CapitalizatioCapitalizationn

RulesRules

Lesson 1Lesson 1People and People and

CulturesCultures

Capitalization• Capitalize people’s

names and initials. • Always capitalize the

pronoun I.

Capitalization• Capitalize titles and

abbreviations of the titles that are used before names or in direct address.

Capitalization• Capitalize titles of heads of

state, royalty, or nobility only when they are used before persons’ names or in place of persons’ names.

Capitalization• Capitalize words

indicating family relationships only when they are used as names or before names.

Capitalization• Capitalize the

names of religions, sacred days, sacred writings, and deities.

Capitalization• Capitalize the names of

nationalities, languages, races, and most ethnic groups, as well as adjectives formed from these names.

Lesson 2Lesson 2First Words First Words and Titlesand Titles

Capitalization• Capitalize the first word

of every sentence. • In traditional poetry

capitalize the first word of every line.

Capitalization• Capitalize the first

word of a direct quotation presented as a complete sentence.

Capitalization• In a divided quotation, do

not capitalize the first word of the second part unless it starts a new sentence.

Capitalization• Capitalize the first word of

each entry in an outline and the letters that introduce major subsections.

Capitalization• Capitalize the first word in

the greeting and in the closing of the letter.

Capitalization• Capitalize the first word, the

last word, and all other important words in a title. Don’t capitalize articles, coordinating conjunctions, or prepositions of fewer than five letters.

Lesson 3Lesson 3Places and Places and

TransportationTransportation

Capitalization• In geographical names,

capitalize each word except articles and prepositions.

Capitalization• Capitalize the

names of planets and other specific objects in the universe.

Capitalization

• Capitalize the words north, south, east, and west when they name particular regions of the United States or the world or are parts of proper

names.

Capitalization• Capitalize the names of

specific buildings, bridges, monuments, and other landmarks.

Capitalization• Capitalize the names of

specific airplanes, trains, ships, cars, and spacecraft.

Lesson 4Lesson 4Organizations and Organizations and

Other SubjectsOther Subjects

Capitalization• Capitalize all

important words in the names of organizations, institution, stores, and companies.

Capitalization• Capitalize the

abbreviations B.C., A.D., A.M., and P.M.

Capitalization• Capitalize the names of

months, days, and holidays, but not the names of seasons (except when they are part of the names of festivals or celebrations).

Capitalization• Capitalize the names of

special events and awards. • Capitalize the names of

historical events, periods, and documents.

Capitalization• Capitalize the brand name

of a product but not a common noun that follows a brand name.