Capitalization
Always Capitalize
• Rules • Examples
• the first word in every • The good student took
sentence notes in class.
• the pronoun I • My friend and I like to
read the same books.
• proper nouns • LeBron James,
Jefferson Middle
School, Delphos, Ohio
• geographical names • Ohio, Mississippi River,
(places on a map) Canada, Rocky
Mountains, First Street,
Yellowstone National
Park, the Midwest
• the names of • Boy Scouts, Cleveland
organizations, teams, Browns, Krendl Machine
businesses, Co., Inc., The Ohio State
institutions, and University, Central
government bodies Intelligence Agency
• the names of special • Canal Days, Labor Day,
events, holidays, and Saturday, November, April
calendar items Fool’s Day
• the names of historical • Boston Tea Party, World
events and periods War II, Great Depression
• names of nationalities, • Mexican, Caucasian,
races, and people Cherokees
• the brand names of • Chevy truck, Goodyear
business products tire, Dell computer
• the names of ships, • Santa Maria, Metroliner,
trains, airplanes, Columbia, Hoover Dam,
spacecraft, buildings, Ohio Stadium, Lincoln
and other structures, Memorial, Pulitzer Prize
and monuments and
awards
• the names of religions • Christianity, Christians,
and their followers, holy Easter, Bible, God,
days, sacred writings, Allah, Jehovah
and specific deities
• the names of planets, • Mars, Big Dipper, Milky
stars, and other Way
heavenly bodies
• Swiss watches,
• proper adjectives Christian beliefs,
Mexican food
• certain abbreviations • M.D., Mr., Ms., Mrs.,
FBI, TV, UN, U.S.,
NAACP
• the title of a person • Judge O’ Connor,
when the title comes Principal Moreo, Mayor
before a name Neumeier, Senator
Voinovich
• a title alone when the • The President vetoed
title refers to someone the law.
holding a high office • Judy Klein, club
president, led the
meeting.
• a title used alone in • Can you see another
direct address patient, Doctor?
• a word showing a • Are Uncle Bill and Aunt
family relationship Jane here yet?
when the word is used • I wrote Grandpa Wilson
before or in place of a yesterday.
person’s name (Don’t • Either Mom or Dad will
capitalize a word drive us to the show.
showing a family
relationship when a • My cousin Dena and
possessive comes her niece Leann made
before it.) these baskets.
• the first and last words • My Brother Sam is Dead
and all important
• Sports Illustrated for Kids
words in titles and
subtitles of books, • The Lima News
magazines, • The Raven
newspapers, poems, • The Red Badge of Courage
short stories, plays, • Fiddler on the Roof
movies, TV shows,
• Star Wars: Revenge of the
works of art, and
Sith
musical works
• The Mona Lisa
• Fur Elise
• Link to capitalizing titles website
Don’t Capitalize:
• names of school • I got an A on my math
subjects, except test.
languages and course • I got an A on my
names followed by a English test.
number • In college, I will take
Math 101.