Punctuation

Capitalization Rules

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
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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

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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

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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

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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

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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
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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

English Updates

What is a Noun Types of Noun Pronoun Verb Adjective Articles Subject of a Sentence Phrase Clause Sentences Word order in a Sentence Punctuation