Capitalization

Capitalization

First Words

•Capitalize the first word of a
sentence.
•Example:

•Thirty-five soldiers lined up in
front of the barracks.

I, B.C.E., A.D.

• ALWAYS capitalize the pronoun I!!! This includes

when it is used in the contraction I’m.
•Example:

• Theodore Roosevelt said, “Speak softly and carry a

big stick.”

• The abbreviations B.C.E and A.D appear as

small caps.
•Example:

• King Tut lived from 1332–1323 B.C.E.
• Ronald Reagan lived from 1911-2004 A.D.

Proper nouns and proper adjective

• Proper nouns and proper adjectives- name specific

people, places, things

• Names of People- it doesn’t matter who it is capitalize

their name--even yours!
• Note: Sometimes customs vary the spelling. As a sign of respect,

please make the spelling is correct. For example, ifa Spanish
name includes “de la,” you do not have to capitalize the “de la.”
Juan de la Cruz.

Practice #1

Family
Members

• Capitalize the names of family members when you are

using their name with their title or their title is what you
call them.
• Example: Uncle Matt, Aunt Gloria, Cousin Bo, Grandma, Grandpa,

Daddy, Mommy, Bubba, Sissy

• Note: If you are simply saying that you have an uncle or that

someone is an uncle without specifying the title associated with it,
there is no need to capitalize.

Official Titles

•Capitalize the title only when followed
by the name of the person.
•Example: President Donald Trump,
Mayor Dale Kelly, Principal Jonathan Kee
•Note: Do not capitalize the title when
there is no name

Names of structures and buildings

• Empire State Building, Golden Gate Bridge,

Space Needle

• Note: Just like the title in works of literature, there

is no need to capitalize the unimportant words.

• Mall of America, Tavern on the Green

Practice #2

Ethnic groups, races, languages,
nationalities

•Asian American, French, Latino,
Japanese
•Avoid capitalizing words modified by
proper adjectives.
•Mexican restaurant (unless it is part of
the name such as Consuela’s
Restaurant)

Historical Events, periods,
documents

•Revolutionary War, Middle Ages,
Bronze Age, Bill of Rights

Cities, states, governmental units

•Revolutionary War, Middle Ages,
Bronze Age, Bill of Rights

Institutions, Organizations, and
Businesses

• Evergreen State College, Wesleyan University, Girl

Scouts, First Bank, Huntingdon High School

Days of the Week

Months

Special Events and Calendar Events

Monday, Tuesday…

January, February

Fall Harvest Festival, Spring Break, Father’s Day, Christmas, Valentine’s Day

Practice #3 and #4

Works of Art and Literature

• Romeo and Juliet, The Scarlet Letter, “Good

Country Folk,” “The Raven,” Girl with a Pearl
Earing

Names of Trains, Ships, and other
modes of transportation
• Mayflower, United Airlines
Public Parks and Bodies of Water

•

Carroll County Thousand Acre Lake,
Interstate 40, Natchez Trace State Park

Direction Words- only if they name a
specific area

• Several population centers are on the East Coast. Many

African-Americans headed north to find factory work.
Seasons

In the fall, in the spring

School Subjects

• Do not capitalize school subjects UNLESS they name a

specific course. ALWAYS capitalize a language class,
however, because it is a language (English, Spanish,
French, etc.).

• I still have the textbook from that history class.
• My English class is awesome!
• I do not understand why I have to take History 101.

Practice #5 and #6