Capitalization Rules : A Review

Sentences and letter parts Capitalize the first word of every sentence. (duh!) Capitalize the first word of every sentence. (duh!) Many people like to wear hats. Capitalize the first word of a direct quotation Capitalize the first word of a direct quotation Travis said, “One of those people is Paul.” Do NOT begin the second part of an interrupted quotation with a capital letter Do NOT begin the second part of an interrupted quotation with a capital letter “I read a poem,” said Bob, “about hats.” Do NOT capitalize an indirect quotation Do NOT capitalize an indirect quotation The teacher said the poem was a good one. The teacher said that the poem was nice. Capitalize the first word in the greeting and closing of a letter. Capitalize the title and name of the person addressed in a letter Capitalize the first word in the greeting and closing of a letter. Capitalize the title and name of the person addressed in a letter Dear Mrs. Anderson, Sincerely yours, Dear Mrs. Anderson, Sincerely yours,

Rewrite each sentence using capital letters where needed. 1. we were preparing a report on westward expansion. 2. joan said, “the pioneers needed many skills.” 3. “they hunted,” said Carlos, “and farmed.” 4. Ann added, “some pioneers were trappers.” 5. “they also had skill in building,” she said. “many pioneers built their own homes.” 6. we decided that the pioneers had to be self-sufficient. 7. carlos said that the wagons were pulled by oxen. 8. most families traveled in groups. 9. pioneers wrote letters that began, “dear loved ones.” 10. they signed them, “with much love.”

Names and titles of people Capitalize the names of people and initials that stand for their names Capitalize the names of people and initials that stand for their names Clark KentSusan B. AnthonyE.C. Stanton Capitalize a title or abbreviation of a title before a person’s name Capitalize a title or abbreviation of a title before a person’s name President WilsonDr. Martin Luther KingMs. Ruiz Capitalize a title used instead of a name Capitalize a title used instead of a name Has the enemy surrendered, General? Hey, Doc, what’s the diagnosis? Do NOT capitalize a title that follows a name or is used as a common noun Do NOT capitalize a title that follows a name or is used as a common noun Woodrow Wilson, President of the US during WWI, was a fine president. Capitalize academic degrees that follow a name Capitalize academic degrees that follow a name M. Katayama, M.D.Janie Stein, PhD. Capitalize Jr. or Sr. Capitalize Jr. or Sr. Otis Ames, Jr. Otis Ames, Jr. Capitalize words that show family relationships when used as titles before a name or as substitutes for names Capitalize words that show family relationships when used as titles before a name or as substitutes for names Last year, Father and Aunt Beth traveled to Florida. Do NOT capitalize family words when used after possessive nouns or pronouns Do NOT capitalize family words when used after possessive nouns or pronouns Last year, my father and my aunt Beth traveled to Florida. Always capitalize the pronoun I (another duh!) Always capitalize the pronoun I (another duh!) American history is the subject I like best. American history is the subject I like best.

Rewrite each sentence using capital letters where needed. 1. Meriwether lewis and william clark explored the Northwest all the way to the Pacific Ocean. 2. President jefferson sponsored their expedition. 3. The president had known meriwether lewis as a young boy. 4. Jefferson wrote, “I could have no hesitation in confiding the enterprise to him.” 5. Lewis himself invited clark, his former company commander, to serve as coleader. 6. A Shoshone woman named sacajawea was one member of the expedition. 7. Captain clark adored sacajawea’s son, I believe. 8. Later, jean baptiste led jefferson clark to the West Coast. 9. Of course, jefferson’s father had helped lead the lewis and clark expedition. 10. Lewis’s uncle charles was a patriot who fought in the Revolutionary War.

Names of places Capitalize the names of cities, counties, states, countries, and continents Capitalize the names of cities, counties, states, countries, and continents San Diego, Cook County, Texas, Japan, Europe Capitalize the names of bodies of water and other geographical features Capitalize the names of bodies of water and other geographical features Lake Michigan, Napa Valley, Rocky Mountains Capitalize the names of sections of a country Capitalize the names of sections of a country the Souththe West Coastthe Northeast Only capitalize direction words when they name a section of the country, not when they are used in other ways Only capitalize direction words when they name a section of the country, not when they are used in other ways southern CaliforniaKansas is west of Missouri. Capitalize names of streets and highways Capitalize names of streets and highways Main StreetRoute 66Florida Turnpike Capitalize the names of particular buildings, bridges, monuments, and other structures Capitalize the names of particular buildings, bridges, monuments, and other structures the White HouseLincoln MemorialGolden Gate Bridge the White HouseLincoln MemorialGolden Gate Bridge

