Capitalization

Hard & Fast Rules

Rule #1

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Do capitalize the first letter of a proper noun, a name for a person, place, thing, or event.

Examples

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• George Washington
• Canada
• Dr. Pepper
• the Rocky Mountains
• the Lincoln Tunnel
• World War II

Rule #2

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Do capitalize all significant words in titles of books, magazines, stories, movies, and other media. Always capitalize the first and last words.

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Do NOT capitalize

• articles- (a, an, the)
• prepositions- (as, at, of, on, for in)
• conjunctions- (and, but, or) that contain four letters or fewer

Examples

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• A Tale of Two Cities
• The Scarlett Letter
• The New York Times
• Revenge of the Teenage Vixens from Outer Space
• The Star-Spangled Banner
• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Sewing
• Of Mice and Men

Examples

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• My mother said,”Your father will be home shortly.”

Rule #3

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Do capitalize the first letter of a sentence, even in a quotation.

Rule #4

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Do capitalize names of relatives that indicate family relationship when used with the person’s name or alone as the name you call that person.

Examples

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• Aunt Karen gives great presents.
• Please ask Grandma to answer her telephone.
• Dad gets home early on Fridays, but Mom usually works late.

Examples

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• I wrote a letter to Governor Jindal.
• I also wrote to Bobby Brown, a senator from Louisiana.
• Thank you for your response, Governor
• Do I need to come in today, Doctor?

Rule #5

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Do capitalize a title that precedes a name, but DO NOT capitalize a title that follows a name or is used as a general word.

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Do capitalize titles when addressing someone directly.

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Rule #6

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Do capitalize countries, nationalities, and languages.

Examples

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• England
• English
• American
• Spain
• Spanish

• On the way to visit my Aunt in california, we crossed the golden gate bridge.

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Rules?

1 & 4

Correct:

On the way to visit my aunt in California, we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge.

2. From the backseat, I heard dad shout, “wake up, kids, and take in this view!”

Rules:

3 & 4

Correct:

From the backseat I heard Dad shout, “Wake up, kids, and take in this view!”

3. Grandma florence, whose other son is a Senator, started talking way too fast in french.

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Rules:

4, 5, & 6

Correct:

Grandma Florence, whose other son is a senator, started talking way too fast in French.

4. Then, I realized that this was the same bridge from the Theme Song to the television show full house.

Rules:

2

Correct:

Then, I realized that this was the same bridge from the theme song to the television show Full House.

5. My brother never looked up from the book he was reading, the Hunger Games.

Rules:

2

Correct:

My brother never looked up from the book he was reading, The Hunger Games.

6. my mother said, “what a beautiful sight!” and then she hugged dad.

Rules:

3 & 4

Correct:

My mother said, “What a beautiful sight!” and then she hugged Dad.