Is it “A” or “a”? Learn more about these general guidelines when writing various nouns! [Wednesday: Write with the Pen of the Masters]
My auntie jo will pick me up tonight.
My family and i are scheduled to fly to california today.
She left her hermès bag in the cubicle.
Do you notice something different in the sentences above?
There’s one thing they have in common.
It’s…
The uncapitalization of proper nouns!
Photo from Grammarly
Capitalization Rules: When to Capitalize Letters or Texts?
In essence, capital letters are useful signals for readers. Its three main purposes are:
- To let readers know a sentence is beginning
- To show important words in a title or sentence
- To signal proper names and official titles
English capitalization rules require that certain words, like proper nouns and the first word in a sentence, start with a capital letter.
Here’s the thing: Although that seems simple, some words are capitalized ONLY in certain situations, and some words seem like they should be capitalized but should really be not. So, how can you tell which is which?
Today, we’ll help you understand when to capitalize letters or words in your sentences… but first, let’s talk a little about capitalization in general.
WHEN to Capitalize
Knowing which words to capitalize is one of the most important parts of learning English capitalization rules. Basically, there are three types of words you should capitalize:
- The pronoun “I”
- The first word in a sentence or line of a letter
- Proper nouns
The last bullet is where confusion often comes from. For example: Directions like south and east are normally lowercase but are capitalized when they’re used as part of a geographic name, like the East Coast.
WHAT to Capitalize
- People’s Names
First names, middle names, last names, nicknames, and suffixes should be capitalized.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Historical names with descriptive words follow the rules for title capitalization: Important words are capitalized, while words like “the” or “of” are not.
Jack the Giant Slayer
Maria of Aragon
- Titles
Titles of books, movies, songs, poems, etc. require capitalization for certain words only.
As a general rule, the first word is always capitalized. Nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs (even though they’re not the first word of a title) need to be capitalized as well. Articles and prepositions in titles are generally lowercase, unless they’re the first word.
The Lord of the Rings
Pride and Prejudice
A Time to Kill
- Places
Names of places should always be capitalized.
Lake Danum
Chicago, Illinois
However, if you’re not using the name of a place but a general word to describe it, use lowercase letters.
The Grand Canyon is a good canyon, but I don’t think it’s “grand.”
- Countries, Nationalities, and Languages
This falls under the category of names of places, but by extension, the names of the people who live there and the adjective form of their culture should also be capitalized.
United States of America
A team of American missionaries
American cuisine
- Institutions
Names of brands, companies, agencies, etc. should always be capitalized. Prepositions and articles may still be lowercase in such names.
Valens Research
Bank of the Philippine Islands
Volkswagen Group
- Specific Eras in History
Capitalize historical periods and events when referring to them by their specific names. Do not capitalize the spelled-out names of centuries because they’re too broad.
The nineteenth century
Middle Ages
Golden Age
- Days, Months, and Holidays
Specific days, months, and holidays are capitalized because they’re proper nouns.
January
Monday
Mother’s Day
- Acronyms
Initials and acronyms typically use all capital letters.
WHO (World Health Organization)
DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs)
VIP (Very Important Person)
Words that are SOMETIMES Capitalized
- Family Titles
The capitalization of family titles is a confusing topic because titles like “mom” or “uncle” can be either proper or common nouns. When family titles are used as common nouns, they are usually preceded by an article (the, a, an) or a possessive noun (my, your, our, etc.).
I have to ask my dad first before saying “yes” to your invite.
Can I go to the movies with my friend, Dad?
My aunt doesn’t like it when I call her Aunt Maria because it makes her feel old.
- Start of Quotations
If the quote is a complete sentence, it should start with a capital letter, even if it begins in the middle of the sentence.
I never really said, “Let him eat chocolates.”
If the quote is a sentence fragment, do not capitalize it. This happens when you’re quoting only a specific word or phrase instead of an entire passage.
Her admirer describes her as “beautiful and vibrant.”
- After a Colon
Capitalization after colons depends on what the colon is used for. If it is used to introduce a list, do not capitalize. If the colon is used to introduce an independent clause, capitalization is optional but oftentimes, the first word of the independent clause is capitalized.
Here’s what we need to buy: shampoo, toothpaste, and soap.
This is why I like planting flowering plants in the garden: It’s fun and therapeutic!
When to Capitalize SEASONS
In general, the seasons—spring, summer, autumn (fall), and winter—are not capitalized… but when they are used in titles, especially in fashion, they are part of a proper noun and should therefore be capitalized.
This summer has to be better than last year.
Prada’s Fall 2021 collection is better than its Spring 2021 collection.
When to Capitalize JOB TITLES
Job titles, positions, or honorifics are sometimes capitalized and sometimes lowercased. When these titles are used as part of a proper name, they are capitalized; when they refer to the general job or position or used instead of a name, they are lowercased.
Likewise, honorifics like “Mr.” and “Ms./Mrs.” are capitalized when used before a name.
The president will deliver his speech today.
The department meeting will be visited by President Joe Biden today.
Hey, Mrs. Smith. Will you go to the general assembly in school?
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Overall, understanding when and what to capitalize is an essential part of writing and grammar. Sure, it can be confusing at first, but by familiarizing yourself with these rules, you’ll be good at this in no time.
We hope you learned a lot from and refreshed your memory with this mini-guide on capitalizations!
Keep these rules in mind and you’ll be on your way to acing that quiz, email letter, article, or project.
About The Dynamic Marketing Communiqué’s
“Wednesdays: Write with the Pen of the Masters”
Who doesn’t find content writing to be a skill that requires a lot of practice and effort?
In fact, many people may even find copywriting very intimidating.
However, you can be a good writer as long as you have the right tools. You won’t always get things right the first time, but with enough time and practice, you’ll get the hang of it!
When you write copy for any brand or for your company, your aim is to make an impact and…
… to get people to remember.
Getting people to remember means getting consumers to buy your product or avail of your service.
… and when you get your content to deliver the results you want, THAT is great copy!
Every Wednesday, we publish content based on tips and insights from the masters of content writing, copywriting, and storytelling.
Become more familiar with ways to write great copy that helps you gain ROI from your efforts, drive profitability, and achieve your business goals.
Learn time-tested tactics that better capture the attention of your target audience, and maximize the benefits of great copywriting.
Hope you find this week’s insights interesting and helpful.
Stay tuned for next Wednesday’s “Write with the Pen of the Masters!”
Cheers,
Kyle Yu
Head of Special Projects
Valens Dynamic Marketing Capabilities
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