Capitalization Rules

Capitalize the first word of a direct quotation if it is a complete sentence (Do not capitalize the first word of the second part of a divided quotation unless it starts a new sentence.)

- "My favorite book is Where the Red Fern Grows," said Lesley. - " We just bought," exclaimed Owen,"two tickets to see The Miser next week."

Capitalize abbreviations of organizations, institutes, and businesses by using the letters of the complete name (usually do not have periods)

- ASPCA

Capitalize the names of special events and awards.

Example: - Pumpkin Festival -Pulitzer Prize

Capitalize each word except articles and prepositions in geographical names. Geographical names include the names of continents, bodies of water, islands, mountains, other land forms, world regions, nations, states, cities, and streets

Example: -Antartica -Danube River -Philippines -Ural Mountains -Devil's Tower -Far East -Russia -Georgia -Atlanta -Peach Street

Capitalize the titles indicating family relationships only when the titles are used as names or part of names. DO NOT capitalize a family name when it follows the person's name or is used without a proper name.

Example: -Aunt Vicky -Grandma Ellen -My uncle -Ellen, our aunt

Capitalize the names of religions, sacred days, sacred writings, and deities. DO NOT capitalize the words god or goddess when they refer to a group of deities as in ancient mythology.

Example: -Christianity -Kwanza -the Book of Genesis -Allah

Capitalize titles and the abbreviations of titles used before names or in direct address. Capitalize the abbreviations of some titles when they follow the name.

Example: -Colonel Blake -Dr. Jane Elway -Luis Hernandez, M.D.

Capitalize the first word in a greeting of a letter and the first word in the closing.

Example: -Dear Lynette

Capitalize the names of school subjects only when the subject is followed by a course number, they refer to a language course, or when it contains a proper adjective(Capitalize the word freshman, sophomore,junior, or senior when it is used as a proper noun)

Example: -English -Chemistry II -Senior Awards Ceremony

Capitalize all important names of organizations, stores, institutions, stores and companies.

Example: -Franklin Historical Association -Danville Middle School

Capitalize the names of specific airplanes, trains, ships, cars, and spacecraft.

Example: -Maine - Challenger

Capitalize the names of planets and other specific objects in the universe. DO NOT capitalize the sun and the moon or earth when it is preceded by the

Example: -Mercury -Andromeda Galaxy -Halley's Comet -the sun

Always capitalize the pronoun I

Example: -My favorite band had a concert in town and I went.

Capitalize the first word , the last word, and all other important words in titles (don't capitalize, articles, conjunctions, or prepositions fewer than five letters).

Example: -Romeo and Juliet

Capitalize titles of heads of states, royalty, or nobility only when they are used with a person's name. DO NOT capitalize when used without a proper name.

Example: -Sir Walter Raleigh -The Prince of Wales visited the United States. - The queen wore a crown.

Capitalize names of products but not a common noun that follows the brand name.

Example: -Sleepytime slippers -Sunshine airlines

Capitalize the words north, south, east, and west when they name particular regions of the country or world, or when they are parts of proper names. DO NOT capitalize words that indicate general directions or locations.

Example: -South Carolina -the bus turned west on Main Avenue

Capitalize names of historical events, periods, and documents

Example: -Spanish- American war - Middle Ages -U.S. Constitution

Capitalize the names of specific buildings, bridges , monuments, and other landmarks.

Example: -Statue of Liberty -Grand General Station

Capitalize the names of days, months, and holidays but not seasons unless part of a festival or celebration

Example: -Tuesday, May 5 -Memorial Day - Fall Concert

Capitalize the names of nationalities, languages, races, and some ethnic groups, and the adjectives formed from these names.

Example: -the French -Portuguese -Caucasian -Polish -German sausage

Capitalize the first word of each item in an outline and letters that introduce major subsections

Example: I. Types of literature A. Drama 1. Comedy 2. Tragedy

Capitalize peoples names and initials

Example: -Lyndon B. Johnson -Brain H. Smith