Capitalization

How to use capitalization correctly

Capitalization means that the first letter of a word is written in uppercase letters (capitals) and the rest of the word in lowercase letters. Capitalization is used for the first word of a sentence, proper nounsA noun denoting a particular (often well known) entity such a place, person or thing., proper adjectivesAn adjective which is capitalized because it is derived from a proper noun., well known important objects, days of the week and months of the year, institutions, headings and publication titles, languages and nationalities, and personal titles (honorificsA formal title for a person which indicates respect, regard, rank or courtesy.).

Proper nouns include:

• Personal names: Fred Flintstone, Tom, Dick and Harry.
• Objects: The Eiffel Tower, The Rosetta Stone, The Hubble Space Telescope.
• Geographical names: Africa, Angola, Amsterdam.
• Institutions: The World Health Organization, The United Nations, The European Union.

Other nouns and noun phrases not considered proper nouns but which are capitalized:

• Days of the week, months of the year and holidays: Friday, August, Independence Day
• Commercial products, organisations and brands: Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Steinway, Fender
• Titles and Headings: A Tale of Two Cities, Lucky Jim
• Titles and Honorifics: Mr., Doctor, Captain, Professor.
• Languages and nationalities: French, Arabic, Chinese.
• Scientific names ( binomial nomenclature Official name of plant or animal consisting of a capitalized generic name and a lower case specific name): Aquila chrysaetos Official (scientific) name ( Golden Eagle common name), Ranunuculus Generic name (the genus) acris Specific name (Meadow Buttercup) common name

Examples

• PFirst word of sentenceeople from IProper noun (geographical name)ndianapolis use ELanguagenglish differently than people from AProper noun (geographical name)laska or GProper noun (geographical name)eorgia.
• AFirst word of sentencemericanProper adjective (nationality) ELanguagenglish sounds and works differently than the ELanguagenglish spoken in EProper noun (geographical name)ngland JProper noun (geographical name)amaica or IProper noun (geographical name)ndia .
• AFirst word of sentencet the end of the mission, on FLanguageDay of the weekriday, SMonth of the yeareptember 15, 2017, CProper noun (Object: name of a space probe)assini dived into SProper noun (planet)aturn's atmosphere.
• YBrand nameou Tube, IBrand namenstagram and TBrand nameikTok are built using the same rules, or protocols, developed by CProper noun (Personal name: Vinton Cerf - computer scientisterf and BProper noun (Personal name: Tim Berners-Lee - computer scientist)erners-Lee.
• DFirst word of sentenceuring the decade, the United Nations General AssemblyProper noun (institution) recognised access to water and sanitation as a human right.
• Lewis Carroll'sProper nouns (Personal name: the author) Alice's Adventures in WTitle of the famous story has been retold many times.
• IFirst word of sentencet was built by physics ProfessorTitle (honorific - not honorary: he was a real professor) John Vincent AtanasoffProper noun (personal name) and his graduate student, Clifford BerryProper noun (personal name), in 1942 at Iowa State CollegeProper noun (institution), now known as Iowa State UiversityProper noun (institution).
• TFirst word of sentencehere's also the EasternProper adjective (geographical name) honey bee ( Apis ceranaScientific name) which is managed by beekeepers in rural and remote areas throughout Southeast AsiaProper adjective and noun (geographical name).

Notes:

You may occasionally see a capital letter in the middle of a word but these are exceptions to the rule. There are three examples on this page: YouTube, TikTok and Berners-Lee. The first two are brand names, which often contain oddities such as odd capitalization or the inclusion of numerals or unusual typefaces, all with the object of drawing attention. "iPhone" is another example. Berners-Lee is an example of a double-barrelled surname, in this case a hyphenated compound surname.