Unit 2 rules: Capitalization

Proper names

Capitalize common nouns when they are an integral part of the full name for a person, place or thing EX: Democratic Party, Colorado River, Colorado General Assembly

Titles

Capitalize formal titles when used immediately before a name but NOT when it comes after a name

Organizations and institutions

Capitalize full names of organizations and institutions, but lowercase the internal elements of those organizations EX: Metropolitan State University of Denver, the registrar's office

Historical periods and events

Capitalize names of widely recognized epochs in anthropology, archaeology, geology and history. Also capitalize widely recognized popular names for periods and events. EX:Great Recession, World War II, Middle Ages

Popular names

Capitalize places and events that lack official name but have a popular name EX: Front Range, Lower Downtown, Denver Howl

Sentences

Capitalize the first word in a statement that stands as a sentence

Compositions

Capitalize the principal words in the names of books, movies, plays, poems, operas, songs, radio and TV programs, works of art, etc. EX: The Phantom of the Opera

Derivatives

Capitalize words that are derived from a proper noun and still depend on it for their meaning EX: Christian, Coloradan, Shakespearean

Proper nouns

Capitalize words that are the unique identification of a person, place or thing EX: America, Boston, John, Mary

Regions

Capitalize words when they designate regions EX: the West, West Coast, Rocky Mountain Region

What is the main rule of capitalization?

In general, avoid unnecessary capitals. Use a capital letter only if you can justify it by one of the principles listed in the AP Stylebook.