L E S S O N
CAPITALIZATION
LESSON SU MMA RY
Capitalization goes beyond the first word of a sentence. This
chapter covers the finer points of capitalization by breaking them
down into two segments: general rules and specific rules.
S tart by seeing just how much you already know about the proper use of capital letters. On the next page,
you see the same passage written twice. The first column, called Problem, contains no capitalization at
all—definitely a problem in writing! Circle those letters you think should be capitalized in the Problem
column, and then check yourself against the Solution column.
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Problem Solution
when I first saw the black hills on january 2, 1995, i was When I first saw the Black Hills on January 2, 1995, I
shocked by their beauty. we had just spent new year’s was shocked by their beauty. We had just spent New
day in sioux falls, south dakota, and had headed west Year’s Day in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and had
toward our home in denver, colorado. as we traveled headed west toward our home in Denver, Colorado.
along interstate 90, i could see the black hills rising As we traveled along Interstate 90, I could see the
slightly in the distance. after driving through the bad- Black Hills rising slightly in the distance. After driving
lands and stopping at wall drug in wall, south dakota, through the Badlands and stopping at Wall Drug in
the evergreen-covered hills broke the barren monot- Wall, South Dakota, the evergreen-covered hills broke
ony of the landscape. my oldest daughter said, “dad, the barren monotony of the landscape. My oldest
look! there’s something that’s not all white.” we saw daughter said, “Dad, look! There’s something that’s
mount rushmore and custer state park, the home of not all white.” We saw Mount Rushmore and Custer
the largest herd of buffalo in north america. we also State Park, the home of the largest herd of buffalo in
drove the treacherous spearfish canyon road. fortu- North America. We also drove the treacherous
nately, our jeep cherokee had no trouble with the ice Spearfish Canyon Road. Fortunately, our Jeep Chero-
and snow on the winding road. we were unable to see kee had no trouble with the ice and snow on the
needles national park because the needles highway winding road. We were unable to see Needles
was snowed shut. winter may not be the best time to National Park because the Needles Highway was
see these sights, but we enjoyed them nonetheless. snowed shut. Winter may not be the best time to see
these sights, but we enjoyed them nonetheless.
How did you do? As you progress through the lesson, try to identify the specific rules that you missed.
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This table summarizes general capitalization rules. Rules relating to specific categories of proper nouns are
addressed in the next section.
CAPITALIZATION RULES
RULE EXAMPLE
Capitalize the first word of a sentence. If the This is the first word of the sentence.
first word is a number, write it as a word. Three of us worked the early shift.
Capitalize the pronoun I or the contraction The group left when I asked them to go.
I’m, and the abbreviations B . C . or A . D . The manuscript was dated 501 A . D .
Capitalize the first word of a quotation. I said, “What’s the name of your dog?”
Do not capitalize the first word of a He called me “the worst excuse for a student”
partial quotation. he had ever seen.
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3. a. the book noted that Henry VIII reigned from Proper Nouns and Proper
1509–1547 a.d. Adjectives
b. The book noted that Henry VIII reigned from
1509–1547 a.d. All proper nouns and proper adjectives—ones that
c. The book noted that Henry VIII reigned from name a specific person, place, or thing—must be capi-
1509–1547 a.d. talized, but remembering which nouns and adjectives
4. a. After the game is over, I want to watch the are proper can be difficult. The tables that follow lay
interviews with the players. out the most common categories of proper nouns and
b. after the game is over, I want to watch the adjectives. Each section begins with a table that illus-
interviews with the players. trates five to seven related rules, followed by several
c. After the game is over, i want to watch the practice exercises.
interviews with the players.
historical events, periods, documents Civil War (historical event), Dark Ages (historical
period), Declaration of Independence (document)
special events, calendar events Pebble Beach Fall Classic, Renaissance Festival,
Green River Days (special events); Labor Day,
Father’s Day (calendar events)
names of people and places John Doe, Lincoln Center, Sears Tower
5. a. Chaucer was one of the foremost poets from 8. a. Judy has two Uncles who fought in world
the Middle ages. war II.
b. Chaucer was one of the foremost poets from b. Judy has two uncles who fought in World
the Middle Ages. War II.
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names of trains, ships, aircraft, and other Queen Elizabeth, Discovery, Sioux Lines,
modes of transportation TransWorld Airlines
works of art and literature Black Elk Speaks (book), “Mending Wall” (poem),
Mona Lisa (painting)
ethnic groups, races, languages, nationalities Asian American, Caucasian, French, Indian
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cities, states, and governmental units Des Moines, Iowa; Barrow, Alaska; Republic of
South Africa
streets, highways, and roads Grand Avenue, Interstate 29, Deadwood Road
institutions, organizations, and businesses Dartmouth College, Lions Club, Dodge Trucks
19. a. I have traveled on the Garden state Parkway, a 22. a. My Irish ancestors immigrated to the United
main highway in New Jersey. States in 1853.
b. I have traveled on the Garden State Parkway, a b. My irish ancestors immigrated to the United
main highway in New Jersey. States in 1853.
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