Blog about English
Rules for using capital letters in English.
Capital letters are used at the beginning of sentences and for particular names, titles, places, languages, days, months, and other proper nouns.
English capitalization follows grammatical, lexical, and stylistic conventions rather than a single rule.
The first word of a sentence normally begins with a capital letter.
For example, The meeting starts at nine.
A new sentence normally begins with a capital letter after a full stop.
For example, The work is finished. We can leave now.
The first word of a new sentence following a question mark normally begins with a capital letter.
For example, Where are you going? Are you coming with us?
The first word of a new sentence following an exclamation mark normally begins with a capital letter.
For example, Stop! The door is closing.
The first-person singular pronoun I is always capitalized.
For example, I am ready and John and I went home.
Names of individual people, places, organizations, and other unique entities normally begin with capital letters.
For example, Maria, London, Microsoft, and the Pacific Ocean.
Personal names and initials are capitalized.
For example, John Smith and J. K. Rowling.
Names of days of the week are capitalized.
For example, Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.
Names of months are capitalized.
For example, January, March, and December.
Names of seasons are normally lowercase when used as ordinary season names, although capitalization can occur in titles or specific stylistic contexts.
For example, in spring, during summer, and last winter.
Names of languages are capitalized.
For example, English, French, Spanish, and Japanese.
Nationalities and adjectives derived from country or national names are capitalized in English.
For example, American, British, Ukrainian, and Japanese.
Names of countries and sovereign states are capitalized.
For example, Canada, Ukraine, Germany, and Brazil.
Names of cities and named geographic features are capitalized.
For example, Kyiv, London, the Alps, and the Mediterranean Sea.
Names of specific streets, roads, buildings, and named locations are capitalized according to the proper name.
For example, Oxford Street, Fifth Avenue, and Buckingham Palace.
Names of specific organizations and institutions are capitalized.
For example, the United Nations, the University of Oxford, and the World Health Organization.
Official names of companies, brands, and products use the capitalization established by the organization or standard usage.
For example, Apple, Microsoft, and Coca-Cola.
Names of religions and some specific religious designations are capitalized according to standard usage.
For example, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism.
Names of holidays and named festivals are capitalized.
For example, Christmas, Easter, New Year's Day, and Thanksgiving.
Names of specific historical events, periods, and eras may be capitalized when treated as proper names.
For example, the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and World War II.
Names of specific wars are capitalized when functioning as proper names.
For example, World War I, the Second World War, and the Cold War.
A formal title is normally capitalized when it is used directly before a person's name as part of the name.
For example, President Lincoln, Professor Smith, and Queen Elizabeth II.
A title used as a common noun rather than directly as part of a person's name is normally lowercase.
For example, the president gave a speech and the professor arrived late.
Family terms such as mother, father, aunt, and grandfather are normally lowercase unless used as names or direct forms of address.
For example, my mother called versus Thanks, Mom.
A name or title used as direct address is capitalized.
For example, Thank you, John. and Could you help me, Doctor?
Job titles are usually lowercase when used descriptively but may be capitalized in formal titles or organizational contexts.
For example, she is the marketing director versus Marketing Director Jane Smith in a formal heading.
Names of languages are capitalized, while most ordinary academic subjects are lowercase unless they are proper names.
For example, English, French, mathematics, chemistry, and history.
Names of academic degrees can be lowercase in general references and capitalized in official degree names, titles, or abbreviations.
For example, a bachelor's degree, a Bachelor of Arts, and a BA.
Ordinary compass directions are generally lowercase, while named regions can be capitalized when functioning as proper names.
For example, travel north versus Northern Europe and the South.
A complete quoted sentence normally begins with a capital letter, while a fragment incorporated into a sentence does not necessarily require one.
For example, She said, "We are ready." versus the word "ready" in a sentence.
Capitalization of headings and titles varies by style, including sentence case and title case.
For example, Writing effective emails is sentence case, while Writing Effective Emails is title case.
In sentence case, the first word and proper nouns are capitalized while most other words remain lowercase.
For example, How to use punctuation correctly.
Title case capitalizes major words according to the chosen style guide, while short function words may remain lowercase.
For example, The History of English Grammar.
Use capitals for sentence beginnings and proper names, but avoid capitalizing ordinary nouns merely for emphasis.
Common mistakes include writing english instead of English, capitalizing seasons without a proper-name reason, capitalizing ordinary job titles, and confusing title case with sentence case.