1. Capitalization of Personal Names, Nicknames, Animals’ Names, Hyphenation, Proper Names, Familial Names, and Personification From the UWF Writing Lab’s 101 Grammar Mini-Lessons Series Mini-Lesson #24

2. Capitalize personal names, nicknames, and epithets. Examples: Honest Abe, Michael “Air” Jordan, Ms. Smarty Pants

3. Capitalize animals’ names if part or all of the name is derived from a proper noun. Examples: German shepherd, Clydesdale, Doberman pinscher Do not capitalize if the name is not derived from a proper name. Examples: pinto, horse, bluejay

4. Capitalize the first and second word in hyphenated proper names. Examples: Through the Looking-Glass, My So-Called Life Do not capitalize the second word in hyphenated proper names if it is not as important as the first word. Examples: “How to Apply Make-up”

5. Capitalize names of relationships which for part of or substitute for proper names. Examples: I remember how Dad used to take us shopping, Uncle James. Do not capitalize names of relationships preceded by a possessive word. Examples: My mother, the father of my friend, Linda’s brother

6. Capitalize personifications. Examples: Mother Nature, Old Man Winter, Father Time