CAPITALIZATION RULES YOU CAN USE
Rules
1. Capitalize names of specific persons.
Examples
Miss Piggy, Wilma Flintstone
2. Capitalize specific geographic locations.
Hogwarts, Camp Half-Blood
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a. Directions. Do NOT capitalize the words
north, south, east, west, southwest, etc.,
when referring to directions. Do capitalize
a direction if it refers to a section of the
country.
In a small town in the South [a
section of the country], surprised
residents sighted giant possums
north [directions] of the Roadkill
Grill.
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b. In a street name that contains a
hyphenated number, the second number
begins with a small letter.
Weird Uncle Ernie sells velvet Elvis
paintings on the corner of Thirtythird Street.
3. Capitalize the names of organizations,
Homer Simpson High School, the
businesses, institutions, and government bodies. National Acne Prevention Society,
American Red Cross
4. Capitalize the names of historical events and
periods, special events, and calendar dates.
However, don’t capitalize seasons (winter,
spring, summer, fall).
This fall, Halloween confused little
Thadeus who dressed like an Easter
bunny; then, at Christmas he begged
to trick-or-treat.
5. Capitalize the names of nationalities, races, and
religions.
American, German, Mexican,
Caucasian, Buddhist
6. Capitalize brand names but not the product.
Dell computers, Levi jeans
7. Capitalize the names of ships, planets,
monuments, awards, and any other particular
places, things, or events
the Mayflower, the Enterprise, the
Empire State Building, the Grammy,
the Milky Way, Mars
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a. Planets, constellations, asteroids, stars,
and groups of stars are capitalized;
however, sun and moon are generally not
capitalized, and earth is not capitalized if it
is preceded by the.
In the fertile earth, Theodore planted
mutant sunflower seeds.
8. Only capitalize a school subject if it is a language
or a course title followed by a number.
speech, literacy, English, Drama 101,
Spanish, Toenail Painting 101
a. Don’t capitalize freshman, sophomore,
junior or senior unless the word is part of a
proper noun such as the Junior Prom.
Matilda became ill in English, and later she
threw up while dissecting a toad in biology.
So, she’ll miss the Sophomore Talent Show
where she was to sing in Latin.
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MORE CAPITALIZATION RULES YOU CAN USE
9. Capitalize the title of a person when it comes
before a name.
Professor Dumbledore, Sergeant
Pepper
10.Do not capitalize a title used alone or following a
person’s name unless it refers to a high official
(such as the President or Vice President of the
United States) or to someone to whom you wish
to show special respect.
The President brushed and flossed
before meeting with the Prime
Minister of England (high title)
The vice president of the liposuction
support group resigned (not high title)
a. When a title is used alone in a direct
address (in other words, when a person is
spoken to directly), it’s usually capitalized.
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Are your eyebrows false, General?
You really should consider a nose job
before the election, Senator.
11.Capitalize the first word and all important words Reader’s Digest; The Grapes of Wrath;
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
in titles of books, magazines, poems, stories,
Azkaban; The Little Mermaid
movies, paintings, and other works of art.
(Unimportant words in a title are a, an, the, and
short prepositions that are fewer than five letters.
However, the first and last words of a title are
always capitalized, even if they are unimportant
words.)
12.Capitalize words referring to the Deity and holy
books.
a. The word god is not capitalized when it
refers to gods of ancient mythology.
God and His universe, the Koran, the
Bible
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When he flexes his muscles, Wilbur
thinks he looks like a Roman god.
Aunt Erma, my aunt, Cousin Verne,
13.Capitalize a word showing family relationship
your cousin, Grandfather Scabs, their
when used with the person’s name (as part of
grandfather, my uncle Joe
the name), but not when the word showing
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relationship is preceded by a possessive pronoun
(my, your, his, her, us, their, our).
a. When family-relationship words like aunt
and cousin are thought of as part of a
name, capitalize them even after a
possessive.
My talented Uncle Buford is a frogcalling champion in five countries.
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“Gosh, Mom,” whined Lionel, “why
b. Capitalize a word showing family
can’t I wrestle crocodiles? Stumpy’s
relationship when used in a direct address. mom lets him!”
14.Capitalize abbreviations for degrees that follow a M.D., Ph.D., D.D.S.
person’s name.
EVEN MORE CAPITALIZATION RULES YOU CAN USE
15. Capitalize the abbreviations Jr. and Sr. when they follow a person’s name.
16. Abbreviations A.D., B.C., C.E., B.C.E. are capitalized, but am, fm (radio frequencies)
and abbreviations for measurements are not (ft., sec., kg.). For the times of day, do
whatever strikes your fancy! A.M. or a.m., P.M., or p.m.
17.Capitalize the first word and each noun in the
salutation (opening) of a letter; however, only
the first word in the closing of a letter is
capitalized.
Dear Miss Dimpsy,
Sincerely yours,
Yours until crawdads fly,