CAPITALIZATION RULES

Capitalize . . .

1.  the first word of a sentence

         EXAMPLE
            

2.  proper nouns

• names of relatives (to indicate family relationship) when used with name

      EXAMPLE

• names of relatives when used as proper name
  |
        EXAMPLE
  
        
             

• titles

A.  preceding a name

EXAMPLE

   

           EXCEPTION - Do not capitalize titles that follow names.

             EXCEPTION - Do not capitalize titles used as general words.

             

B.  when used in direct address
 
        
                      

     ADDITIONAL NOTES FOR TITLES

Capitalize very high ranking government officials' titles even when not followed by a name or used in direct address when a specific individual is referred to.

EXAMPLES

If no specific individual is referred to, do not capitalize titles of even very high ranking government officials.

EXAMPLE  

Capitalize important words in compound titles used with names, but do not capitalize  prefixes or suffixes added to the titles.

EXAMPLES

3. major words in titles of books, articles, and songs

        EXAMPLE

         EXCEPTION -   Do not capitalize short prepositions, conjunctions, or articles unless they are the first word of the title

EXAMPLES          

4.  names of God, specific deities, religious figures, and holy books

EXAMPLES

      EXCEPTION - Do not capitalize the non-specific use of the word "god."

5.  directions that are names, such as North, South, East, and West when used as sections of the country

EXAMPLE 

EXCEPTION -  Do not capitalize directions when used as compass directions

6.  days of the week, months of the year, and holidays

EXAMPLES

7.  seasons, when used in a title

EXAMPLE

EXCEPTION - Do not capitalize the names of seasons if they are used generally.

8.  countries, nationalities, and specific languages

EXAMPLES

9.  periods and events

EXAMPLES

EXCEPTION -  Do not capitalize century numbers

10.  names of national, political, racial, social, civic, and athletic groups

 EXAMPLES

11.  trademarks

 EXAMPLES 

12.  the first word in a sentence that is a direct quote, even if the direct quote comes in the middle of a sentence

EXAMPLE

13.  the first word of a sentence following a colon

EXAMPLE

EXCEPTION -  Do not capitalize the first word of a list following a colon if the list is not a complete sentence.

14.  The first word in each line of most poetry

EXAMPLE

15.  the single-letter word, first person pronoun  I.

EXAMPLE

16.  salutations and closings in letters - first word only unless proper name is used

EXAMPLES

17.   initials, initialisms, and acronyms

EXAMPLES  

18.  names of the planets

EXAMPLES

NOTE - Experts disagree  about whether to capitalize earth, sun, and moon. For consistency, this author suggests capitalizing them when they are used to designate celestial bodies.