask of AApollo pollo

LLong ong CClaws: laws: AAn n AArctic rctic AAdventuredventure

Chapters and Other Parts of Chapters and Other Parts of BooksBooks

““TThe he CCirculatory irculatory SSystem”ystem”

““EEpilogue”pilogue”

MagazinesMagazines SSeventeen eventeen SSports ports IIllustratedllustrated

NewspapersNewspapers TThe he TTennesseanennessean

the the BBoston oston GGlobelobe

PoemsPoems ““SSeason at the eason at the SShore”hore”

““BBirches”irches”

Short storiesShort stories ““TThe he PPurloined urloined LLetter”etter”

““BBroken roken CChain”hain”

PlaysPlays AA DDoll’s oll’s HHouseouse

AA MMidsummer idsummer NNight’s ight’s DDreamream

Movies and VideosMovies and Videos TThe he WWizard of izard of OOzz

BBabeabe

Television SeriesTelevision Series HHome ome IImprovementmprovement

SStar tar TTrek: rek: TThe he NNext ext GGenerationeneration

**NOTENOTE: The article : The article thethe at the beginning of a title is not capitalized at the beginning of a title is not capitalized unless it is the first word of the official title.unless it is the first word of the official title.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES My father reads My father reads TThe he WWall all SStreet treet JJournal.ournal.

Does she work for Does she work for tthe he TTexas exas RRevieweview??

Cartoons and Comic StripsCartoons and Comic Strips SScooby cooby DDoooo

CCathyathy

JJump ump SStarttart

Audiotapes and CDsAudiotapes and CDs BButterflyutterfly

FFalling into alling into YYouou

Computer Games and Computer Games and Video GamesVideo Games

SSonic the onic the HHedgehogedgehog

SSimimCCityity

Works of ArtWorks of Art MMona ona LLisaisa

DDavidavid

MMankind’s ankind’s SStruggletruggle

Musical CompositionMusical Composition TThe he MMarriage of arriage of FFigaroigaro

““AAmerica the merica the BBeautiful”eautiful”

Historical DocumentsHistorical Documents TTreaty of reaty of PParisaris

TThe he DDeclaration of eclaration of IndependenceIndependence