Capitalization

1. Capitalization Geographic locations Titles and names Buildings and other places

2. Geographic Locations • Capitalize specific names. Do not capitalize general names. This also applies to names of geographic places. San Francisco but not city.

3. Geographic Locations • Capitalize specific names that are used as adjectives. French bread

4. Geographic Locations • Directions, such as north, southeast, easterly and western, are not capitalized when they refer to a direction. We drove south to the coast and then northeast.

5. Geographic Locations • They should be capitalized when they name a specific region of the country or of a city. We visited Tempe, which is in the Southwest.

6. Titles and Names • Capitalize words used as titles that refer to a specific person. Senator Jones Doctor Smith

7. Titles • Titles are oftentimes used by themselves as if they were a name. • This occurs when you are speaking directly to someone. Will my leg heal, Doctor? Tell me how you will reduce taxes, Mayor?

8. Titles • If a title is used only to refer to an occupation, do not capitalize it. The lawyer presented the case to the jury.

9. Titles of written works • Capitalize the first word and all important words in titles of books, plays, poems and other written works. • I read the book Little Women. • Did you hear the orchestra play Appalachian Spring?

10. Buildings and other places • Capitalize the names of buildings and other places when they stand for specific buildings or places. • Empire State Building • White House • Len’s Laundromat • Main Street

11. Reminder • When uncertain whether a word should be capitalized or not, replace it with a person’s name. If the sentence makes sense, capitalize the title. If not, do not capitalize the word!

12. Quotations • First word of every sentence should be capitalized. When you write a quotation, follow the same rule. Tara asked, “Should we buy tickets now, or wait till later?”

13. Reminder • If the quotation could stand alone as a complete sentence, it should begin with a capital letter. • If the quote is not a complete sentence, don’t begin with a capital letter.

14. Quotations • If the quotation is divided by words introducing the speaker, capitalize the first part of the quote, but do not capitalize the second part because it is a fragment. “A car crash occurred on Main Street,” the newscaster said, “and six people were injured.”

15. Abbreviations and Initials • Capitalize the letters that make up abbreviations and initials. • CPA (Certified Public Accountant) • NFL (National Football League) • Larry Samuels, Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

16. Dates • Capitalize names of days of the week, months and holidays. Do not capitalize seasons. • Her vacation begins next Friday, March 3. • I love to take my vacations in the summer. • I always have a picnic on Labor Day.

17. School Subjects • Capitalize the names of school subjects only when they refer to specific courses. • If you are referring to a general kind of class, do not capitalize it. I am taking a math class and English 101. • You always capitalize words that name a specific language, such as English and Spanish.

18. Organizations • Social organizations and government names are always capitalized. James’ wife works for the American Embassy in Sierra Leone. All profits will go to the American Red Cross.