10.4 Capitalization Rules and Special Cases

Capitalization rules can be tricky, but they're crucial for clear writing. From proper nouns to titles, knowing when to use uppercase letters helps distinguish specific people, places, and things from general categories.

Sentence structure, formatting, and academic references also have their own capitalization quirks. Understanding these rules ensures your writing looks polished and professional, whether you're crafting an essay or sending an important email.

Proper Nouns and Titles

Capitalizing Names and Titles

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• Proper nouns require capitalization to distinguish specific individuals, places, or things from general categories
• Personal names capitalize both first and last names (John Smith, Marie Curie)
• Titles of people capitalize when used as part of a name or direct address (President Lincoln, Doctor Jones)
• Lowercase titles when used generically or descriptively (the president, a doctor)
• Geographic names capitalize significant words (Rocky Mountains, Pacific Ocean)
• Names of organizations, institutions, and businesses capitalize main words (United Nations, Harvard University)

Formatting Titles and Trade Names

• Titles of works capitalize the first word, last word, and all principal words
• Articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions under five letters typically remain lowercase in titles
• Capitalize the first word after a colon in a title (The Great Gatsby: A Study in Symbolism)
• Trade names and brand names always capitalize (Coca-Cola, Microsoft Word)
• Product names may include lowercase letters for stylistic reasons (iPhone, eBay)

Acronyms and Initialisms

• Acronyms form pronounceable words from initial letters and capitalize all letters (NASA, UNESCO)
• Initialisms use the first letter of each word and capitalize all letters (FBI, CIA)
• Some acronyms become so common they're treated as regular words (laser, scuba)
• Capitalize the expanded form of an acronym or initialism only if it's a proper noun (gross domestic product, but North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Sentence Structure and Formatting

Beginning Sentences and Quotations

• Capitalize the first word of every sentence, including in quotations
• After a colon, capitalize the first word if it begins a complete sentence
• In dialogue, capitalize the first word of each speaker's quote (He said, "The weather is lovely today.")
• Capitalize the first word of a complete sentence in parentheses (We arrived late. (The traffic was terrible.))

Formatting Dates and Time Periods

• Capitalize names of days and months (Monday, April)
• Lowercase seasons unless part of a proper name (spring, Fall Semester)
• Holidays and special observances capitalize significant words (New Year's Day, Fourth of July)
• Capitalize eras and historical periods (Middle Ages, Renaissance)
• Time zones capitalize when abbreviated (EST, PST) but lowercase when spelled out (eastern standard time)

Geographic and Directional Capitalization

• Capitalize specific geographic regions (the Midwest, the South)
• Lowercase directional words when indicating general direction (drive north)
• Capitalize directional words when part of a proper name (North Dakota, South Korea)
• Capitalize unique geographical features (Grand Canyon, Mount Everest)
• Lowercase general geographic terms (the mountain, the river) unless part of a proper name (the Mississippi River)

Academic and Historical References

Language and Cultural Capitalization

• Capitalize names of languages (English, Spanish, Mandarin)
• Nationalities and ethnic groups capitalize (French, Native American, Asian)
• Religious terms capitalize names of deities, holy books, and specific denominations (God, the Bible, Buddhism)
• Lowercase general religious terms (a god, a bible) when not referring to specific entities
• Cultural movements and styles capitalize when referring to specific periods (Romanticism, Art Deco)

Academic Disciplines and Courses

• General academic subjects lowercase (math, science, history)
• Capitalize languages and courses with proper names (English literature, German 101)
• Specific course titles capitalize significant words (Introduction to Psychology)
• Degrees lowercase when referred to generically (bachelor's degree, master's in business)
• Capitalize specific degree names (Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science in Engineering)

Historical Periods and Events

• Capitalize names of specific historical periods (the Renaissance, the Enlightenment)
• Major historical events capitalize significant words (World War II, the French Revolution)
• Geological periods and eras capitalize (Jurassic Period, Ice Age)
• Lowercase centuries and decades (the eighteenth century, the roaring twenties)
• Capitalize unique historical documents and agreements (the Constitution, the Treaty of Versailles)