Capitalization Rules
English capitalization rules require that certain words, like proper nouns and the first word in a
sentence, start with a capital letter. Although that seems simple, some words are capitalized only
in certain situations, and some words seem like they should be capitalized but are not.
English capitalization rules: When to capitalize
There are three types of words you capitalize in English: the pronoun I, the first word in a
sentence (e.g., Start a sentence with a capital letter) or line of a letter (e.g., Sincerely) and proper
nouns (names for a specific place, person, or thing).
Example: Albert Einstein, Abebe, Hawassa, Tabor… ; however, others are capitalized only in certain
situations and are lowercase (directions like north and west are normally lowercased but are
capitalized when they’re used as part of a geographic name, like the West Coast).
People’s names: both the first and last names of a person are capitalized. Likewise, middle
names, nicknames, and suffixes like Jr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson…
Historical names that include descriptive words often follow the rules for title capitalization:
Prominent words are capitalized, but small words like the or of are not. (Ivan the Terrible, Maria of
Aragon …)
1. Titles
The title of any piece of work—books, movies, songs, poems, podcast episodes, comic-book
issues, etc.—requires capitalization, but only certain words in the title are capitalized.
For starters, the first word in a title is always capitalized. Nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and
adverbs all need to be capitalized in titles as well.
Small words like articles and prepositions are generally lowercased, unless they’re the first word in
a title.
Example: The Catcher in the Rye, Of Mice and Men, etc.
2. Places
If you’re using the name of a place, capitalize it. This applies to everything from tiny place to the
massive planet Jupiter.
Example: New York City, Lake Victoria, etc.
Keep in mind that if you are not using the name of a place but the general word to describe it,
you do not capitalize that word.
The Grand Canyon is a good canyon, but I wouldn’t call it “grand.”
1
3. Countries, nationalities, and languages
Country names fall under the category of places, but by extension the names of the people who
live there and the adjective form of their culture are also capitalized. This includes languages.
Example: Haiti, a team of Haitians, Haitian cuisine, etc.
4. Institutions
The names of companies, brands, agencies, and other large groups like hospitals are also proper
nouns. Some small words like prepositions may still be lowercased in such names.
Example: Volkswagen Group, Bank of China, etc.
If you’re referring to a department by its proper name, you can capitalize it. However, if you’re
referring to a general department, keep it lowercased.
“She works in the Psychology Department.”
“I didn’t even know our school had a psychology department.”
5. Historical eras
Capitalize periods and events when referring to them by their specific name but not when you’re
using them as general terms. If a period of time is named after a proper noun, capitalize the
proper noun. The word for the period is sometimes capitalized, as in the examples below, but
other times it is lowercased.
Example: the Victorian age, European Renaissance, Islamic Golden Age
Generally, you do not capitalize the names of centuries because they are too broad.
Example: the twentieth century, etc.
6. Days, months, and holidays
In English days and months are capitalized because they are proper nouns.
Example: the first Sunday in April, etc. What day is Father’s Day?
7. Initials
Abbreviations and acronyms combine the first letters of multiple words to make a new word.
Typically, these use all capital letters.
Example: WHO (World Health Organization), UFO (Unidentified Flying Object), etc.
2
Words that are sometimes capitalized (Confusing topics in capitalization)
1. Family titles
Family titles like mom or uncle can be either proper nouns or common nouns. In short, capitalize
them when they’re used as proper nouns but lowercase them when they’re used as common
nouns.
Example: I have to ask my dad… Can I go to the movies, Dad?
When family titles are used as common nouns, there is usually an article (the, a, an) or a
possessive noun (my, your, our, etc.) in front of them. If you see an article or a possessive noun, it
means keep the family title lowercase.
Example: My uncle hates when I call him Uncle Joe because it makes him feel old.
2. Beginnings of quotations
The most important thing to know is whether the quote is a complete sentence or a sentence
fragment. If the quote is a complete sentence, it starts with a capital letter, even if it begins in the
middle of the sentence.
Example: Marie Antoinette never actually said, “Let them eat cake.”
If the quote is a sentence fragment, do not capitalize it. This is most common when you’re
quoting only a specific word or phrase instead of a long passage.
Example: The substitute teacher called our class “goonish and unruly.”
3. After a colon
This depends on what the colon is used for. If a colon is used to introduce a list, do not use
capitalization.
Example: Here’s what we need at the grocery store: blueberries, strawberries, and whipped cream.
If the colon is used to introduce an independent clause, capitalization is optional.
Example: There are plenty of reasons to plant a garden: First and foremost, it’s a lot of fun.
4. When to capitalize seasons
In general, the seasons—spring, summer, autumn (fall), and winter—are not capitalized. They use
lowercase just like other common nouns.
Example: Last winter and spring were so bad, this summer has to be better.
However, often seasons are used in titles, especially in fashion. In this case, they are part of a
proper noun, and so they are capitalized.
Example: Hermès’s Fall 2022 collection was even better than Prada’s Spring 2021 collection.
3
5. When to capitalize job titles
Just like the seasons, 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, they are lowercased.
Example: The next president may be from a different region than President Mujica.
Likewise, honorifics like Mr. and Ms. are capitalized when used before a name.