Using Capital Letters

Why is correct capitalization important?

First word of a sentence
Salutations and closings of letters
The pronoun I
Proper nouns
Proper adjectives
Abbreviations
School subjects
Titles
Review A
Review B

Why is correct capitalization important?

Capital letters are signals to readers. They can
mark important differences in meaning.

the White House

the white house

First word of a sentence

Capitalize the first word in every sentence.
More and more people are exercising regularly.
Daily workouts have many benefits. For instance,
they can help you sleep better at night.

First word of a sentence

Capitalize the first word of a quoted sentence.
How many pets does your family have?
asked Gwen.
Felipe said, We have two dogs,
one cat, and two parakeets, for
a grand total of five.

Salutations and closings of letters

In letters or e-mails, capitalize the first word in
the salutation

the closing

Dear Sir:

Sincerely,

My dear Brenda,

Very truly yours,

The pronoun I
Capitalize the pronoun I.

When I visited Denver, I went

to the zoo and to the museum.
If you like, Ill show you
photos from my trip there.

Using capital letters

On Your Own

Correct each capitalization error in the following

sentences.
1. our report is due at the end of the month.
2. my parents let me watch TV only after i have
finished all my chores.
3. the clerk said, tomorrow is a holiday, isnt it?
4. the letter began dear Manager: i have a
complaint about the service at your store.
[End of Section]

Proper nouns
Capitalize proper nouns.
A common noun names any one of a group of
persons, places, things, or ideas. A proper noun
names a particular person, place, thing, or idea.
Common Nouns

Proper Nouns

month

November

country

Kenya

writer

Toni Morrison

Proper nouns
Capitalize proper nouns.
Names of persons and animals
Eric

the Garza family

W. C. Handy

Ms. Levine

Harriet Tubman

Lassie

Proper nouns
Capitalize proper nouns.
Geographical names
Asia (continent)

San Diego (city)

Costa Rica (country)

Hudson Bay (body of water)

Proper nouns
Capitalize proper nouns.
Names of organizations, teams, institutions, and
government bodies
League of Women Voters
(organization)

Kennedy Middle School

(institution)

Los Angeles Dodgers

(team)

Louisiana State Senate

(government body)

Proper nouns
Capitalize proper nouns.
Names of historical events and periods, special
events, calendar items, and holidays
Battle of Bunker Hill
(historical event)

Thanksgiving Day
(holiday)

Texas State Fair

(special event)

December
(calendar item)

Proper nouns
Capitalize proper nouns.
Names of nationalities, races, and peoples
Mexican

Cherokee

Asian

African American

Proper nouns
Capitalize proper nouns.
Names of religions and their followers, holy days
and celebrations, sacred writings, and specific
deities
Christianity (religion)
Christian (follower)

the Torah
(sacred writing)

Yom Kippur (holy day)

Allah (specific deity)

Proper nouns
Capitalize proper nouns.
Names of businesses and the brand names of
business products
Tans Dry Cleaners
Aunt Oaties

Identify

Bank of Here
MMGood

(businesses)
(brand names)

Proper nouns
Capitalize proper nouns.
Names of planets, constellations, stars, and
other heavenly bodies
Venus

Big Dipper

Jupiter

Milky Way

Ursa Major

Proper nouns
Capitalize proper nouns.
Names of ships, trains, aircraft, and spacecraft
Air Force One

Sputnik

Queen Elizabeth 2

Atlantis

Mayflower

Proper nouns
Capitalize proper nouns.
Names of monuments, memorials, and awards
Mount Rushmore

Jefferson Memorial

Navajo National Monument

Academy Award

Proper nouns
Capitalize proper nouns.
Names of specific buildings and
other structures
Fairmont Hotel

Eiffel Tower

Tower of London
Hoover Dam

Brooklyn Bridge

St. Louis Cathedral

Proper adjectives
Capitalize proper adjectives.
A proper adjective is an adjective formed from a
proper noun.
Proper Nouns

Proper Adjectives

Rome

Roman army

King Arthur

Arthurian legend

Japan

Japanese tea
ceremony

Mars

Martian landscape

Proper nouns and proper adjectives

On Your Own

Correct the capitalization errors in the following word

groups.
1. decorated with chinese lanterns
2. pictures of the golden gate bridge in san francisco
3. to see the florida marlins play in the world series
4. winner of the nobel prize
5. riding on the orient express
[End of Section]

Abbreviations
Capitalize abbreviations if the words they stand for
are capitalized.
Abbreviations that come before or after
personal names
Mr. Edward Yowe

Gary Stamos, Sr.

Gen. Crane

Abbreviations of the names of organizations,

businesses, and government bodies
UN (United Nations)

CIA (Central Intelligence

Agency)

Abbreviations
Capitalize abbreviations if the words they stand for
are capitalized.
Abbreviations used in addresses
9120 Maple Ave.

Apt. 206

P.O. Box 9410

Abbreviations of geographical names

St. Louis

Bahama Is.

Cook Co.

Okla.

School subjects
Do not capitalize the names of school subjects.
health

history

science

art

social studies

Exception: Do capitalize the names of language

classes and courses that contain a number.
English

German

Music III

American History 201

Titles
Capitalize a persons title when the title comes
before the name.
Judge OConner

Mrs. Santos

Mayor Bradley

Generally, a title that is used alone or following a

persons name is not capitalized.
Has the judge arrived, yet?

Titles
Capitalize a word showing a family relationship
when the word is used before or in place of a
persons name.
Aunt Susan

Cousin Ben

Grandmother

Do not capitalize a word showing a family

relationship when the word follows a possessive
noun or pronoun.
your aunt Susan

my cousin Ben

Tys grandmother

Titles
Capitalize the first and last words and all important
words in titles and subtitles.
Womans Day (magazine)
Broken Chain (short story)
The Wizard of Oz (movie)
The Ballet Class (artwork)

Abbreviations, school subjects, and titles

On Your Own

Correct the capitalization errors in the following

sentences.
1. According to mom, judge Johnson is very strict.
2. Doesnt dr. Perry live in st. Louis now?
3. My sister works for the fbi.
4. I asked mrs. Jones for a copy of readers digest.
5. Mara just read the short story gorilla, my love.
[End of Section]

Review A
Correct the following sentences by capitalizing or
lowercasing letters as needed.
1. Volunteers from the peace corps helped build a Bridge.
2. one of the best dentists in york is dr. ken winslow.
3. In english class on Monday, we watched a Scene from
romeo and juliet.
4. The french revolution changed european Society.
5. Did your Sisters favorite show win an emmy award?
6. this year i hope to visit the rocky mountains.
[End of Section]

Review B
Correct the sentences in the following paragraph by
capitalizing or lowercasing letters as needed.
(1) The titanic, a huge ocean liner, sank on
april 15, 1912. (2) It lay untouched in the icy waters of
the atlantic ocean for more than seventy years. (3) on
September 1, 1985, dr. robert ballard of the woods hole
oceanographic institution and his Crew found the ship.
(4) The Scientists used a remote-controlled vehicle
called argos to view the ocean floor. (5) they used a
special underwater sled with lights and cameras to take
Photographs of the Titanic.
[End of Section]

The End