To Capitalize or Not To Capitalize or Not Capitalize?Capitalize?

That is the Question.That is the Question.

Rules of Capitalization

What are the rules of capitalization?

1) Capitalize the first word in every sentence.

2) Capitalize the pronoun I.

3) Capitalize proper nouns (This names a particular person, place, or thing.A) Capitalize the names of personsB) Cap. geographical namesC) Cap. names of organizations,

business firms, & gov’t bodiesD) Cap. special events and calendar

itemsE) Cap. historical events and periodsF) Cap. the names of nationalities, races

and religionsG) Cap. the brand names of business

productsH) Cap. the names of ships, planets,

monuments, awards, and any other part. places, things or events.

Topic:Mechanics:Capital Letters

Name:___________________________________Class: ____________________________________Period: ___________________________________Date: _____________________________________Diagnostic Test from Warriner’s First

Rules of Capitalization

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4) Capitalize proper adjectivesProper Nouns Proper AdjectivesGreece Greek theaterMars Martian moonsCongress Congressional

hearingEngland English

literatureOrient Oriental custom

5) DO NOT capitalize the names of school subjects, except languages and course names followed by a number.

EX: history, typing, mathematics, English, German, Latin, History 101, Music 111, Art Appreciation 1

Mechanics:Capital Letters

Rules Cont:

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6) Capitalize the title of a person when it comes before a name.

President Lincoln Mrs. WilsonMayor Lyons

Commissioner Jones

7) Cap. a title when it is used instead of a name in direct address

Is it very serious, Doctor?Good morning, Judge?

8) Cap. words showing family relationship when used with a person’s name, but not when preceded by a possessive.

We expect Uncle Fred to arrive tonight.Jim’s father is a miner.

Mechanics:Capital Letters

Mechanics:Capital Letters

9) Capitalize the first and last words and all important words in titles of books, periodicals, poems, stories, movies, paintings, and all other words of art.

Book: The Red Badge of CourageMagazine: Sports IllustratedPoem: “Season at the Shore”Story: “The Night the Bed Fell”Movie: Star WarsPainting: the Mona LisaMusical Piece: “September Song”

10) Cap. Words the refer to DeityGod, the Creator, the AlmightyLord, Allah

Note: The word god is not capitalized when it refers to the gods of ancient mythology

The Vikings had many gods.

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