1. Michalina Florio, Alison Spinner, Ian Dudar, and Tommy Blumentritt
Capitalization
Michalina Florio, Alison Spinner, Ian Dudar, and Tommy Blumentritt

2. The word I
I is a pronoun that is always capitalized.
Ex.) I am very good at making sandwiches.
Ex.) I realized that I left my notebook at home.

3. Sentences
The first letter of the first word of each sentence is always capitalized.
Capitalize the first letter in the following types of sentences.

4. Declarative example:
some people like to go swimming everyday.
Interrogative example:
where did the dog put his bone?
Imperative example:
go clean up your room before your friend gets here.
Exclamatory example:
that is such a huge accomplishment!

5. Quotations
A direct quotation, or a person’s exact words, also needs a capital letter to begin the quotation.
Capitalize the first letter in the first word in a quotation.
Ex.) The leader shouted, “Welcome to camp!”

6. Quotations
When a quotation is split into two parts in a sentence, capitalize the first part only.
Ex.) “When will you be ready,” asked Alison, “to go to the party?”
Capitalize the first word of each sentence if the quotation contains more than one sentence.
Ex.) “Please hand out the napkins to everyone,” said Michalina. “The food is ready.”

7. Proper nouns
Capitalize all proper nouns including each part of a person’s full name and initials, geographical names, specific events, period of time, and documents. Also, capitalize regions.
Ex.) Ian Dudar
T. D. Blumentritt
Mississippi River
We are going to the South.
The Great Depression and the Great Recession
The Gettysburg Address

8. Exceptions Map directions and seasons are not capitalized.
Ex.) We like summer.
Ex.) Drive southeast.

9. Specific groups
The names of various organizations, government bodies, languages spoken by different groups, nationalities, and political parties are always capitalized.
Ex.) The Native Americans built a teepee.
Ex.) The Girl Scouts sold me 300 boxes of thin mints.
Ex.) The University of Georgia is a great school.

10. Religious references
Capitalize all words related to religion and all the names of different religions.
Ex.) Christianity- God, Lord, Holy Spirit, Bible
Judaism- Torah, Prophets
Islam- Allah, Qur’an

11. Specific places and items
Capitalize all specific places and items.
Monuments- Eiffel Tower
Memorials- Lincoln Memorial
Buildings- Leaning Tower of Pisa
Awards- Oscar

12. Proper Adjectives Most proper adjectives should be capitalized.
Common nouns that are being modified by proper adjectives are not capitalized.
Ex.)
American flag
Canadian maple syrup
Chinese buffet

13. Brand names
Brand names become proper adjectives when they describe a common noun.
Examples:
Honey Nut Cheerios cereal
Pillsbury cinnamon rolls

14. Titles of people
Capitalize titles of a person when they are followed by the person’s name or are in place of a person’s name.
Examples:
Doctor Flindublum has an appointment at two o’clock.
Colonel James is visiting us tomorrow.

15. Government officials
Capitalize the titles of government officials when they precede the name of the official.
Examples:
President Obama likes strawberry ice cream.
Governor Mialiato prefers vanilla ice cream.
Certain titles are always capitalized.
Examples: The First Lady & Queen Mother of England

16. Family Relationships
The title showing family relationship is capitalized when it is used when it comes in front of a person’s name or in place of a person.
Examples:
Aunt Patricia has a twin named Fat Amy.
Grandma Otailaim got run over by a reindeer.

17. Titles of Works
The titles of books, newspapers, magazines, short stories, poems, plays, movies, songs, school courses (when it is followed by a course number or refers to a language), and artworks are capitalized. Capitalize all of the key words in the title. Do not capitalize articles, prepositions, or conjunctions unless they are four or more letters long.

18. Examples:
To Kill a Mockingbird
People Magazine
The Wall Street Journal
Les Miserables
Algebra l
Spanish

19. Friendly and Business Letters
Capitalize the street, city, state, and month in the heading.
Examples:
May
Glen Forest Drive
Alabama
Atlanta

20. Salutations
Capitalize the first word, any title, and the name of the person or group mentioned in the salutation. Also, in the closing, capitalize the first word.
Examples:
Dear Ian
Your friend,
Tommy
Dear Doctor Connor

21. Abbreviations
Capitalize all abbreviations if the words or names they stand for are usually capitalized.
Examples:
Dr. Tom
Mrs. Mial

22. Acronyms
Just like abbreviations, capitalize acronyms if the words they stand for are capitalized.
Examples:
SSA- Social Security Act
MRI- Magnetic Resonance Imaging

23. Initials
Capitalize the initials if the words or names they stand for are normally capitalized.
Examples:
M. M. Florio
A. N. Spinner