Chapter 26: Capital Letters

1. Chapter 26: Capital Letters Capital Letters 1. Capitalize the first letter of the first word in every sentence. • Yesterday my son and daughter had a basketball game. 2. Capitalize the first letter of words referring to specific individuals and the pronoun I. • After I learned that Joey, John, and Daryl were coming to the craft show, I wanted to attend. 3. Capitalize the first letter of a word that stands for a family member. • I told my sister that I had talked to Mom and Dad after dinner. • That is my grandma’s new car. (Notice the “g” in “grandma” isn’t capitalized when the word “my” precedes it.) • That is Grandma Herring’s new car.

2. Chapter 26: Capital Letters 4. Capitalize the first letter in titles of persons: • I spoke with Dr. Smith today. • She met with former President Bill Clinton last week. 5. Capitalize the first letter in religions, geographic locations, races, and nationalities. • Suzie was a Baptist; however, she is interested in Judaism. • Dirk enjoys the college classes when she learns about the histories of Native Americans, Hispanics, and Asians. • Jade traveled from Holland to Cape Verde.

3. Chapter 26: Capital Letters 6. Capitalize the first letter in organizations, businesses, and agencies: • Brett belonged to the French Club at DePaul University, his younger sister was on the Debate Team at Portland State University, and his older sister was in the Delta Sorority at Longwood College. • Michael and Mark both want to join the U.S. Coast Guard, and their sister wants to work for the Samuel Shane Corporation. 7. Capitalize the first letter in words referring dates, days, and holidays. • We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in March on a Friday this year, and we will celebrate Easter on a Sunday in the spring. • Note: Do not capitalize the names of the four seasons.

4. Chapter 26: Capital Letters 8. Capitalize the first letter in place names: • Years ago when we lived in Virginia, we traveled to King’s Dominion. • We had our reunion near the Washington Monument. • Note: Use lower-case letters if a particular place is not given: • We had our reunion near the monument. 9. Capitalize letters for geographic locations: • Jim was determined to find a good job on the East Coast. • Note: Use lower-case letters for geographic directions: • To get to my apartment, you have to drive east in the city.

5. Chapter 26: Capital Letters 10. Capitalize the names of specific school courses: • I have to take Child Psychology 101 next term. • Note: Use lower-case letters for a general academic subject: • My advisor told me to take a psychology course. 11. Capitalize the first letters in titles, but do not capitalize prepositions (in, of, or, etc.) or articles (a, an, the) unless the word is the first in the title: • I enjoyed The Old Man and the Sea. • Whenever we go see the Yankees play, my uncle sings “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” and my aunt sings, “On the Wings of Love.” • Remember: the titles of long works, like books, are underlined or italicized; the titles of short works, like songs, are quoted.

6. Chapter 26: Capital Letters 12. Capitalize the names of specific products: • My cousin always drink Diet Coke for breakfast, and he eats Twinkies for lunch. • Note: Use lower-case letters for a kind of product: • I always drink a diet cola for breakfast, and I eat cake for lunch. 13. Capitalize the letters of some common abbreviations. • My best friend works with a group of people who have AIDS.

7. Chapter 26: Capital Letters Exercises • Add or eliminate capital letters. Q. Did you read the novel war and peace? A. Did you read the novel War and Peace? Q. My dad’s favorite season is Fall. A. My dad’s favorite season is fall. Q. When you were in Chicago, did you see the blue demons play? A. When you were in Chicago, did you see the Blue Demons play?

8. Chapter 26: Capital Letters Exercises • Add or eliminate capital letters. Q. My Dad laughs so hard when he watches The Colbert Report; dad says, this show is great!” A. My dad laughs so hard when he watches The Colbert Report; Dad says, “This show is so funny!” Q. I asked my Doctor this: “Do you know mr. and mrs. clinton or dr. Time?” A. I asked my doctor this: “Do you know Mr. and Mrs. Clinton or Dr. Time?”

9. Chapter 26: Capital Letters Exercises • Add or eliminate capital letters. Q. Granddad told me, “if you’re going to take geometry 101, you will need to study hard.” A. Granddad told me, “If you’re going to begin geometry 101, you will need to study hard.”