1. Capitalization

2. Capitalize People and Cultures
People’s names and initials
Example: James E. Jones
Titles and the abbreviations of some titles when they follow a name
Mark Hayes, M.D.
Sara Mines, Ph.D.

3. Capitalize People and Cultures
Titles of heads of state or royalty when they are used with the person’s name
Example: President Lincoln
Titles including family relationships only when it is used as part of a name
Aunt Susan
Uncle James
My brother (not capitalized)

4. Capitalize People and Cultures
The pronoun- I
Religions, sacred days, sacred writings, and deities
Examples: Muslim, Bible, Allah, God

5. Capitalize People and Cultures
The names of nationalities, languages, races and some ethnic groups and the adjectives formed from these.
Examples: German, English, Native American, Caucasian
Do not capitalize the word god or goddess when it refers to ancient mythology

6. Capitalize First Words and Titles
The first word of every sentence.
The first word of every line of traditional poetry
The first word of a direct quotation if it is a complete sentence
Example: She said, “Is it raining?”

7. Capitalize First Words and Titles
The first word of each item in an outline
I. Proper nutrition
A. Basic food groups
1. Bread and grain
2. Protein

8. Capitalize First Words and Titles
The first word in the greeting of a letter and the closing
Dear Josie,
Sincerely yours,

9. Capitalize First Words and Titles
The first word, the last word and all other important words in titles. Don’t capitalize articles (an, a, the), conjunctions (and, but, or), or prepositions less than five letters (of, on, it)
Example: Gone With the Wind
The Sound and the Fury

10. Capitalize Places and Transportation
Continents, bodies of water, islands, mountains, landforms, world regions, nations, states, cities, streets
Examples: North America, Atlantic Ocean, Hawaiian Islands, Mount Whitney, Gobi Desert, Middle East, Canada, New York, Buffalo, Girdle Road

11. Capitalize Places and Transportation
The names of planets and other specific objects in the universe.
Examples: Mars, Milky Way Galaxy
The words north, south, east and west when they name particular regions in the country or world or when they are parts of proper names. Do not capitalize them when they are directions.
Example: South America
We flew north to Canada.

12. Capitalize Places and Transportation
The names of specific buildings, bridges, monuments, landmarks, airplanes, ships, trains, cars and spacecraft.
Examples: Brooklyn Bridge, Washington Monument, Santa Maria, Orient Express

13. Capitalize Organizations and Other Subjects
All important words in the names of organizations, institutions, stores, and companies.
Examples: Boston University, National League of Women Voters
Historical events, periods, and documents.
Examples: French Revolution Ice Age

14. Capitalize Organizations and Other Subjects
The abbreviations: B.C., A.D., A.M., and P.M.
Names of months, days, holidays, but not seasons except when they are used as part of a festival or celebration
Example: Flag day, Monday, Fourth of July

15. Capitalize Organizations and Other Subjects
Names of special events and awards.
Examples: Pulitzer Prize
Brand names of products, but not a common noun that follows a brand name
Example: Colgate toothpaste