Caps Notes

I. Names

A. Proper Nouns and Adjectives

Victoria England Elizabeth Spain

Victorian English Elizabethan Spanish

B. Titles and Initials with names (and special titles by themselves)

H. L. Hunt J. F. K. Dr. Michael DeBakey

Mayor Jane Byrne Senator Smith

Rev. M. R. Eaton, Jr.

The President of the United States

The president of our student class

C. Family titles used as names

My mother met Aunt Claire for lunch.

Call Dad before leaving on your trip.

Hey Bro! Is our aunt coming with me or you?

D. The pronoun I

E. Religious names of God

God the gods the Bible the Lord the Talmud Allah

Jehovah Virgin Mary the Book of Exodus

God spoke to His prophets.

II. PLACES

A. Names of Places

Asia, North America, Lake Erie, Strait of Juan de Fuca

the Mediterranean Sea, Port Angeles, Clallam County,

Lincoln Park, Stevens Middle School

B. Sections of the Country

The Southwest has had a dry spell.

We headed southwest toward the campsite.

There are many artists living on the East Coast.

There was a strong north wind.

III. OTHER

A. Capitalize the names of:

Organizations, institutions, political parties,

Governmental agencies, schools, colleges, churches,

Hospitals, clubs, businesses

Port Angeles High School, I.B.M., St. Francis Hospital,

Christ Church, Athletes’ Choice, National Honor Society

B. Capitalize names of historical events, documents, periods of time.

Declaration of Independence, Treaty of Versailles, Six Days War, Dark Ages

C. Capitalize the names of months, days, holidays (but not seasons.)

Sunday, Memorial Day, April, spring

D. Capitalize races, languages, nationalities, religions

Cherokee, Polish, Judaism, Eskimo, Korean, Christianity

E. Capitalize school subjects ONLY WHEN FOLLOWED BY A NUMBER.

(Languages are always capitalized.)

Science 101, algebra, language arts, English, Chemistry I

F. Capitalize names of ships, trains, airplanes, automobiles.

Klikitat, Air Force One, Honda, Hindenburg

G. Capitalize abbreviations B.C. and A.D.

IV. First Words

A. Capitalize the first word of every sentence.

B. Capitalize the first word of every line of poetry.

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;

For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow

Die not, poor Death; nor yet canst thou kill me.

C. Capitalize the first word of a direct quotation.

Joe said, “This is quite easy!”

D. Capitalize the first word of a salutation and close of a letter.

Dear Sir or Madam: Very truly yours,

E. Capitalize the first word of each line of an outline.

F. Capitalize the first word and other important words in titles of books, etc.