This document provides guidelines for using capitalization in writing. It states that capital letters make words stand out visually and defines capitalization as starting a word with a capital letter. It then lists rules for capitalizing the first word of sentences, quotations, after a colon, in poetry, for the pronouns I and O, and for proper nouns like names, places, events, and organizations. The document provides examples for each rule and notes exceptions for some cases.

1. Capital letters work as a
visual clue to the reader by
making certain words stand
out more prominently on a
printed page.
Capitalization

2. To capitalize
means to begin
a word with a
capital letter.

3. Rules for capitalization
In Sentences.
Capitalize the first word in declarative,
interrogative, imperative, and
exclamatory sentences.

4. Declarative: Raoul sent the letter
yesterday.
Interrogative: Did you mail the monthly
bills?
Imperative: Get a stamp out of the drawer.
Exclamatory: This letter says I’ve won the
contest!

5. Rules for capitalization
In Interjections and
Incomplete Questions.
Capitalize the first word
in interjections and
incomplete questions.

6. Exclamatory: Fantastic!
Ouch!
Oh no!
Yes!
Hurray!
Yahoo!

7. Incomplete questions:
The first word of incomplete questions (in which the
subject and verb are understood) also requires a capital
letter.
If a question mark follows the question (as in the
following examples), you should begin the question with a
capital letter.
Examples: When? Maria? How much?

8. Rules for capitalization
In Quotations.
Capitalize the first word
in a quotation if the
quotation is a complete
sentence.

9. Example:
“Man is not made for defeat.” – Ernest
Hemingway

10. Note
Even when the quotation appears with a “he said/
she said” expression, capital is still used to begin the
quotation.
Example: Maya answered, “We bought some
stationery.”
“Packages are difficult to wrap,” the man grumbled.

11. Note
•If a “he said/she said expression comes out in
the middle of quoted material that is one
continuous sentence, only the first word of the
quotation gets a capital letter.
Example: “If you go out,” Liz said, “please mail
this letter”.

12. Note
•If a “he said/she said expression sits between
two complete sentences, both receive capital
letters.
Example: “Mail order catalogs provide hours of
fun,” Arleen exclaimed. “My family
loves to look at them.”

13. Note
•When a portion of a quotation that is not a
complete sentence is contained within a longer
sentence, do not capitalize the first word of the
quoted part of the sentence.
Example: The early Pony Express riders stated that
“neither snow nor rain nor heat” would stop their
deliveries.

14. Note
•If the quoted fragment shifts to the beginning
of the sentence, however, the first word
should then be capitalized.
Example: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat” kept
the early Pony Express riders from completing
their deliveries.

15. Rules for capitalization
After a Colon.
Capitalize the first word
after a colon if the word
begins a complete
sentence.

16. Note
If a list follows the colon, it is not a complete
sentence and, therefore, no capital letter is
used.

17. Note
A sentence following colon:
We saw what was in the package: It was my
lost wallet.
A list following colon:
The mail carrier delivered our mail: two
letters, a package, and a card.

18. Rules for capitalization
In Poetry:
Generally, the first word in
each line of poetry also
needs capitalization.
Capitalize the first word in
each line of most poetry.

19. Note
If you examine the following poem, you will notice
that a capital letter begins the second line even
though the line does not begin a new sentence.
Follow this policy for most poems.
Example:
Were it not better to forget
Than to remember and regret?-Leticia E. Landon

20. Rules for capitalization
For I and O:
Some words always
require capitalization.
Capitalize I and O
throughout a sentence.

21. Example
“I have painted my life- things happening in my
life- without knowing.” –Georgia O’Keeffe
“Your dreams, O years, how they penetrate
through me!- Walt Whitman

22. Note
Do not confuse O with the word oh. Oh only
receive a capital when it serves as the first word
in a sentence.

23. Rules for capitalization
Capitals for Proper
Nouns
A proper noun is a noun
that names a specific
person, place, or thing.

24. Note
Capitalize all proper nouns.
Names. Whenever a person’s specific name is
given, capital letters should be used.
*Capitalize each part of a person’s full name.
*Capitalize the proper names of animals.
*Geographical and Place Names

25. Note
Capitalize all proper nouns.
Names. Whenever a person’s specific name is
given, capital letters should be used.
*Capitalize the names of monuments,
buildings, and meeting rooms.

26. Note
Do not capitalize the words theater, hotel, and
university unless they are part of a proper
name.
Example:
The theater is one of the oldest buildings in
town.
The Fallon House Theater is an old ghost town.

27. Note
The word room is capitalized only if it refers to a
specific room and is combined with a name,
letter, or number.
Example: The exam will be given in Room 46.

28. Rules for capitalization
Other Proper Nouns
References to time and
history also follow
certain capitalization
rules.

29. Note
Capitalize the names of specific
events and periods of time.

30. Example
SPECIFIC EVENTS AND TIMES
Historical Periods the Stone Age
Historical Events the World War I
Documents and Laws The Gettyburg Address, the
Homestead Act
Days and Months Monday, October
Holidays and Religious Days Labor Day, Good Friday

31. Note
Do not capitalize the seasons.
Example:
We felt a winter chill in the air.

32. Note
Capitalize the names of various organizations,
government bodies, political parties, races,
nationalities, and languages.

33. Note
Capitalize references to religions, deities, and
religious scriptures.
The only time that religious references are not
capitalized occurs when writing mythological
gods and goddesses.
Example: In god Pluto, the goddess Athena