Learning Objectives
- Learn the basic rules of capitalization.
- Identify common capitalization errors.
Text messages, casual e-mails, and instant messages often ignore the rules of capitalization. In fact, it can seem unnecessary to capitalize in these contexts. In other, more formal forms of communication, however, knowing the basic rules of capitalization and using capitalization correctly gives the reader the impression that you choose your words carefully and care about the ideas you are conveying.
Capitalize the First Word of a Sentence
Capitalize Proper Nouns
Proper nouns—the names of specific people, places, objects, streets, buildings, events, or titles of individuals—are always capitalized.
Tip
Always capitalize nationalities, races, languages, and religions. For example, American, African American, Hispanic, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and so on.
Do not capitalize nouns for people, places, things, streets, buildings, events, and titles when the noun is used in general or common way. See the following chart for the difference between proper nouns and common nouns.
Common Noun | Proper Noun |
museum | The Art Institute of Chicago |
theater | Apollo Theater |
country | Malaysia |
uncle | Uncle Javier |
doctor | Dr. Jackson |
book | Pride and Prejudice |
college | Smith College |
war | the Spanish-American War |
historical event | The Renaissance |
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