Importance of Correct Capitalization: A Comprehensive Guide

1. Using Capital Letters Why is correct capitalization important? First word of a sentence Salutations and closings of letters The pronoun I Proper nouns Proper adjectives Abbreviations School subjects Titles Review A Review B

2. Why is correct capitalization important? Capital letters are signals to readers. They can mark important differences in meaning. the White House the white house

3. First word of a sentence Capitalize the first word in every sentence. More and more people are exercising regularly. Daily workouts have many benefits. For instance, they can help you sleep better at night.

4. First word of a sentence Capitalize the first word of a quoted sentence. “How many pets does your family have?” asked Gwen. Felipe said, “We have two dogs, one cat, and two parakeets, for a grand total of five.”

5. Salutations and closings of letters In letters or e-mails, capitalize the first word in the salutation the closing Dear Sir: Sincerely, My dear Brenda, Very truly yours,

6. The pronoun I Capitalize the pronoun I. When I visited Denver, I went to the zoo and to the museum. If you like, I’ll show you photos from my trip there.

7. Using capital letters On Your Own • Correct each capitalization error in the following sentences. • our report is due at the end of the month. • my parents let me watch TV only after i have finished all my chores. • 3. the clerk said, “tomorrow is a holiday, isn’t it?” • 4. the letter began “dear Manager: i have a complaint about the service at your store.” [End of Section]

8. Proper nouns Capitalize proper nouns. A common noun names any one of a group of persons, places, things, or ideas. A proper noun names a particular person, place, thing, or idea.

9. Proper nouns Capitalize proper nouns. Names of persons and animals the Garza family Eric Ms. Levine W. C. Handy Harriet Tubman Lassie

10. Proper nouns Capitalize proper nouns. Geographical names Asia (continent) San Diego (city) Costa Rica (country) Hudson Bay (body of water)

11. Proper nouns Capitalize proper nouns. Names of organizations, teams, institutions, and government bodies League of Women Voters (organization) Kennedy Middle School (institution) Los Angeles Dodgers (team) Louisiana State Senate (government body)

12. Proper nouns Capitalize proper nouns. Names of historical events and periods, special events, calendar items, and holidays Battle of Bunker Hill (historical event) Thanksgiving Day(holiday) Texas State Fair (special event) December(calendar item)

13. Proper nouns Capitalize proper nouns. Names of nationalities, races, and peoples Mexican Cherokee Asian African American

14. Proper nouns Capitalize proper nouns. Names of religions and their followers, holy days and celebrations, sacred writings, and specific deities Christianity (religion)Christian (follower) the Torah(sacred writing) Yom Kippur (holy day) Allah (specific deity)

15. Proper nouns Capitalize proper nouns. Names of businesses and the brand names of business products Thrifty Dry Cleaners Bank of the West (businesses) Nike Wrangler Goodyear (brand names)

16. Proper nouns Capitalize proper nouns. Names of planets, constellations, stars, and other heavenly bodies Venus Big Dipper Jupiter Ursa Major Milky Way

17. Proper nouns Capitalize proper nouns. Names of ships, trains, aircraft, and spacecraft City of New Orleans Air Force One Sputnik Mayflower Atlantis Queen Elizabeth 2

18. Proper nouns Capitalize proper nouns. Names of monuments, memorials, and awards Mount Rushmore Jefferson Memorial Navajo National Monument Academy Award

19. Proper nouns Capitalize proper nouns. Names of specific buildings and other structures Fairmont Hotel Eiffel Tower Brooklyn Bridge Tower of London Hoover Dam St. Louis Cathedral

20. Proper adjectives Capitalize proper adjectives. A proper adjective is an adjective formed from a proper noun.

21. Proper nouns and proper adjectives On Your Own • Correct the capitalization errors in the following word groups. • decorated with chinese lanterns • pictures of the golden gate bridge in san francisco • 3. to see the florida marlins play in the world series • 4. winner of the nobel prize • 5. riding on the orient express [End of Section]

22. Abbreviations Capitalize abbreviations if the words they stand for are capitalized. Abbreviations that come before or after personal names Mr. Edward Yowe Gary Stamos, Sr. Gen. Crane Abbreviations of the names of organizations, businesses, and government bodies UN (United Nations) CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)

23. Abbreviations Capitalize abbreviations if the words they stand for are capitalized. Abbreviations used in addresses 9120 Maple Ave. Apt. 206 P.O. Box 9410 Abbreviations of geographical names Cook Co. St. Louis Bahama Is. Okla.

24. School subjects Do not capitalize the names of school subjects. health history science art social studies Exception: Do capitalize the names of language classes and courses that contain a number. Music III American History 201 English German

25. Titles Capitalize a person’s title when the title comes before the name. Judge O’Conner Mrs. Santos Mayor Bradley Generally, a title that is used alone or following a person’s name is not capitalized. Has the judge arrived, yet?

26. Titles Capitalize a word showing a family relationship when the word is used before or in place of a person’s name. Aunt Susan Cousin Ben Grandmother Do not capitalize a word showing a family relationship when the word follows a possessive noun or pronoun. your aunt Susan my cousin Ben Ty’s grandmother

27. Titles Capitalize the first and last words and all important words in titles and subtitles. Woman’s Day (magazine) “Broken Chain” (short story) The Wizard of Oz (movie) The Ballet Class (artwork)

28. Abbreviations, school subjects, and titles On Your Own • Correct the capitalization errors in the following sentences. • According to mom, judge Johnson is very strict. • Doesn’t dr. Perry live in st. Louis now? • My sister works for the fbi. • I asked mrs. Jones for a copy of reader’s digest. • Mara just read the short story “gorilla, my love.” [End of Section]

29. Review A Correct the following sentences by capitalizing or lowercasing letters as needed. 1. Volunteers from the peace corps helped build a Bridge. 2. one of the best dentists in york is dr. ken winslow. 3. In english class on Monday, we watched a Scene from romeo and juliet. 4. The french revolution changed european Society. 5. Did your Sister’s favorite show win an emmy award? 6. this year i hope to visit the rocky mountains. [End of Section]

30. Review B Correct the sentences in the following paragraph by capitalizing or lowercasing letters as needed. (1) The titanic, a huge ocean liner, sank on april 15, 1912. (2) It lay untouched in the icy waters of the atlantic ocean for more than seventy years. (3) on September 1, 1985, dr. robert ballard of the woods hole oceanographic institution and his Crew found the ship. (4) The Scientists used a remote-controlled vehicle called argos to view the ocean floor. (5) they used a special underwater sled with lights and cameras to take Photographs of the Titanic. [End of Section]

31. The End