1. Names and Titles of People and Places
Capitalization
Names and Titles of People and Places

2. Rule 1 Capitalize names of people and/or their initials. Examples:
Meagan N. Duchock
W.E.B. Dubois

3. Rule 2
Capitalize title or abbreviation of title when it comes before a name or when used in direct address
Examples:
Ms. Duchock, Dr. Phil, General Patton
“Captain, there’s an iceberg ahead!” he yelled.

4. Rule 2 continued
Do not capitalize a title that follows or stands for a person’s name
Example:
What did the captain say?

5. Rule 3
Capitalize names and abbreviations of academic degrees when they follow a person’s name
Also capitalize Jr., and Sr.
Examples:
Big Bird, M.D.
Oscar Grouch, Ph. D.
Kermit Frog, Sr.

6. Rule 4
Capitalize family relationship words when used as a title or as person’s name
Examples:
I ed Mom and Aunt Bee about going fishing.

7. Rule 4 continued
Do not capitalize family relationship words if they are not substituted for a name
Example:
My dad and Kermit’s aunt are friends.

8. Rule 5 Always capitalize the pronoun I Example:
After school I am going home!

9. Rule 6
Capitalize names of cities, counties, states, countries, and continents
Examples:
Birmingham
Shelby County
Alabama
France
Asia

10. Rule 7
Capitalize names of bodies of water and other geographic features
Examples:
Pacific Ocean
the Great Lakes
Mobile Bay

11. Rule 8 Capitalize names of sections of the country Examples:
the Midwest
New England
the South

12. Rule 9
Capitalize compass points (direction) when they refer to a specific section of the country
Example:
the South
the East Coast

13. Rule 9 continued Do not capitalize adjectives showing direction
Examples:
southern food
east Alabama

14. Rule 10 Capitalize names of streets and highways Examples:
Warrior Road
Sesame Street

15. Rule 11
Capitalize the names of specific buildings, bridges, and monuments
Examples:
Lincoln Memorial
Empire State Building