RULES OF CAPITALIZATION RULES OF CAPITALIZATION

Guidelines for Capitalizing Sentences Guidelines for Capitalizing Sentences

Rule 1: Capitalize the first word in Declarative, Rule 1: Capitalize the first word in Declarative,
Interrogative, Imperative, and Exclamatory Interrogative, Imperative, and Exclamatory
sentences. sentences.

Rule 1.1: Capitalize the first word in a sentence. Rule 1.1: Capitalize the first word in a sentence.

Rule 2: Capitalization in Quotation Rule 2: Capitalization in Quotation

Rule 2.1: Capitalize the first word in a quotation if Rule 2.1: Capitalize the first word in a quotation if
the quotation is a complete sentence. the quotation is a complete sentence.

Rule 2.2: Do not capitalize the second part of the Rule 2.2: Do not capitalize the second part of the
quotation if interrupted mid-sentence. quotation if interrupted mid-sentence.

Rule 2.3: Don’t capitalize quotes that are only Rule 2.3: Don’t capitalize quotes that are only
partial sentences. partial sentences.

Rule 3: Capitalization After Colons Rule 3: Capitalization After Colons

Rule 3.1: Capitalize the first word after a colon if Rule 3.1: Capitalize the first word after a colon if
the word begins a complete sentence. the word begins a complete sentence.

Rule 3.2: Do not capitalize the first word of a list Rule 3.2: Do not capitalize the first word of a list
after a colon. after a colon.

Rule 3.3: Do not capitalize the first word of a list Rule 3.3: Do not capitalize the first word of a list
after a colon. However, if the first word is a proper after a colon. However, if the first word is a proper
noun, then you should. noun, then you should.

Guidelines for Capitalizing in Proper Nouns Guidelines for Capitalizing in Proper Nouns

Rule 1: Capitalize all proper nouns. Rule 1: Capitalize all proper nouns.

Rule 2: Capitalize each part of a person's full Rule 2: Capitalize each part of a person's full
name. name.

Rule 3: Capitalize a person's surname. Rule 3: Capitalize a person's surname.

Rule 4: Capitalizing names of places. Rule 4: Capitalizing names of places.

Rule 5: Capitalize Geographical Names Rule 5: Capitalize Geographical Names

Rule 6: Capitalize the names of other special Rule 6: Capitalize the names of other special
places. places.

Rule 7: Capitalize the names of specific events Rule 7: Capitalize the names of specific events
and periods of time. and periods of time.

Rule 8: Capitalize the names of various Rule 8: Capitalize the names of various
organizations, government bodies, political organizations, government bodies, political
parties, races, nationalities, and languages. parties, races, nationalities, and languages.

Rule 9: Capitalize references to religions, deities, Rule 9: Capitalize references to religions, deities,
and religious scriptures. and religious scriptures.
Rule 10: Capitalize the names of other special
items
Guidelines for Capitalizing in Proper
Adjectives
Rule 1: Capitals most proper adjectives.
Rule 2: Capitalize brand names used as
adjectives.
Rule 3: Do not capitalize prefixes with proper
adjectives unless the prefix refers to a nationality.
Guidelines for Capitalizing Titles in People
Rule 1: Capitalize titles of people and titles of
works.
Rule 1.1: Capitalize a person's title when it is
followed by the person's name or when it is used
in direct address.
Rule 1.2: Capitalize the titles of certain high
government officials even when the titles are not
followed by a proper name or used in direct
address.
Rule 1.3: Capitalize all important words in
compound titles, but do not capitalize prefixes
and suffixes added to titles.
Rule 2: Capitalize titles showing family
relationships when they refer to a specific person,
unless they are preceded by a possessive noun
or pronoun.
Rule 2.1: Capitalize titles showing family
relationships when they refer to a specific person,
unless they are preceded by a possessive noun
or pronoun.
Guidelines for Capitalizing Titles in Things
Rule 1: Capitalize the first word and all other
keywords in the titles of books, periodicals,
poems, stories, plays, paintings, and other works
of art.
Rule 2: Capitalize the titles of courses when the
courses are language courses or when the
courses are followed by a number.
Guidelines in Capitalizing Letters
Rule 1: Capitalize the first word and all nouns in
letter salutations and the first word in letter
closings.
Rule 10: Capitalize the names of other special
items
Guidelines for Capitalizing in Proper
Adjectives
Rule 1: Capitals most proper adjectives.
Rule 2: Capitalize brand names used as
adjectives.
Rule 3: Do not capitalize prefixes with proper
adjectives unless the prefix refers to a nationality.
Guidelines for Capitalizing Titles in People
Rule 1: Capitalize titles of people and titles of
works.
Rule 1.1: Capitalize a person's title when it is
followed by the person's name or when it is used
in direct address.
Rule 1.2: Capitalize the titles of certain high
government officials even when the titles are not
followed by a proper name or used in direct
address.
Rule 1.3: Capitalize all important words in
compound titles, but do not capitalize prefixes
and suffixes added to titles.
Rule 2: Capitalize titles showing family
relationships when they refer to a specific person,
unless they are preceded by a possessive noun
or pronoun.
Rule 2.1: Capitalize titles showing family
relationships when they refer to a specific person,
unless they are preceded by a possessive noun
or pronoun.
Guidelines for Capitalizing Titles in Things
Rule 1: Capitalize the first word and all other
keywords in the titles of books, periodicals,
poems, stories, plays, paintings, and other works
of art.
Rule 2: Capitalize the titles of courses when the
courses are language courses or when the
courses are followed by a number.
Guidelines in Capitalizing Letters
Rule 1: Capitalize the first word and all nouns in
letter salutations and the first word in letter
closings.