Capitalization

Front

What is capitalization?

Back

Capitalization is the writing of a word with its first letter in uppercase and the remaining letters in lowercase. It is used for proper nouns, the beginning of sentences, and certain titles.

Front

When should you capitalize the first word in a sentence?

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The first word in a sentence should always be capitalized.

Front

What are proper nouns?

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Proper nouns are specific names of people, places, organizations, or sometimes things, and they are always capitalized (e.g., 'Phil', 'Grand Island').

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Should the word 'uncle' be capitalized when used in a sentence?

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'Uncle' should be capitalized when it is used as a proper noun (e.g., 'Uncle Bob') but not when used generically (e.g., 'my uncle').

Front

Is 'mom' capitalized in the sentence 'My mom wants me to stay home'?

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In this sentence, 'mom' is not capitalized because it is used generically. However, it would be capitalized if used as a proper noun (e.g., 'Mom said to come home').

Front

What is the rule for capitalizing titles?

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In titles, the first and last words are always capitalized, as well as all major words (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs). Minor words (like 'and', 'or', 'the') are not capitalized unless they are the first or last word.

Front

When should you capitalize days of the week and months?

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Days of the week and months are always capitalized (e.g., 'Monday', 'January').

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What is the correct capitalization for 'the president'?

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'President' should be capitalized when it is used as a title before a name (e.g., 'President Lincoln') but not when used generically (e.g., 'the president of the company').

Front

How do you capitalize a quote within a sentence?

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The first word of a quote should be capitalized if it is a complete sentence. For example: He said, 'It is time to go.'

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What is the correct way to write 'the child cried, 'I want to go home, grandpa, and see uncle Bob!'?

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The correct way is: 'The child cried, 'I want to go home, Grandpa, and see Uncle Bob!'' Capitalize 'Grandpa' and 'Uncle' because they are used as proper nouns.