If you can remember the following rules, you will avoid the most common errors of capitalization. Capitalize the first letter
CAPITALIZATION OF SENTENCES
Capitalize the first letter of each new sentence, including the first word of a direct quotation.
The superintendent was surprised.
He asked, “What is going on here?”
CAPITALIZATION OF NAMES OF SPECIFIC PEOPLE, PLACES, DATES, AND THINGS
The general rule is to capitalize the first letter in names of specific people, places, dates, and things. Do not capitalize a generic (common) name such as college as opposed to the specific name: Carroll State College. Look at the examples for each group.
People
Capitalize the first letter in names of specific people and in titles used with names of specific people.
| SPECIFIC | NOT SPECIFIC |
|---|---|
| Jean Heaton | my neighbor |
| Professor Fitzgerald | your math professor |
| Dr. Cornog | the doctor |
| Aunt Pat, Mother | my aunt, your mother |
The name of a family member is capitalized when the family member is being addressed directly: Happy Birthday, Mother. In other instances, do not capitalize: It is my mother’s birthday.
The word president is not capitalized unless it comes directly before a name as part of that person’s title: President Barack Obama.
Places
Capitalize the first letter in names of specific buildings, streets, cities, states, regions, and countries.
| SPECIFIC | NOT SPECIFIC |
|---|---|
| Bolton Town Hall | the town hall |
| Arlington Street | our street |
| Dearborn Heights | my hometown |
| Arizona | this state |
| the South | the southern region |
| Spain | that country |
Do not capitalize directions in a sentence.
Drive south for five blocks.
Dates
Capitalize the first letter in the names of days, months, and holidays. Do not capitalize the names of the seasons (winter, spring, summer, fall).
| SPECIFIC | NOT SPECIFIC |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | tomorrow |
| June 25 | summer |
| Thanksgiving | my birthday |
Organizations, Companies, and Groups
| SPECIFIC | NOT SPECIFIC |
|---|---|
| Taft Community College | my college |
| Microsoft | that software company |
| Alcoholics Anonymous | the self- |
Languages, Nationalities, and Religions
| SPECIFIC | NOT SPECIFIC |
|---|---|
| English, Greek, Spanish | my first language |
| Christianity, Buddhism | your religion |
The names of languages should be capitalized even if you aren’t referring to a specific course.
I am taking psychology and Spanish.
Courses
| SPECIFIC | NOT SPECIFIC |
|---|---|
| Composition 101 | a writing course |
| Introduction to Psychology | my psychology course |
Commercial Products
| SPECIFIC | NOT SPECIFIC |
|---|---|
| Diet Pepsi | a diet cola |
| Skippy peanut butter | peanut butter |
CAPITALIZATION OF TITLES
When you write the title of a book, movie, television program, magazine, newspaper, article, story, song, paper, poem, and so on, capitalize the first word and all important words. The only words that do not need to be capitalized (unless they are the first word) are the, a, an, coordinating conjunctions (and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet), and prepositions.