Capitalization

Capital letters are used to:

* mark the beginnings of sentences
* distinguish proper nouns from common
nouns
* indicate other words that deserve special
attention
 Rules for Capitalization
1. Capitalize the first word in every sentence.
A. Capitalize the pronoun “I”
B. Capitalize the interjection “O”
C. Capitalize the first word in both the s
alutation and the closing of a letter.
 Rules for Capitalization
2. Capitalize Proper Nouns
A. Capitalize the names of persons and a
nimals.
B. Capitalize geographical names.
C. Capitalize the names of planets, stars, c
onstellations, and other heavenly bodies.
 Rules for Capitalization
2. Capitalize Proper Nouns
D. Capitalize the names of teams,
organizations, institutions, and gov
ernment bodies.
E. Capitalize the names of historical events
and periods, special events, holidays, and
other calendar items.
 Rules for Capitalization
2. Capitalize Proper Nouns
F. Capitalize the names of nationalities,
races, and peoples.
G. Capitalize the names of religions, and t
heir followers, holidays (holy days) and celeb
rations, sacred writings, and specific deities.
 Rules for Capitalization
2. Capitalize Proper Nouns
H. Capitalize the names of buildings and o
ther structures.
I. Capitalize the names of monuments,
memorials, and awards.
J. Capitalize the names of ships, aircraft, and s
pacecraft.
 Rules for Capitalization
2. Capitalize Proper Nouns
K. Capitalize the names of businesses, and the
brand names of business products.

3. Capitalize the Proper Adjectives.

 Rules for Capitalization
4. DO NOT capitalize the names of school subjec
ts except course names followed by numerals an
d languages.
 Rules for Capitalization
5. Capitalize titles.
A. Capitalize a person’s title when the title
comes before the person’s name.
B. Capitalize a word showing a family r
elationship when the word is use before or
in place of a person’s name, unless the wor
d follows a possessive noun or pronoun.
 Rules for Capitalization
5. Capitalize titles.
C. Capitalize the first and last words and all i
mportant words in titles and subtitles.
Unimportant words in titles include
• Prepositions
• Coordinating conjunctions
• Articles