Capitalization

Capitalization is the use of capital letters at the beginning of a word or phrase. Understanding the rules of capitalization is essential for clear and effective writing.

Rules of Capitalization

Capitalizing the First Word in a Sentence: The first word of a sentence should always be capitalized, regardless of the type of word it is.
Proper Nouns: Capitalize the names of specific people, places, organizations, and things. For example:
- - John went to New York City to visit the Statue of Liberty.
Titles: Capitalize titles when they are used before a person's name, but not when they are used after the name. For example:
- - Professor Smith will be giving a lecture. (Before the name)
- - The lecture will be given by Professor Smith. (After the name)
Days, Months, and Holidays: Capitalize the names of days, months, and holidays. For example:
- - Monday is the first day of the week.
- - We celebrate Christmas on December 25th.
Historical Events and Documents: Capitalize the names of specific historical events and documents. For example:
- - The American Civil War was a significant event in U.S. history.
- - The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.

Study Guide

Use the following study guide to practice and reinforce your understanding of capitalization:

Identify the words or phrases that should be capitalized in the following sentences:
- - the eiffel tower is located in paris, france.
- - martin luther king, jr. day is celebrated in january.
- - the mona lisa is a famous painting by leonardo da vinci.
Write a paragraph about your favorite holiday, making sure to capitalize all the appropriate words.
Create a list of 10 proper nouns, including the names of people, places, organizations, and things.

By understanding and applying the rules of capitalization, you will be able to improve the clarity and professionalism of your writing.