1. Capitalization Basics

2. Capitalization  The decision to capitalize a word or make a word lowercase often depends on how a word is used.  The easy rules that follow will help you understand capitalization and make decisions in sometimes confusing situations.

3. Capitalization  Always capitalize proper nouns and proper adjectives. England (proper noun) English (proper adjective) England (proper noun) English (proper adjective) Catholicism (proper noun) Catholic (proper adjective) Catholicism (proper noun) Catholic (proper adjective)  Always capitalize the names and initials of people. William Blake William Blake Vincent van Gogh Vincent van Gogh C.S. Lewis C.S. Lewis Always capitalize family names used before a proper noun or in place of a name. Aunt Jennifer Aunt Jennifer I received a phone call from Grandma. (Used in place of a name) I received a phone call from Grandma. (Used in place of a name)

4. Capitalization  Always capitalize titles of individuals and the abbreviations of their titles when used with personal names. Professor Allen (used with name) professor (not used with name) Professor Allen (used with name) professor (not used with name) Dr. Mark Nelson Mark Nelson, M.D. Dr. Mark Nelson Mark Nelson, M.D. Senator Marcia Smith Senator Marcia Smith  Capitalize titles when they are used alone to refer to the specific, current holders of the positions. the President (of the United States) the President (of the United States) The Vice-President (of the United States) The Vice-President (of the United States) the Queen of England the Queen of England The Pope The Pope This rule applies to the titles listed above and others that designate one, specific person. Other titles such as the president of a company should not be capitalized. Ex. The president of the university

5. Capitalization  Capitalize titles when they are used in a direct address. “How will this affect your policies, Mayor?” “How will this affect your policies, Mayor?” This will affect the mayor’s policies. This will affect the mayor’s policies.  Always capitalize the names of ethnic groups, races, languages, and nationalities, as well as adjectives formed from these names. Jew/Jewish (ethnic group and adjective formed from group name) Jew/Jewish (ethnic group and adjective formed from group name) Caucasian (race) Caucasian (race) German (language) German (language) African (adjective formed from Africa) African (adjective formed from Africa)

6. Capitalization  Always capitalize names referring to religions and their followers, sacred days, sacred writings, and specific deities. Buddhism (religion) Buddhist (its followers) Buddhism (religion) Buddhist (its followers) Christmas (sacred day) Christmas (sacred day) Koran (sacred writing) Koran (sacred writing) God (deity) God (deity)

7. Capitalization  Always capitalize specific geographical places and regions. Orange Beach, Alabama (city and state) Orange Beach, Alabama (city and state) East (when referring to a specific region, not direction) East (when referring to a specific region, not direction) Asia and China (continents and countries) Asia and China (continents and countries) Himalayas (landforms and features) Himalayas (landforms and features) Pacific Ocean (bodies of water) Pacific Ocean (bodies of water) University Boulevard (road names) University Boulevard (road names)  Always capitalize historical events, historical periods, days of the week, months, and holidays. World War I (historical event) World War I (historical event) Middle Ages (historical period) Middle Ages (historical period) Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27 (holidays, days of the week, months) Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27 (holidays, days of the week, months)

8. Capitalization  Always capitalize names of institutions, organizations, schools, hospitals, teams, governments bodies, and political parties. Auburn University (institution) Auburn University (institution) American Heart Association (organization) American Heart Association (organization) Orange Beach Elementary School (school) Orange Beach Elementary School (school) South Baldwin Regional Medical Center (hospital) South Baldwin Regional Medical Center (hospital) New Orleans Saints (team) New Orleans Saints (team) Congress (government body) Congress (government body) Republican Party (political party) Republican Party (political party)

9. Capitalization  Always capitalize the names of school subjects when they refer to specific subjects and the words freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior when they are part of a proper noun. Chemistry 101 (but not chemistry) Chemistry 101 (but not chemistry) English (language course) English (language course) Senior Prom (senior when part of a proper noun) Senior Prom (senior when part of a proper noun)  Always capitalize the names of awards, special events, and brand names. Employee of the Month (awards) Employee of the Month (awards) Shrimp Festival (special event) Shrimp Festival (special event) Coca Cola (brand name) Coca Cola (brand name)

10. Capitalization  Always capitalize the names of ships, trains, airplanes, spacecraft, monuments, memorials, and landmarks. USS Maine (ships) USS Maine (ships) Polar Express (trains) Polar Express (trains) Spirit of St. Louis (airplanes) Spirit of St. Louis (airplanes) Apollo 13 (spacecraft) Apollo 13 (spacecraft) Washington Monument (monuments) Washington Monument (monuments) Lincoln Memorial (memorials) Lincoln Memorial (memorials) Grand Canyon (landmark) Grand Canyon (landmark)

11. Capitalization  Always capitalize the first words of sentences and direct quotations that are complete sentences. Going to the beach for vacation will be fun. Going to the beach for vacation will be fun. Max asked, “Please make out reservations.” Max asked, “Please make out reservations.”  Always capitalize the first word of each item in an outline and the letters introducing major subsections. Ex. I. Personal constraints Ex. I. Personal constraints A. Bulletproof B. Marshmallow 1. Nurturing a. Helpful b. Compassionate 2. Enabling

12. Capitalization  Always capitalize the pronoun I.  Always capitalize the words in a title, excluding conjunctions, articles, and prepositions with fewer than five letters. The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby A Raisin in the Sun A Raisin in the Sun

13. Capitalization  Always capitalize the abbreviations of cities, states, and countries. NYC (city abbreviation) NYC (city abbreviation) CA (state abbreviation) CA (state abbreviation) U.S. (country abbreviation) U.S. (country abbreviation)  Always capitalize the abbreviations B.C., A.D., A.M., and P.M.  Always capitalize the abbreviations of organizations and agencies. FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) CSI (Crime Scene Investigation)