Capitalization

Capitalization
Table of Contents:Spacing With PunctuationPeriodsEllipsis MarksCommasSemicolonsColonsQuestion MarksExclamation PointsQuotation MarksParenthesesApostrophesHyphensDashesCapitalization

Rule 1
Capitalize the first word of a quoted sentence.
Examples
He said, "Treat her as you would your own daughter."
"Look out!" she screamed. "You almost ran into my child."





Rule 2
Capitalize a proper noun.
Example
Golden Gate Bridge

Rule 3
Capitalize a person's title when it precedes the name. Do not capitalize when the title is acting as a description following the name.
Examples
Chairperson Petrov
Ms. Petrov, the chairperson of the company, will address us at noon.

Rule 4
Capitalize when the person's title follows the name on the address or signature line.
Examples
Sincerely,
Ms. Haines, Chairperson

Rule 5
Capitalize the titles of high-ranking government officials when used with or before their names. Do not capitalize the civil title if it is used instead of the name.
Examples
The president will address Congress.
All senators are expected to attend.
The governors and lieutenant governors called for a special task force.
Governor Fortinbrass, Lieutenant Governor Poppins, Attorney General Dalloway, and Senators James and Twain will attend.

Rule 6
Capitalize any title when used as a direct address.
Example
Will you take my temperature, Doctor?

Rule 7
Capitalize points of the compass only when they refer to specific regions.
Examples
We have had three relatives visit from the South.
Go south three blocks and then turn left.
We live in the southeast section of town. Southeast is just an adjective here describing section, so it should not be capitalized.






Rule 8
Always capitalize the first and last words of titles of publications regardless of their parts of speech. Always capitalize other words within titles, including the short verb forms Is, Are, and Be.
Exception
Do not capitalize little words within titles such as a, an, the, but, as, if, and, or, nor, or prepositions, regardless of their length.
Examples
The Day of the Jackal
What Color Is Your Parachute?
A Tale of Two Cities

Rule 9
Capitalize federal or state when used as part of an official agency name or in government documents where these terms represent an official name. If they are being used as general terms, you may use lower-case letters.
Examples
The state has evidence to the contrary.
That is a federal offense.
The State Board of Equalization collects sales taxes.
We will visit three states during our summer vacation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been subject to much scrutiny and criticism lately.
Her business must comply with all county, state, and federal laws.

Rule 10
You may capitalize words such as department, bureau, and office if you have prepared your text in the following way:
Example
The Bureau of Land Management (Bureau) has some jurisdiction over Indian lands. The Bureau is finding its administrative role to be challenging.

Rule 11
Do not capitalize names of seasons.
Example
I love autumn colors and spring flowers.

Rule 12
Capitalize the first word of a salutation and the first word of a complimentary close.
Examples
Dear Ms. Mohamed:
My dear Mr. Sanchez:
Very truly yours,


Rule 13
Capitalize words derived from proper nouns.
Example
I must take English and math. English is capitalized because it comes from the proper noun England but math does not come from mathland.

Rule 14
Capitalize the names of specific course titles.
Example
I must take history and Algebra 2.