Capitalization

Though capitalization of proper nouns is a steadfast English rule, that is not the case in Spanish. In all levels, this rule needs to reemphasized, though unfortunately, writing is usually the last skill to receive attention in the classroom. That’s why this a great exercise for subs!

Capitalization Poem

By Joe Crone

Capitals, I don’t know why you use a capital, “I”.
You use them on the first word of a quote, a monument, a ship or a boat.
You use them when you make a title, on the first and important words, that’s vital.

Chorus:
Hum along if you can’t sing,
Uh-huh, Capitals are a strange thing.
Uh-huh, Capitals are a strange thing.

Capitals are used in many ways,
On historical events and holidays,
Nationalities, religions and races,
You use them on geographical places,
On, “North, East, West and South”,
When they’re used as places, well shut my mouth.

Chorus

The first word of a sentence is capitalized,
Listen up ‘cause I’m not telling lies. (I’m not telling lies)
Days, months and all the world’s nations,
Businesses, schools and organizations.
Initials, and the brand names of products,
And only on certain cool school subjects.

Chorus

Capitals are used on everyone’s name,
And on the title, in front of that name.
When they’re used as names, now here’s the best
Capitals are used on the names of God,
Now you know the rules and you’re out of the fog.

Chorus

Rules of English Capitalization

What should I capitalize?

First Words

  • The first word of every sentence.
  • When on vacation, we enjoy eating at the local restaurants.
  • The first word of each line in a poem, or as the so poet indicates

Sheep are in the forest,

Wolves lurk in the town,

Everywhere I lend my ear,

Howling wind abounds!

  • Quoted sentences inside another sentence, but not pharses
  • She said, ¨You never listen!¨
  • According to the author, ¨Internet research is useful, though risky.¨
  • According to the author, the reseach conducted on the Internet is ¨useful, though risky.¨

Titles

Rule: Capitalize the first and all important words.

  • Created works

Book - The Catcher and the Rye (also in itlics or underlined)

Movie - The Father of the Bride (also in itlics or underlined)

Song - Bad to the Bone (also in quotation marks)

Poem – The Otherside of the World (also in quotation marks)

Letters

  • I

Sometimes I like chocolate, but I usually prefer strawberry icecream.

  • O

She looked to the heavens, and O what a lovely sight she saw!

  • Accronyms

SOS – Save our Ship

USA – United States of America

Q&A – Question and Answer

FBIFederal Bureau of Investigation

YMCA – Young Men’s Christian Association

  • Some Abbreviations

Dr. – doctor

Dept. - Department

Th, Thrus. - Thursday

Feb. – February

F – Fahrenheit

  • Initials

Janice M. White

J.J. Pool

  • Outlines

Capitalize Roman Numerals

  1. Anatomy
  1. Conclusion

First letters

  1. Women in the Workplace

Titles for each line

i. False Hopes

Example Outline

English Grammar

I.Captilization

  1. First Words
  2. Sentences
  3. Poems
  4. Titles
  5. Songs
  6. Movies

II.Punctuation

  1. Period

Names of People

  • All Name Parts

Janice Marie Snow

  • Titles before a name

Reverend M. Perkins

Doctor Mock

President Jackson

  • Titles used as names

Mom always listens.

My mom always listens.

Our president is also Commander in Chief. (general, all US presidents.)

The President is also Commander in Chief. (specific, current president.)

Father isn’t home right now.

My father works at the distribution center.

The Doctor is not avaliable right now.

I need to see a doctor about my headache.

Names of Groups

  • Businesses
  • Carmike Cinema
  • Brands and their specific products
  • Apple Mac PC
  • Lego Racers
  • Liz ClaiborneFall Collection
  • Klenex tissue (not specific)
  • Ford cars (not specific)
  • Organizations
  • Ameican Red Cross
  • Institution
  • Saint John’sHospital for the Visually Impaired
  • Government Agencies and Departments
  • Environmental Protecion Agency
  • Public Transportation Department
  • Randolph County Police Department
  • Schools
  • NightingaleHigh School
  • Mary Baldwin Women’s College
  • Teams and Mascots
  • Yellow Jackets
  • New York Yankees

Specific Places

  • Specific Geographic Locations
  • The Southeast
  • Note: You need to go east for 12 more miles.*Regions, not directions are capitalized)
  • Time Square
  • Canada
  • All Parts of an Address
  • Aukland, New Zealand (city, country)
  • Alaska (state)
  • Dogwood Circle (street)
  • Bryant Avenue (street)
  • FirstBankBuilding, Second Floor, Suite 209 (building)
  • Landmarks
  • EiffleTower
  • Statue of Liberty
  • The Alamo

Cultural Distinctions

  • Languages
  • Mandarin, Portuguese
  • Nationalities
  • Swedish, Turkish, Australian
  • Regional Identities
  • New Yorker
  • Quiteño
  • (Not southerner, yankee)
  • Races
  • Native American
  • Asian
  • (not black, white)

Religious Terms

  • Sacred Things
  • Bible, Koran
  • Sacred People
  • God, Buddah, Christ
  • Religions and their followers
  • Christianity, Christian
  • Islam, Muslim
  • Judaism, Jew

Historicical Events

  • Movements
  • Abolition Movement
  • Civil Rights Movement
  • Periods
  • Renaissance
  • Enlightenment Period
  • Events
  • Battle of Waterloo
  • World War II
  • Historical Documents
  • Magna Carta
  • Declaration of Independence
  • Months

Time

  • Months
  • January, Dec.
  • Days
  • Tuesday, Wed.
  • Holidays
  • Mother’s Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • Specific Periods
  • Fall Break
  • Spring Semester
  • (Note: I always enjoy the leaves in fall. *Seasons are not capitalized)
  • 13th Century

Courses followed by a number

Principles of Economics I

I studied economic theory in college.

Classical Music 301

I have always been interested in classical music.