Language Skills: Capitalization and Punctuation

Capitalize the first word of every sentence, even a quotation within a sentence.

Example: The manager said, "In that case, I will try to gain consensus and report to you in the morning."

Capitalize proper nouns such as names and titles of people.

Example: President Obama, Taylor Swift, The Grateful Dead, George Clooney.

Capitalize proper nouns such as regions of the country.

Example: The South, Northeast, Western New York.

Capitalize proper nouns such as names of places, holidays, specific dates.

Example: Georgia, New Year's Day, Epcot Center, the Romantic Period.

Capitalize countries, races, and languages.

Example: Japanese, English, Caucasian, Mexico.

Capitalize names of businesses and organizations.

Example: Central Baptist Church, Times Square Shopping Center, Islam, Massachusetts Teachers Association.

Capitalize names of college courses if they are specific; do not capitalize if they are general names of classes.

Example: sociology, Sociology 2450, Biology 1130, French, physical education.

Capitalize the first letter of each word in titles of books, poems, songs; do not capitalize an article or preposition unless it is the first word of the title.

Example: "The Princess and the Frog," King Lear, Fiddler on the Roof.

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