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Capitalization 2
Capitalization 2
1 Capitalization
LESSON SUMMARY
Today, you’ll learn about the fine points of capitalization. This chapter
divides capitalization rules into two kinds: general rules governing cap-
italization and specific rules regarding proper nouns and adjectives.
S tart by seeing just how much you already know about the proper use of capital letters. On the next
page, you see the same passage written twice. The first column, called Problem, contains no cap-
italization at all—definitely a problem in writing! Circle those letters you think should be capital-
ized in the Problem column, and then check yourself against the Solution column.
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– CAPITALIZATION –
This table summarizes general capitalization rules. Rules relating to specific categories of proper nouns are
addressed in the next section.
CAPITALIZATION RULES
RULE EXAMPLE
Capitalize the first word of a sentence. If the This is the first word of the sentence.
first word is a number, write it as a word. Three of us worked the early shift.
Capitalize the pronoun I or the contraction The group left when I asked them to go.
I’m, and the abbreviations B . C . or A . D . The manuscript was dated 501 A . D .
Capitalize the first word of a quotation. I said, “What’s the name of your dog?”
Do not capitalize the first word of a He called me “the worst excuse for a student”
partial quotation. he had ever seen.
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– CAPITALIZATION –
historical events, periods, documents Civil War (historical event), Dark Ages (historical
period), Declaration of Independence (document)
special events, calendar events Pebble Beach Fall Classic, Renaissance Festival,
Green River Days (special events); Labor Day,
Father’s Day (calendar events)
names of people and places John Doe, Lincoln Center, Sears Tower
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– CAPITALIZATION –
names of trains, ships, aircraft, and other Queen Elizabeth, Discovery, Sioux Lines,
modes of transportation TransWorld Airlines
works of art and literature Black Elk Speaks (book), “Mending Wall” (poem),
Mona Lisa (painting)
ethnic groups, races, languages, nationalities Asian American, Caucasian, French, Indian
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– CAPITALIZATION –
cities, states, and governmental units Des Moines, Iowa; Barrow, Alaska; Republic of
South Africa
streets, highways, and roads Grand Avenue, Interstate 29, Deadwood Road
institutions, organizations, and businesses Dartmouth College, Lions Club, Dodge Trucks
19. a. I have traveled on the Garden state Parkway, a 22. a. The actress in the play tried to speak with a
main highway in New Jersey. Scottish accent.
b. I have traveled on the Garden State Parkway, a b. The Actress in the play tried to speak with a
main highway in New Jersey. Scottish accent.
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– CAPITALIZATION –
23. a. I will never attempt to swim the English ■ Avoid unnecessarily capitalizing school subjects.
channel. They should be capitalized only if they are part of
b. I will never attempt to swim the English the name of a specific course.
Channel. Examples:
I try to avoid math courses because I’m not very
24. a. The new Ethiopian Restaurant was getting good at them.
rave reviews. Betsy is taking Algebra II and Trigonometry I
b. The new Ethiopian restaurant was getting rave next semester.
reviews. ■ Avoid unnecessarily capitalizing words modified
by proper adjectives.
Examples:
When NOT to Capitalize Polish sausage, not Polish Sausage
Mexican restaurant, not Mexican Restaurant
Putting in capital letters where they don’t belong is as
bad as leaving them out where they do belong. Watch Practice
for these capitalization traps. Choose the correctly capitalized version of each of the
following pairs.
■ Avoid unnecessarily capitalizing compass direc-
tions; however, direction words that refer to a spe- 25. a. Digging the Canal through Panama took
cific area of the country should be capitalized. many years.
Examples: b. Digging the canal through Panama took many
We headed west after the Depression. years.
The future of the country was cultivated in the
West. 26. a. The Smoky Mountains are in the Southeastern
■ Avoid unnecessarily capitalizing the words refer- part of the country.
ring to family members. Capitalize them only b. The Smoky Mountains are in the southeastern
when they are used as names. If a possessive pro- part of the country.
noun (my, our, your, his, her, their) comes before
the word referring to a family member, the family 27. a. Nicholi Milani does more business in the East
word is not capitalized. than in the West.
Examples: b. Nicholi Milani does more business in the east
When Uncle Harry visited last winter, none of my than in the west.
other uncles came to see him.
After my mother called me for lunch, Father 28. a. The Southeast was affected by many bad
served the entree. storms last year.
■ Avoid unnecessarily capitalizing the seasons of the b. The southeast was affected by many bad
year or parts of the academic year. storms last year.
Example:
If the university offers History of Education 405 29. a. Marianne had never been as far East as
in the spring semester, Horace can graduate Columbus, Ohio.
in May. b. Marianne had never been as far east as
Columbus, Ohio.
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