Rewrite each sentence using capital letters where needed. 1. Adventurers from spain came to the new world in the early sixteenth century. 2. From island bases in the caribbean sea, they set sail to conquer mexico, central america, and south america. 3. These adventurers crossed the harsh, lonely deserts of mexico and reached monterey. 4. In mexico, cortes conquered the aztec capital city, tenochtitlan. 5. This great city was built on an island in lake texcoco. 6. Spanish explorers searched for the fountain of youth in florida. 7. They encountered natural wonders, like the grand canyon, but they cared only for riches. 8. A mine on mount potosi in bolivia yielded tons of silver. 9. Spanish heritage can be seen today in the san jose mission in san antonio, texas and other missions. 10. Many united states cities have Spanish names, such as san diego.

Titles of things ( not people ) Capitalize the first and last word, plus all other words EXCEPT articles, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions fewer than five letters in all of the following: Capitalize the first and last word, plus all other words EXCEPT articles, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions fewer than five letters in all of the following: Titles of books A Wrinkle in Time Titles of books A Wrinkle in Time Titles of chapters “The Marauder’s Map” Titles of chapters “The Marauder’s Map” Titles of plays Wicked Titles of plays Wicked Titles of short stories “All Summer in a Day” Titles of short stories “All Summer in a Day” Titles of poems“Nothing Gold Can Stay” Titles of poems“Nothing Gold Can Stay” Titles of essays or articles “Mammals and Their Young” Titles of essays or articles “Mammals and Their Young” Titles of movies Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Titles of movies Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Titles of television series and programs Lost Titles of television series and programs Lost Titles of songs “Our Song” Titles of songs “Our Song” Titles of magazine and newspapers the Tennessean Titles of magazine and newspapers the Tennessean NOTE: Do NOT capitalize the word the before the title of a magazine or newspaper

Other proper nouns Capitalize all important words in the names of clubs, organizations, businesses, institutions, and political parties Capitalize all important words in the names of clubs, organizations, businesses, institutions, and political parties Girl Scouts of AmericaUniversity of ArizonaRepublican Party Capitalize brand names but NOT the nouns following them Capitalize brand names but NOT the nouns following them Campbell’s soupHuggies diapersKleenex tissue Capitalize all important words in the names of particular historical events, time periods, and documents Capitalize all important words in the names of particular historical events, time periods, and documents Revolutionary WarGettysburg AddressIce Age Capitalize all names of days of the week, months of the year, and holidays (yet another duh!) Capitalize all names of days of the week, months of the year, and holidays (yet another duh!) MondayJanuaryLabor Day Do NOT capitalize the names of the seasons Do NOT capitalize the names of the seasons springwintersummerfall Capitalize the names of languages, nationalities, and ethnic groups Capitalize the names of languages, nationalities, and ethnic groups FrenchNative AmericansChinese Capitalize the names of religions and the people who practice them Capitalize the names of religions and the people who practice them IslamMuslimsChristians Capitalize the names of holy days, sacred writings, and deities Capitalize the names of holy days, sacred writings, and deities Easterthe Torahthe BibleAllahGod Do NOT capitalize the names of school subjects UNLESS they are a proper noun or adjective on their own OR are followed by a number Do NOT capitalize the names of school subjects UNLESS they are a proper noun or adjective on their own OR are followed by a number language artsFrenchAmerican historyBiology 101biology Capitalize the names of planes, trains, ships, and spacecraft Capitalize the names of planes, trains, ships, and spacecraft TitanicVoyager 2the Orient Express

Proper Adjectives Capitalize all proper adjectives Capitalize all proper adjectives Chinese foodSwiss cheese What is a proper adjective?

Rewrite each sentence using capital letters where needed. Write correct if the sentence has no errors. 1. James Marshall found gold in California on january 24, In the spring, thousands of prospectors arrived at Sutter’s Mill. 3. Hawaiiian, japanese, chinese, european, and american fortune seekers joined the rush. 4. The song “my darling clementine” immortalized these miners as ‘49ers. 5. One woman’s letters appeared in the california monthly magazine. 6. The book three weeks in the gold mines was popular. 7. A similar rush took place in Colorado in Long after the civil war, gold was found in alaska. 9. In 1875 the homestake mine was the west’s most productive gold mine. 10. The alaska gold mining company tried to steal miners’ claims.

Questions? Excerpts from: Excerpts from: Grammar and Composition Handbook. New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill, Grammar and Composition Handbook. New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill, Rueda, Robert, et.al. English. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, Rueda, Robert, et.al. English. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, Writer’s Choice Grammar and Composition. New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill, Writer’s Choice Grammar and Composition. New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2005.