1. Capitalization

2. Properly capitalize sentence beginnings, the pronoun I, proper nouns, and proper adjectives.
Determine when to capitalize geographic locations, organization names, academic courses and degrees, and seasons.

3. Basic Rules of Capitalization
 Beginning of a Sentence  The Pronoun I  Proper Nouns  Proper Adjectives  Geographic Locations  Organization Names  Academic Courses and Degrees  Seasons

4.  Beginning of a Sentence
Capitalize the first letter of a word beginning a sentence.
The Web has changed the way we do business.
Companies today have many social media tools at their fingertips for marketing, communication, and recruiting. 5

5.  The Pronoun I
Capitalize the pronoun I, no matter where it appears or how it is used in a sentence.
I’m surprised that I’ve never seen this movie before.
If I were you, I’d accept the job offer. 5

6.  Proper Nouns
Capitalize proper nouns, including the specific names of persons, places, schools, streets, parks, buildings, holidays, events, months, days, nicknames, agreements, websites, software programs, apps, games, historical periods, and so forth.
Do NOT capitalize common nouns that make general references.
Gulf Oil Company Gulf gasoline
Amazon.com website UC Davis campus 5

7.  Proper Adjectives
Capitalize most adjectives that are derived from proper nouns.
European economy
Japanese imports
Victorian attitudes
Boston baked beans
Internet legislation
French doors 5

8.  Proper Adjectives
Do NOT capitalize those adjectives originally derived from proper nouns that have become common adjectives through usage.
manila folders french fries
india ink diesel engine
charlie horse china dishes 5

9. How can you tell which proper adjectives are no longer capitalized?
When in
doubt, consult
a dictionary or
reference manual.

10.  Geographic Locations
Capitalize the names of specific places such as continents, countries, states, cities, counties, mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers, seas, oceans, geographic regions, neighborhoods, and subdivisions.
Washington, DC Mediterranean Sea
Monroe County Mt. St. Helens
Kansas City Harlem 5

11.  Geographic Locations
Do NOT capitalize the words city, county, or state when they precede geographic locations unless they are part of the official geographical name or unless they are used by a governing body as part of an official name.
city of Baltimore
county of Forsyth
state of Florida 5

12.  Organization Names
Capitalize the principal words in the names of all business, civic, educational, government, labor, military, philanthropic, political, professional, religious, sports, and social organizations.
American Booksellers Association
JPMorgan Chase
Emory University
United States Navy 5

13.  Organization Names
Capitalize the article the only when it is part of an organization’s official name.
The Walt Disney Company
The George Washington University
When military terms are used alone, they are considered generic and are not capitalized.
The army and navy are both recruiting on campus today. 5

14.  Organization Names
Do NOT capitalize words such as company, committee, association, and board when they are used to replace full organization names in informal documents.
It appears that the company is making a profit. (Informal document) 5

15.  Organization Names
If words such as company, committee, association, and board are preceded by the word the and are used in formal or legal documents (contracts, bylaws, minutes), they may be capitalized.
As legal agent of the Company, I am authorized to make purchases. (Formal document) 5

16.  Academic Courses and Degrees
Capitalize the names of numbered courses and specific course titles.
Do NOT capitalize the names of academic subject areas unless they contain a proper noun.
This semester I’m taking Marketing 260 and Finance 330.
This semester I’m taking marketing and finance classes.
I enjoy studying history and Spanish. 5

17.  Academic Courses and Degrees
Capitalize abbreviations of academic degrees whether they stand alone or follow individuals’ names.
Do NOT capitalize general references to degrees unless they are used after and in conjunction with an individual’s name.
Janet G. Adams, EdD, is a professor at Minnesota State University.
Paige Baker holds a master’s degree in accounting. 5

18.  Seasons
Do NOT capitalize seasons unless they are combined with a year in promotional material or with a specific title, such as a school term.
We hire clerks in the fall and winter only.
Anthropologie will begin its Spring sale tomorrow.
Justin just registered for the Fall semester at NYU. 5

19. Proper Noun/Common Noun
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
The university of Michigan is offering full Scholarships.
The University of Michigan is offering full scholarships.
Proper Noun/Common Noun

20. The Pronoun I /Proper Adjective/Geographic Location
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
Brooke and i saw many victorian homes in Alameda county.
Brooke and I saw many Victorian homes in Alameda County.
The Pronoun I /Proper Adjective/Geographic Location

21. Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
Located north of san francisco is the County of Marin.
Located north of San Francisco is the county of Marin.
Geographic Locations

22. Season/Proper Adjective
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
Last Spring they installed italian marble in their entryway.
Last spring they installed Italian marble in their entryway.
Season/Proper Adjective

23. Common Adjective/Proper Adjective
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
Do you want French fries or chinese chicken salad?
Do you want french fries or Chinese chicken salad?
Common Adjective/Proper Adjective

24. Organization Name/Common Noun
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
The united states postal service offers Online bill paying.
The United States Postal Service offers online bill paying.
Organization Name/Common Noun

25. Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
She plans to take Math and Psychology courses next semester.
She plans to take math and psychology courses next semester.
Academic Courses

26. Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
Old Navy usually earns its greatest profits in the Spring.
Old Navy usually earns its greatest profits in the spring.
Season

27. Beginning of a Sentence/Organization Name/Season
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
did you know that my Company is hiring interns for the Summer?
Did you know that my company is hiring interns for the summer?
Beginning of a Sentence/Organization Name/Season

28. The Pronoun I /Geographic Location/Season
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
Did i tell you that i plan to visit the State of Montana this Winter?
Did I tell you that I plan to visit the state of Montana this winter?
The Pronoun I /Geographic Location/Season

29. Understand how to capitalize business correspondence components and titles of people.
Correctly capitalize numbered and lettered items; points of the compass; departments, divisions, offices, agencies, and committees; government terms; product names; and literary and artistic titles.

30. Special Rules of Capitalization
 Business Correspondence Components  Titles of People  Numbered and Lettered Items  Points of the Compass  Departments, Divisions, Offices, Agencies, and Committees  Government Terms  Product Names  Literary and Artistic Titles

31.  Business Correspondence Components
Capitalize the first word of certain business correspondence components that are included in letters, memos, and messages.
RE: Sales Meeting on Friday (Subject line)
Dear Ms. Martin: (Business letter salutation)
Yours truly, (Complimentary close) 5

32.  Titles of People: Titles Preceding Names
Capitalize courtesy titles (such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss, and Dr.) when they precede names.
Ms. Ann Rivers and Mr. Scott Hammond were promoted.
Mr. and Mrs. Heckman threw themselves an anniversary party.
Miss Marple made an appointment with Dr. Holmes. 5

33.  Titles of People: Titles Preceding Names
Capitalize titles representing a person’s profession, company position, military rank, religious station, political office, family relationship, or nobility when the title precedes the name and replaces a courtesy title.
Vice President Wilson and Marketing Manager Callahan signed the contract.
We invited Rabbi Mintz and Reverend Curran.
Voters favored Senator Smith in the last election.
We hope Aunt Rita and Uncle Larry will visit soon. 5

34.  Titles of People: Titles Followed by Appositives
Do NOT capitalize a person’s title when the title is followed by the person’s name and the name is being used as an appositive. Appositives rename or explain previously mentioned nouns or pronouns.
Our office supervisor, Maria Cruz, was promoted.
Our new president, Elmer Smith, is making major changes in our organization.
Tesla’s founder, Elon Musk, has been creative since he was a young child. 5

35.  Titles of People: Titles or Offices Following Names
Do NOT capitalize titles or offices following names unless they appear in a displayed list.
Lina Mathkour, president, called an emergency meeting.
Lynn Wolford, manager, developed a new marketing plan.
John Kerry, secretary of state, traveled to Pakistan. 5

36.  Titles of People: Titles or Offices Replacing Names
Do NOT capitalize a title or office that replaces a person’s name unless you are using a title in direct address (speaking directly to a person).
Our vice president met with our human resources director today.
The president conferred with the secretary of defense before addressing Congress.
It’s nice to see you, Professor, after such a long time. 5

37.  Titles of People: Titles in Business Correspondence
Capitalize titles in addresses and closing lines of business correspondence.
Ms. Tracey Barry Sincerely yours,
Vice President
Sundance Clothing
8500 L Street Chuck Holloway
Salem, MA Marketing Manager 5

38.  Titles of People: Family Titles
Do NOT capitalize family titles used with possessive pronouns or possessive nouns.
Capitalize titles of close relatives when they are used without pronouns. Also capitalize family titles when they form a unit with a first name.
My sister and my cousin will visit Mother and Father next week.
Do you have any good advice for me, Mom?
My Aunt Susan is a world traveler. 5

