subject: Capitalization Rules [print this page] Capitalization Rules Capitalization Rules
Writing a word with its first letter in upper-case also known as majuscule and the remaining letters in minuscules is called Capitalization. Below are some rules in capitalizing letters and examples when they can be applied:
Capitalize:
First word of a sentence, also quoted sentences.
Development projects should humanize their approach.
She said, "Reading is one of the things she enjoys the most."
First letter of each item in a list
The leader advised us to bring our own sleeping bag, lamp, flashlight and canned
goods for the camping.
The leader advised us to bring the following for the camping:
1. Sleeping bag
2. Lamp
3. Flashlight
4. Canned goods
Proper nouns
Specific persons
Ruby Mary
Jacob Venus
Geographic and political areas
the Netherlands
Mount Vesuvius
Compass points
Alaska is a U.S. territory of north-western North America with Canada, the
Pacific and Arctic oceans as its borders.
Commercial goods
Johnsons & Johnson
American Eagle
Buildings, bridges, and other infrastructures
Alberta Highway
Historical periods, documents, and events
British Magna Carta
Liberation of South Vietnam
Organizations, governments, other social institutions
Fraternal Order of Eagles
Department of Legal Affairs
Days of the holidays, week, months
Valentine's Day
St. Patrick's Day
International Cancer Awareness Month
Celestial bodies
Persius
Jupiter
Pegasus
Language courses/academic courses
He had to learn Cantonese especially now that they got married.
Proper adjectives
She has a Mohammedan faith.
Except for generic proper adjectives
chinaware
morocco paper
Acronyms of institutional names
WTC: World Trade Center
NFL: National Football League
ICL: Imperial College London
Limit of full capitalization up to four letters; if the acronym is longer than that,
only the first letter is capitalized (New York Times)
Unesco: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization
Asean: Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Title of a person, when written before a name
The former President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt stepped down of his
position after 18 days of protests of demonstrators calling for his resignation.
High-ranking title
The Pope asked for everyone's prayers for world peace.
Kinship terms and/or when used instead of the person's name
They were taught proper etiquette after staying with their
Grandma Jane over the summer.
Her mom would not let her go out with her friends tonight. vs. She said,
"My Mom would not let me go out with my friends tonight."
All parts of a compound title
He was retired with the title Air Marshall Jonathan Hanes way back when
he still was with the service.
Pronoun I and interjection O
I will be back in a jiffy! I promise.
O you, great warriors who saved us from this wretched place!
First word of a greeting on a letter and a complementary ending
Dear Madam,
To Whom It May Concern:
Lovingly Yours,
Respectfully Yours,
First and important words of a title, a heading (except articles, short prepositions, conjunctions but excluding the conjunction so, yet, occasionally)
