Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 8

1. Capitalize the first word of a quotation

• “How do you know I'm mad?” said Alice. - correct
• “how do you know I'm mad?” said Alice. - incorrect

• Alice whispered to her cat,“ If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense." - correct
• Alice whispered to her cat,“ if I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense." - incorrect

2. Do not capitalize the first word of a partial quotation.

• It’s difficult to say it will work, Sam concurred, “but I haven’t heard any better ideas.” - correct
• It’s difficult to say it will work, Sam concurred, “But I haven’t heard any better ideas.” - incorrect

• He called me “the worst excuse for a student” he had ever seen. - correct
• He called me “The worst excuse for a student” he had ever seen. - incorrect

Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 7

1. Avoid capitalizing compass directions. 

• We drove east for 100 miles. - correct
• We drove East for 100 miles. - incorrect

2. Avoid capitalizing the seasons of the year.

• Sarah's coming over for a month next summer. - correct
• Sarah's coming over for a month next Summer. - incorrect

Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 6

Capitalize all proper nouns and proper adjectives (name of a specific person, place or thing).

There are many common categories of proper nouns. Two of them are stated below.

1. Public areas and bodies of water

• There is an incredible view of the Arabian Sea from Bekal Fort, Kerala.- correct
• There is an incredible view of the Arabian sea from Bekal Fort, Kerala. - incorrect

• Blue whales are found in all oceans except the Arctic Ocean. - correct
• Blue whales are found in all oceans except the Arctic ocean. - incorrect

2. Landmarks and geographical locations

• The "People of the Blue-Green Waters" live in Havasu Canyon in the middle of Grand Canyon. - correct
• The "People of the Blue-Green Waters" live in Havasu Canyon in the middle of grand canyon. - incorrect

• The Continental Divide Trail is approximately 800 miles in length in Montana and Idaho. - correct
• The continental divide Trail is approximately 800 miles in length in Montana and Idaho. - incorrect

Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 5

Capitalize all proper nouns and proper adjectives (name of a specific person, place or thing).

There are many common categories of proper nouns. Two of them are stated below.

1. Ethnic groups, races, languages, nationalities

• A white person of European descent is an example of a Caucasian. - correct
• A white person of European descent is an example of a caucasian. - incorrect

• What's the difference between Hispanic and Latino? - correct
• What's the difference between hispanic and latino? - incorrect

2. Works of art and literature

• The Julius Caesar play is set in Rome in 44 BCE. - correct
• The julius caesar play is set in Rome in 44 BCE. - incorrect

• Paulo Coelho (de Souza) is most famous for writing his novel The Alchemist. - correct
• Paulo Coelho (de Souza) is most famous for writing his novel The alchemist. - incorrect

Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 4

Capitalize all proper nouns and proper adjectives (name of a specific person, place or thing).

There are many common categories of proper nouns. Two of them are stated below.

1. Special events, calendar events

• The United Nations designated World Bee Day to raise awareness of the importance of bees. - correct
• The United Nations designated world bee day to raise awareness of the importance of bees.  - incorrect

• The venue for all Aero India Shows is located in Bangalore, India. - correct
• The venue for all aero india shows is located in Bangalore, India. - incorrect

2. Names of people and places

• Robert Frost was born in California in March of 1874. - correct
• Robert frost was born in california in March of 1874. - incorrect

• India's rising urban centers include Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Chennai. - correct
• India's rising urban centers include bangalore, ahmedabad and chennai. - incorrect

Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 3

Capitalize all proper nouns and proper adjectives (name of a specific person, place or thing).

There are many common categories of proper nouns. Two of them are stated below.

1. Holidays

• They had guests over Christmas. - correct
• They had guests over christmas. - incorrect

• The Holi festival commemorates the victory of good over evil. - correct
• The holi festival commemorates the victory of good over evil. - incorrect

2. Historical events, periods, documents

• The Civil War was a crucial event in the development of nineteenth-century Chicago. - correct
• The civil war was a crucial event in the development of nineteenth-century Chicago. - incorrect

• The major periods in world history includes broad global eras, such as the Stone Age, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age - correct
• The major periods in world history includes broad global eras, such as the stone age, the bronze age and the iron age. - incorrect

Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 2

Capitalize all proper nouns and proper adjectives (name of a specific person, place or thing).

There are many common categories of proper nouns. Two of them are stated below.

1. Days of the week

• We go to temple on Tuesdays. - correct
• We got to temple on tuesdays. - incorrect

• It's my birthday next Monday. - correct
• It's my birthday next monday. - incorrect

• She visited me last Sunday. - correct
• She visited me last sunday. - incorrect

2. Months of the year

• Sam is retiring next March. - correct
• Sam is retiring next march. - incorrect

• Sarah left on 29 February. - correct
• Sarah left on 29 february. - incorrect

• My daughter's birthday is in January. - correct
• My daughter's birthday is in january. - incorrect

Capitalization Rules: Quick tips 1

Capitalize the first word of a sentence

• The lockdown days have been as a testing time for everybody. - correct
• the lockdown days have been as a testing time for everybody. - incorrect

If the first word in a sentence is a number, write it as a word.

• Twenty patients were hospitalized. - correct
• 20 patients were hospitalized. - incorrect