Capitalization rules are outlined in three sentences or less: Capital letters are used at the beginning of sentences, for proper nouns like names and places, and for the first word in a title. Specific examples given include capitalizing days and months, religions, organizations, languages, centers and institutes, as well as the first word in a book, movie or TV show title. Following capitalization rules correctly is important for proper writing.

1. Brief
Guidelines for
Capitalization
UNIVERSITY OF THE SACRED HEART
CENTER FOR LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES
LAD

2. Capital Letters
In writing, capital letters are used at the
beginning of a sentence and for a proper noun.

3. A capital letter is used at the
beginning of:
 A sentence, or a word or phrase that stands alone
 A direct quotation
 Proper nouns, that is, names of particular persons, places, or
things
 People’s titles
 Words for religions and their adjectives
 The first word and all the important words in the title of
books, movies, television programs, etc.
 Languages
 Centers and institutes

4. Examples of a sentence, a word or a
phrase that stands alone
Perhaps.
The stores
are closed Yes.
today.
Are the
stores
closed
today?

5. Example of a direct quotation
 She whispered, “Can you hear me?” He
answered, “Of course.”
 If a quotation is part of the
structure of a sentence, it
begins with a small case letter.
 She said she was “very pleased”
to be invited.
 If a quoted sentence is
interrupted, the second part
begins with a small letter:
 “When the pie is done,” he said,
“let it cool on the table.”

6. Examples of proper nouns
Particular Particular Particular
persons place idea
Ricky Puerto Rico Scientology
Martin

7. Other examples of proper nouns
Nationalities Organizations Names of days
• Germans • US Army and months
• Mexicans • National • Tuesday
Basketball • July
Association

8. Examples of people’s titles
• Mr. Rivera
• President Obama
• Dr. Maldonado
• Uncle Joe

9. Examples of religions and their
adjectives
The
She is history Islamic
Catholic. of law
Judaism
•When do we capitalize the word god?
It is capitalized when it refers to the deity:
In God we trust.
It is not capitalized when it refers to the gods of ancient
mythology or when it is used as a descriptor:
The god Apollo is often shown playing the lyre.

10. Examples of titles, movies, and
television shows
 I am reading The Art of
War by Sun Tzu.
 Have you seen Harry
Potter?
 My favorite television
program is Extreme
Makeover: Home
edition.

11. Other examples include…
Languages Centers and Institutes
 English  University of the
 Spanish Sacred Heart
 French  Center for Language
 German Development Across
the Disciplines
 Mandarin

12. Remember
If you follow the
rules, you will learn
to capitalize
correctly.

13. References
 Landau S. Ed (2003). Cambridge Dictionary of American English (p. 121, 4th printing). United
Kingdom: The Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge.
 Carnegie Mellon University. (2011) Writer’s Style Guide. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
from http://www.cmu.edu/marcom/brand- guidelines/images/writers_style_guide.pdf
 http://leitrimmontessori.com/Pics/registrationpic.jpg, retrieved on September 20, 2010.
 Soraya font [Word font type] Retrieved on September 201, 2012 from
http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/fonts-08.jpg
 The Art of War [Cover page] Retrieved on September 20, 2010 from
http://www.tempe.gov/LIBRARY/events/images/books.jpg
 Agostini, E. (Photographer). (2010) [Photograph] Retrieved on September 20, 2010 from
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/images/stories/large/2010/06/10/RickyMartin101609
881.jpg
 Newspapers and Flags from Around the World [Puerto Rican Flag] Retrieved on September
20, 2012 from http://www.newspapercountry.com/PuertoRico.png
 Church of Scientology International. [Image of Scientology cross ] Retrieved on September 20,
2012 from http://www.scientology-europe.org/about/proclamation.html

14. Prepared by N. Piñero
Revised by LAD professors in May 2012.