When do we use Capital When do we use Capital letters?letters?

Virginia GrassoVirginia GrassoLic. Mariana MussettaLic. Mariana MussettaEnglish Language IIEnglish Language II

Licenciatura en Lengua InglesaLicenciatura en Lengua InglesaUniversidad Tecnológica de Villa MaríaUniversidad Tecnológica de Villa María

30/07/201130/07/2011

The first word in every sentence The first word in every sentence

Mary is my best friend.Mary is my best friend.

The pronoun “I” The pronoun “I”

My father says that I watch too much T.V.My father says that I watch too much T.V.

The names of petsThe names of pets

Days (Wednesday, Friday)Days (Wednesday, Friday)

Months (August, February)Months (August, February)

Holidays (Hallowing, Thanksgiving)Holidays (Hallowing, Thanksgiving)

Titles of respect (Princess Diana, Mr Smith Titles of respect (Princess Diana, Mr Smith and Senator Brown)and Senator Brown)

Names of people (Mary, Peter)Names of people (Mary, Peter)

Places (Epcot Centre, Pizza Palace)Places (Epcot Centre, Pizza Palace)

Teams (Chicago Bulls) Teams (Chicago Bulls)

Companies (Pepsi-Cola, Coca-Cola)Companies (Pepsi-Cola, Coca-Cola)

Bands (The Beatles)Bands (The Beatles)

Countries (Mexico, United States)Countries (Mexico, United States)

States or provinces (California, Florida)States or provinces (California, Florida)

Cities (Chicago, Los Angeles)Cities (Chicago, Los Angeles)

Rivers (Mississippi River, Hudson River)Rivers (Mississippi River, Hudson River)

Baseball Stadiums (Yankee Stadium, Baseball Stadiums (Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden)Madison Square Garden)

Movie Theatres (Cineplex Odeon)Movie Theatres (Cineplex Odeon)

Malls (The Galleria, Fairview Mall)Malls (The Galleria, Fairview Mall)

Schools (Macdonald High School, St. Schools (Macdonald High School, St. Andrew’s School)Andrew’s School)

The first word and all important words in a The first word and all important words in a book title (The Complete Collected Poems book title (The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou, The Adventures of Tom of Maya Angelou, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)Sawyer)

The first word in the greeting and in the The first word in the greeting and in the closing of a letter (Dear Mrs Daly)closing of a letter (Dear Mrs Daly)

The names of stores and business (like The names of stores and business (like companies that make clothes, movies, companies that make clothes, movies, music, cars)music, cars)

Nationalities (German, Canadian)Nationalities (German, Canadian)

Languages (French, English)Languages (French, English)

Periods (Victorian Era)Periods (Victorian Era)

Buildings (Eiffel Tower)Buildings (Eiffel Tower)

Street names (Ivy Street, Poe Avenue)Street names (Ivy Street, Poe Avenue)

Names of companies, organizations (First Names of companies, organizations (First Bank, United Nations)Bank, United Nations)

Institutions (Harvard University)Institutions (Harvard University)

Name of courses (Biology)Name of courses (Biology)

Religion (Buddhism, Judaism)Religion (Buddhism, Judaism)

Followers ( Christians, Muslims)Followers ( Christians, Muslims)

Holy books (The Bible, The Koran)Holy books (The Bible, The Koran)

The first word in a line of poetryThe first word in a line of poetry

(Swim me Congo(Swim me Congo

Hear me the tails of alligators Hear me the tails of alligators

flapping waves that reach flapping waves that reach

a yester shore)a yester shore)

Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the)Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the)

Coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, Coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, for, nor, so, yet)for, nor, so, yet)

Prepositions (in, under, at)Prepositions (in, under, at)

Unless they are the first word in the titleUnless they are the first word in the title

DifferentDifferent[M1] [M1]  teaching methods teaching methods[M2] [M2]  in in Dead Poets SocietyDead Poets Society

  [M1][M1]Please include heading before title.Please include heading before title. As for the title, check capitalization.As for the title, check capitalization.

Works CitedWorks Cited

Byrne, Garret. Active English Grammar. Byrne, Garret. Active English Grammar. Compass Publishing 2008. Print.Compass Publishing 2008. Print.

Kooistra, Alison. The Power Drill Grammar Kooistra, Alison. The Power Drill Grammar Book. Copyright Full Blast Productions: Book. Copyright Full Blast Productions: Canada, 2000. Print.Canada, 2000. Print.