Capitalization: Learn the rules of capitalization to ensure proper grammar and clarity in writing.
What is Capitalization?
Capitalization means writing the first letter of a word in uppercase while keeping the rest of the letters lowercase. It follows specific grammatical rules to indicate proper nouns, beginnings of sentences, and other special cases.
Why is Capitalization Important?
• Clarity: Capitalization distinguishes proper nouns and titles, making your writing easier to understand.
• Professionalism: Proper capitalization shows attention to detail and enhances credibility.
• Structure: It helps readers identify the start of new sentences and important words.
Rules of Capitalization
1. Capitalize the First Word of Every Sentence
• Always capitalize the first word of a new sentence.
• Correct: The cat is sleeping.
• Incorrect: the cat is sleeping.
2. Capitalize Proper Nouns
• Proper nouns are specific names of people, places, or things.
• Examples: Albert Einstein, Paris, Google.
• Incorrect: albert einstein, paris, google.
3. Capitalize Titles of Works
• Capitalize the main words in titles of books, movies, articles, and songs. Don’t capitalize short words like a, an, the, and, in, on, to, unless
they are the first or last word.
• Correct: The Lord of the Rings.
• Incorrect: The lord of the rings.
4. Capitalize Days, Months, and Holidays
• Always capitalize days of the week, months, and holidays, but not seasons.
• Correct: Monday, December, Christmas.
• Incorrect: monday, december, christmas.
5. Capitalize “I” as a Pronoun
• Always capitalize the pronoun “I,” regardless of its position in the sentence.
• Correct: I love ice cream.
• Incorrect: i love ice cream.
6. Capitalize Names of Organizations, Brands, and Specific Groups
• Capitalize specific organizations, companies, or groups.
• Examples: United Nations, Nike, Apple.
7. Capitalize Geographic Locations
• Capitalize names of cities, countries, rivers, mountains, and other specific locations.
• Examples: Amazon River, Mount Everest, Africa.
8. Capitalize the First Word in a Quotation
• If a quotation begins a sentence, capitalize the first word.
• Correct: He said, “Let’s go to the park.”
• Incorrect: He said, “let’s go to the park.”
Dos and Don’ts
Dos:
1. Capitalize Proper Nouns and Titles:
Do: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great leader.
Don’t: dr. martin luther king jr. was a great leader.
2. Capitalize Days and Months:
Do: We visited New York in July.
Don’t: We visited new york in july.
3. Check for “I” as a Pronoun:
Do: I think this is a great idea.
Don’t: i think this is a great idea.
4. Capitalize First Words in Quotations:
Do: She said, “Tomorrow is a new day.”
Don’t: She said, “tomorrow is a new day.”
Don’ts:
1. Don’t Capitalize Common Nouns:
Incorrect: She visited the City last summer.
Correct: She visited the city last summer.
2. Don’t Overcapitalize Words in Titles:
Incorrect: The Wind In The Willows.
Correct: The Wind in the Willows.
3. Don’t Capitalize Seasons:
Incorrect: She loves Winter and Fall.
Correct: She loves winter and fall.
4. Don’t Capitalize Random Words for Emphasis:
Incorrect: He is a Great cook.
Correct: He is a great cook.
Examples of Proper and Improper Capitalization
1. Improper: i went to paris in february.
Proper: I went to Paris in February.
2. Improper: the president lives in the white house.
Proper: The president lives in the White House.
3. Improper: harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban is my favorite book.
Proper: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite book.
Final Tips
1. Always capitalize proper nouns and titles.
2. Be mindful of capitalization in quotes and headings.
3. Avoid over-capitalization—only capitalize what’s necessary.
What is Capitalization?
Capitalization means writing the first letter of a word in uppercase while keeping the rest of the letters lowercase. It follows specific grammatical rules to indicate proper nouns, beginnings of sentences, and other special cases.
Why is Capitalization Important?
• Clarity: Capitalization distinguishes proper nouns and titles, making your writing easier to understand.
• Professionalism: Proper capitalization shows attention to detail and enhances credibility.
• Structure: It helps readers identify the start of new sentences and important words.
Rules of Capitalization
1. Capitalize the First Word of Every Sentence
• Always capitalize the first word of a new sentence.
• Correct: The cat is sleeping.
• Incorrect: the cat is sleeping.
2. Capitalize Proper Nouns
• Proper nouns are specific names of people, places, or things.
• Examples: Albert Einstein, Paris, Google.
• Incorrect: albert einstein, paris, google.
3. Capitalize Titles of Works
• Capitalize the main words in titles of books, movies, articles, and songs. Don’t capitalize short words like a, an, the, and, in, on, to, unless
they are the first or last word.
• Correct: The Lord of the Rings.
• Incorrect: The lord of the rings.
4. Capitalize Days, Months, and Holidays
• Always capitalize days of the week, months, and holidays, but not seasons.
• Correct: Monday, December, Christmas.
• Incorrect: monday, december, christmas.
5. Capitalize “I” as a Pronoun
• Always capitalize the pronoun “I,” regardless of its position in the sentence.
• Correct: I love ice cream.
• Incorrect: i love ice cream.
6. Capitalize Names of Organizations, Brands, and Specific Groups
• Capitalize specific organizations, companies, or groups.
• Examples: United Nations, Nike, Apple.
7. Capitalize Geographic Locations
• Capitalize names of cities, countries, rivers, mountains, and other specific locations.
• Examples: Amazon River, Mount Everest, Africa.
8. Capitalize the First Word in a Quotation
• If a quotation begins a sentence, capitalize the first word.
• Correct: He said, “Let’s go to the park.”
• Incorrect: He said, “let’s go to the park.”
Dos and Don’ts
Dos:
1. Capitalize Proper Nouns and Titles:
Do: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great leader.
Don’t: dr. martin luther king jr. was a great leader.
2. Capitalize Days and Months:
Do: We visited New York in July.
Don’t: We visited new york in july.
3. Check for “I” as a Pronoun:
Do: I think this is a great idea.
Don’t: i think this is a great idea.
4. Capitalize First Words in Quotations:
Do: She said, “Tomorrow is a new day.”
Don’t: She said, “tomorrow is a new day.”
Don’ts:
1. Don’t Capitalize Common Nouns:
Incorrect: She visited the City last summer.
Correct: She visited the city last summer.
2. Don’t Overcapitalize Words in Titles:
Incorrect: The Wind In The Willows.
Correct: The Wind in the Willows.
3. Don’t Capitalize Seasons:
Incorrect: She loves Winter and Fall.
Correct: She loves winter and fall.
4. Don’t Capitalize Random Words for Emphasis:
Incorrect: He is a Great cook.
Correct: He is a great cook.
Examples of Proper and Improper Capitalization
1. Improper: i went to paris in february.
Proper: I went to Paris in February.
2. Improper: the president lives in the white house.
Proper: The president lives in the White House.
3. Improper: harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban is my favorite book.
Proper: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite book.
Final Tips
1. Always capitalize proper nouns and titles.
2. Be mindful of capitalization in quotes and headings.
3. Avoid over-capitalization—only capitalize what’s necessary.
