The Rules of Capitalization

1
The Rules of Capitalization
2
Capitalize the first word in a sentence.

• In Abington, the schools open before Labor Day.
• The football teams nickname is the Green Wave.
• Do you ever go to the games on Friday night?

3
Capitalize the first word in a direct quote.

• He said, The concert will begin soon.
• "Look out!" she screamed. "You almost ran into my
  child."
• Always be quiet when in a library, the teacher
  instructed.

4
Capitalize the pronoun I.

• This week I have to write two papers and give a
  book report.
• I just started reading a new book.
• My friends and I love to text one another.

5
Practice

• In each practice slide there are examples of
  capitalization based on the previous slides.
  Write the sentence with the correct
  capitalization. Beneath the practice sentence is
  the corrected version. See how well you can do!

6
Practice

• after the game, the team celebrated.
• After the game, the team celebrated.
• 2. you should be proud of your performance,
  said the drama coach.
• You should be proud of your performance, said
  the dram coach.
• 3. when i am finished with my homework, i am
  planning to read a book.
• When I am finished with my homework I am
  planning to read a book.

7
Capitalize proper nouns.

• A proper noun names a particular person place or
  thing Frolio Middle School.
• A common noun names a kind or type of person
  place or thing. Common nouns are not capitalized
  middle school.
• United States country
• Golden Gate Bridge bridge
• Abington High School - high school

8
Capitalize the names of people.

• Capitalize a persons first and last names John
  Smith, Suzy Jones.
• Capitalize a persons title when that person is
  named specifically Aunt Kate, not my aunt, or
  President Kennedy, not the president, Dr. Clue,
  not the doctor

9
Capitalize geographic names.

• Capitalize places only if they are written as
  proper nouns.
• Miami, Boston, New York City cities
• Abington, Rockland, Whitman towns
• Massachusetts, Oregon, Florida states
• United States, Canada, Iraq - countries
• Mississippi River, Charles River - rivers

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Practice

• 4. my sister attends the university of
  massachusetts in amherst.
• My sister attends the University of
  Massachusetts in Amherst.
• 5. your teacher, mr. smith, is my uncle jim.
• Your teacher, Mr. Smith, is my Uncle Jim.
• 6. my family traveled from abington,
  massachusetts to abington, virginia by car.
• My family traveled from Abington, Massachusetts
  to Abington, Virginia by car.

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Capitalize geographic (cont.)

• bodies of water Atlantic Ocean Lake Michigan,
  Caribbean Sea, Chesapeake Bay, Gulf of Mexico,
  Island Grove
• streets and highways Washington St., Park Ave.,
  Route 66
• sections of the country the Northeast, the West

12
Capitalize special and historical events.

• holidays Christmas Day, Easter,
• Memorial Day, Independence Day
• historical events Revolutionary War, Battle of
  the Bulge, Bronze Age

13
Capitalize the names of nationalities, languages,
races and religions.

• nationalities English, Canadian, Mexican,
  Iroquois, American
• languages English, Spanish, Chinese
• races Caucasian, Asian, African
• religions Christian, Catholic, Protestant,
  Jewish, Muslim, Islam, Mormon, Baptist, Hindu,
  Buddhist

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Practice

• 7.to get to the chesapeake bay, we followed route
  195.
• To get to the Chesapeake Bay, we followed Route
  195.
• 8. we went to maryland to celebrate st. patricks
  day with my family.
• We went to Maryland to celebrate St. Patricks
  Day with my family.
• 9. i am studying spanish and buddhism to be more
  culturally diverse.
• I am studying Spanish and Buddhism to be more
  culturally diverse.

15
Capitalize names of organizations, business
firms, institutions and government bodies.

• organizations Girl Scouts, Drama Club
• business firms Gillettes, Fidelity
• institutions University of Massachusetts,
  Abington Boosters
• government bodies the Senate, the Federal
  Bureau of Investigation

16
Capitalize the brand names of business products.

• Dial soap, General Electric stove, Pepsi Cola
  bottle, Toyota Prius
• Notice only the name, not the object is
  capitalized

17
Capitalize the names of ships, planets, monuments.

• ships the Mayflower, the Queen Mary
• planets - Mars, Earth, Jupiter
• monuments Bunker Hill Memorial, Washington
  Monument, Eiffel Tower
• awards Junior Achievement Award, Heisman
  Trophy, World Cup

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Practice

• 10.i have been a member of the boy scouts for
  twelve years.
• I have been a member of the Boy Scouts for
  twelve years.
• 11. my first car was a ford mustang.
• My first car was a Ford Mustang.
• 12. every hockey fan in boston hopes the bruins
  win the stanley cup.
• Every hockey fan in Boston hopes the Bruins win
  the Stanley Cup.

19
Capitalize words referring to the Deity (God).

• God, the Creator, the Almighty, Allah, Jehovah,
  Jesus, Holy Ghost, Buddha
• The word gods is not capitalized when it refers
  to the gods of ancient mythology the gods of
  ancient Greece

20
Capitalize the first word and all important words
in a title.

• books Mystery of the Cupboard, Letters from
  Rifka, A Part of the Sky
• movies School of Rock, Pirates of the
  Caribbean, Night at the Museum
• music Star Spangled Banner, Sweet Caroline,
  Rhapsody in Blue

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No capitalization needed

• names of the seasons summer, fall, winter,
  spring
• directions north, south, east west
• names of school subject history, math, science
  EXCEPT
• languages and names with a number English,
  Spanish, History 101

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Practice

• 13. some americans believe in god while others
  worship buddha.
• Some Americans believe in God while others
  worship Buddha.
• 14. my family went to the cameo theater to see
  despicable me.
• My family went to the Cameo Theater to see
  Despicable Me.
• 15. next year, my classes include history and
  spanish.
• Next year, my classes include history and
  Spanish.

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Help with capitalization

• For additional help with capitalization, click on
  this link

http//owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/592/1/