39.  Numbered and Lettered Items
Capitalize nouns followed by numbers or letters except in page, paragraph, line, size, verse, and vitamin references.
The meeting is in Room 102, Building 11, at 9 a.m.
Please consult page 15 of Appendix C in Volume II.
On Channel 13 I saw size 13 shoes advertised. 5

40.  Points of the Compass
Capitalize north, south, east, west, and other points of a compass when they represent specific regions.
Do NOT capitalize the points of the compass when they are used in directions or in general references.
Before you came to the West Coast, did you spend much time in the East ?
In the winter many Midwesterners travel south to Florida to thaw out. 5

41.  Departments, Divisions, Offices, Agencies, and Committees
Capitalize the principal words in the official names of divisions, departments, offices, government agencies, committees, and schools and colleges within universities.
Our Quality Control Department inspects every product.
The Committee on Equal Opportunity will hold its first meeting next Tuesday. 5

42.  Departments, Divisions, Offices, Agencies, and Committees
When a department or division is referred to by its function because the official name is unknown, do NOT capitalize this reference.
Have you contacted the company’s hiring department ?
An investigation committee may be appointed. 5

43.  Government Terms
Do NOT capitalize the words federal, government, nation, or state unless they are part of a specific title.
federal holidays for government employees
national and state laws
Federal Trade Commission
National Defense Act 5

44.  Product Names
Capitalize product names only when they represent specific brand names or trademarks of products.
Except in advertising, common names following manufacturers’ names are NOT capitalized.
Lenovo laptop Big Mac hamburger
Whirlpool washer Toyota hybrid vehicle
Clinique makeup Samsung smartphone 5

45.  Literary and Artistic Titles
Capitalize the main words in the titles of books, magazines, newspapers, articles, movies, plays, albums, songs, poems, websites, and reports.
Do NOT capitalize the following unless they begin or end a title: 1. Articles (a, an, the) 2. Conjunctions with three or fewer letters (and, but, or, nor) 3. Prepositions with three or fewer letters (in, to, by, for) 4. The word as 5. The word to in infinitives 5

46.  Literary and Artistic Titles Examples
The Last of the Mohicans
“English as It Is Spoken”
As the World Turns
From Russia With Love
Meet and Grow Rich
Something to Hope For 5

47. Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
My Mom and Dad will be visiting us this Fall.
My mom and dad will be visiting us this fall.
Family Titles/Season

48. Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
She ordered a new hewlett-packard printer for her home office.
She ordered a new Hewlett-Packard printer for her home office.
Product Name

49. Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
You need to drive South from Columbus to reach Cincinnati.
You need to drive south from Columbus to reach Cincinnati.
Point of the Compass

50. Literary/Artistic Title
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
Her favorite film is The Sound Of Music.
Her favorite film is The Sound of Music.
Literary/Artistic Title

51. Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
He would love to get a job with the Government.
He would love to get a job with the government.
Government Term

52. Business Correspondence Component
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
SUBJECT: sign medical release form by friday
SUBJECT: Sign Medical Release Form by Friday
Business Correspondence Component

53. Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
The department of homeland security issued a statement.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement.
Government Agency

54. Numbered/Lettered Item
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
Your flight will depart from gate A54.
Your flight will department from Gate A54.
Numbered/Lettered Item

55. Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
Do you think the President will veto the bill?
Do you think the president will veto the bill?
Title Replacing a Name

56. Family Title/Political Title
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
My Grandmother was thrilled to have met president Reagan in the early 1980s.
My grandmother was thrilled to have met President Reagan in the early 1980s.
Family Title/Political Title

57. Capitalize beginning words; laws, bills, acts, treaties, and amendments; celestial bodies; ethnic, cultural, language, and religious references; and words following marked and stamped.
Apply special rules in capitalizing personal titles and terms.

