CAPITALIZATION RULES
Capitalize . . .
1. the first word of a sentence
EXAMPLE
![](capitalization1.jpg)
2. proper nouns
EXAMPLE
![](capitalization2.jpg)
A. preceding a name
EXAMPLE
![](capitalization4.jpg)
EXCEPTION - Do not capitalize titles that follow names.
![](capitalization5.jpg)
EXCEPTION - Do not capitalize
titles used as general words.
![](capitalization7.jpg)
B. when used in direct address
![](capitalization6.jpg)
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
![](capitalization9.jpg)
Capitalize important words in compound titles used with names, but
do not capitalize
prefixes or suffixes added to the titles.
EXAMPLES
![](capitalization10.jpg)
3. major words in titles of books, articles, and songs
EXAMPLE
![](capitalization11.jpg)
EXCEPTION
-
Do not capitalize short prepositions, conjunctions, or articles unless they are
the first word of the title
EXAMPLES
![](capitalization12.jpg)
4. names of God, specific deities, religious figures,
and holy books
EXAMPLES
![](capitalization13.jpg)
EXCEPTION - Do not capitalize the non-specific
use of the word "god."
![](capitalization14.jpg)
5. directions that are names, such as North, South,
East, and West when used as sections of the country
EXAMPLE
![](capitalization15.jpg)
EXCEPTION - Do not capitalize directions when used
as compass directions
![](capitalization16.jpg)
6. days of the week, months of the year, and holidays
EXAMPLES
![](capitalization17.jpg)
7. seasons, when used in a title
EXAMPLE
![](capitization18.jpg)
EXCEPTION - Do
not capitalize the names of seasons if they are used generally.
![](capitalization19.jpg)
8. countries, nationalities, and specific languages
EXAMPLES
![](capitalization20.jpg)
9. periods and events
EXAMPLES
![](capitalization21.jpg)
EXCEPTION - Do not capitalize century numbers
![](capitalization22.jpg)
10. names of national, political, racial, social, civic,
and athletic groups
EXAMPLES
![](capitalization23.jpg)
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
![](capitalization25.jpg)
13. the first word of a sentence following a colon
EXAMPLE
![](capitalization26.jpg)
EXCEPTION - Do not capitalize the first word of a list
following a colon if the list is not a complete sentence.
![](capitalization27.jpg)
14. The first word in each line of most poetry
EXAMPLE
![](capitalization28.jpg)
15. the single-letter word, first person pronoun I.
EXAMPLE
![](capitalization29.jpg)
16. salutations and closings in letters - first word
only unless proper name is used
EXAMPLES
![](capitalization30.jpg)
17. initials, initialisms, and acronyms
EXAMPLES
![](capitalization31.jpg)
18. names of the planets
EXAMPLES
![](capitalization33.jpg)
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.
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