1. What is a Noun? & When to Capitalize Nouns

2. What is a noun? Person girl, teacher, Janelle, chef Place
Staten Island, country, forest
Thing
house, tree, cake, water
Idea
democracy, truth, fantasy
Quality
boredom, beauty, hatred

3. When to Capitalize Nouns

4. Names of specific people
Capitalize
Devon, Angela, Matthew, the Willams family, the Hunters
No Capitalization
family, boy, cousin, sister

5. Ranks and Titles (when used with a particular person’s name)
Capitalize
This is Aunt Jewel, this is Doctor Jones, and this is Professor Smith.
No Capitalization
That lady is my aunt, that man is a doctor, and that man is a professor.

6. Titles of Movies, Books, Chapters, and Articles
Rule: Capitalize the first word, last word, and all important words in the middle of a title.
Capitalize Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
No Capitalization I read a good book last night.

7. Family Members
If you can substitute a name in the sentence for mom, dad, aunt, grandma, etc. AND it still makes sense, capitalize it. Capitalize
Mom and I went to the movies with Dad.
Mary and I went to the movies with Jim.
No Capitalization
My grandfather went fishing with my sister.
You would not say..
My Jim went fishing with my Sally.

8. Names of Specific Schools, Businesses, Buildings, Organizations, etc.
Capitalize
Apple Computer, Brooklyn Collegiate Middle School, Stony Brook University, Ford Motor Company
No Capitalization
I want a new computer. I am going to a middle school. I plan to go to a university after I attend high school.

9. Special Groups including Clubs, Religions, Nationalities, Races of People, Languages, Countries
Capitalize
Brooklyn Collegiate Lady Lions, Republican Party, Boys Scouts of America, Christians, Africans, Japanese, Spanish, England, French cuisine, Italian pastry
No Capitalization
I wanted our team to win. Many club members attended the game.

10. Days of the Week, Months, and Holidays but not Seasons
Capitalize
Monday, January, Halloween, Christmas
No Capitalization
summer, fall, spring, winter, autumn

11. Geographic Areas Capitalize
Tennessee, Mississippi River, Atlantic Ocean, Bergen Street
No Capitalization
The river is deep. The mountains are tall. I live down the street.

12. Regions of the United States (Not Directions)
Capitalize
We live in Northwest Connecticut, but Ms. Jones was born in the South.
No Capitalization
Joshua lives on the north side of town.

13. Names for God and Sacred Books
Capitalize
God, Jehovah, Allah, the Bible, the Koran
No Capitalization
Ancient myths have stories about many gods and goddesses.

14. Specific School Courses
Capitalize
I’m taking Algebra 101 and United States History.
No Capitalization
I’m taking algebra and history.

15. Names of Planets (not sun and moon)
Capitalize
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
No Capitalization
The moon is bright tonight.

16. Letters that Stand Alone
Capitalize
U-turn, X-ray, A+