58. Additional Rules of Capitalization
 Beginning Words
 Laws, Bills, Acts, Treaties, and Amendments
 Celestial Bodies
 Ethnic, Cultural, Language and Religious References
 Words Following marked and stamped

59.  Beginning Words
Capitalize the first words in quoted sentences, independent phrases, enumerated items, and formal rules or principles following colons.
Mario Fernandez said, “Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine.”
Would like a cup of tea? Yes, please.
Depreciate assets using any of these methods:
a. Straight-line method
b. Sum-of-the-years-digits method
c. Declining-balance method 5

60.  Laws, Bills, Acts, Treaties, and Amendments
Capitalize the official names of government laws, bills, acts, treaties, and amendments.
Do NOT capitalize generic references to legislation.
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 established minimum wage and overtime laws. 5

61.  Celestial Bodies
Capitalize the names of celestial bodies including planets, planet satellites, stars, constellations, and asteroids.
Do NOT capitalize the terms earth, sun, or moon unless they are used as the names of specific bodies in the solar system.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars have short periods of revolution and long periods of rotation.
The flower is closed when the sun shines, but at night it opens in the light of the moon. 5

62.  Ethnic, Cultural, Language and Religious References
Terms that relate to a particular culture, language, race, or religion are capitalized.
Although Japanese is her native language, she speaks English and French fluently.
Both Persian and Hebrew traditions were respected. 5

63.  Ethnic, Cultural, Language and Religious References
Hyphenate terms such as African- American and French-Canadian when they are used as adjectives. Do NOT hyphenate these terms when they are nouns.
San Francisco has a large Chinese-American population.
Many Chinese Americans are successful small business owners. 5

64.  Words Following marked and stamped
Capitalize words that follow the words marked and stamped.
Do you know why this letter is marked “Confidential”?
The box of glass bottles was stamped “Handle With Care.” 5

65. Special Uses of Personal Titles and Terms
 Titles in Official Documents
 Titles Used With the Terms ex, elect, late, and former

66.  Titles in Official Documents
When a title of an official appears in that organization’s minutes, bylaws, or other official documents, it is capitalized.
The Human Resources Director will be our official representative in collective bargaining. (Appearing company bylaws)
The college President presented the annual budget to the faculty. (Appearing in meeting minutes) 5

67.  Titles Used With the Terms ex, elect, late, and former
When the terms ex, elect, late, and former are used with capitalized titles, they are not capitalized.
She read the memoirs of ex-President Truman.
Governor-elect Haley spoke to members of the National Press Club.
Members of Congress honored the late Vice President Ford with a statue in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.
We think that former Controller Robinson will be named the company’s new CFO. 5

68. Academic Degrees/Proper Nouns/Geographic Locations
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
Kim Hunter, mba, received her Bachelor’s degree from ohio university in athens.
Kim Hunter, MBA, received her bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in Athens.
Academic Degrees/Proper Nouns/Geographic Locations

69. Numbered Items/Organization Name
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
Your reservations are for flight 32 on american airlines leaving from gate 14.
Your reservations are for Flight 32 on American Airlines leaving from Gate 14.
Numbered Items/Organization Name

70. Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
In the Fall Matt enrolled in history, spanish, and marketing classes.
In the fall Matt enrolled in history, Spanish, and marketing classes.
Season/Language

71. Titles Replacing Names/Product Name
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
Either the President or Vice President must make the decision about ordering Dell Computers for the staff.
Either the president or vice president must make the decision about ordering Dell computers for the staff.
Titles Replacing Names/Product Name

72. Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
Before moving to the west coast, our manager lived in the south.
Before moving to the West Coast, our manager lived in the South.
Points of the Compass

73. Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
In our engineering department, we need special keyboards with greek symbols.
In our Engineering Department, we need special keyboards with Greek symbols.
Department/Language

74. Geographic Location/Point of the Compass/Numbered Items
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
To reach austin, drive South on highway 81 until you reach exit 5.
To reach Austin, drive south on Highway 81 until you reach Exit 5.
Geographic Location/Point of the Compass/Numbered Items

75. Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
The civil rights act of 1964 prohibits Employment Discrimination.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination.
Law/Common Noun

76. Celestial Body/Numbered and Lettered Items
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
How in the World did we miss chart 4 that appeared in diagram 2 of appendix B?
How in the world did we miss Chart 4 that appeared in Diagram 2 of Appendix B?
Celestial Body/Numbered and Lettered Items

77. Organization Name/Words Following marked
Make any necessary corrections to capitalization.
This cia document is marked “top secret.”
This CIA document is marked “Top Secret.”
Organization Name/Words Following marked

78. “The more you understand, the less you have to remember.”
– Craig A. McCaw, American businessman/ entrepreneur (b. 1949)