Capitalization Rules

Capitalization Rules

noun - person, place, or thing
A noun can be common or proper.

bridge

Golden Gate Bridge

Proper nouns, which name particular people, places, or things—such as historical periods, events, or documents—should always be capitalized.

proper nouns

Common nouns are nouns that name people, places, or things. They are not capitalized.

​common nouns

Capitalization Rules

The U.S. Constitution was written in 1787.


At 81, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania was the oldest delegate at the convention.


The first ten amendments became known as The Bill of Rights.

​

Proper Nouns

The titles of books, stories, and essays are proper nouns. They should always be capitalized. Begin each important word with a capital letter.


Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the first book in the series.

My favorite book from the series is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

​

Capitalizing Titles

The names of languages, people, races, and nationalities are proper nouns. They should always be capitalized.

​
Julia speaks English, but she is Brazilian.

My mother is Swedish, and my father is Russian.

​Capitalizing Languages, People’s Names, and Nationalities