This document provides 4 additional capitalization rules: 1) Capitalize names of specific structures like buildings, roads, and bridges. 2) Capitalize names of specific organizations like businesses, schools, and clubs. 3) Capitalize names of days, months, holidays, and special time periods but not seasons. 4) Capitalize geographic areas but not compass directions. Examples are given to illustrate the correct and incorrect capitalization for each rule.

1. In Module 2 you learned six
capitalization rules.
Here are four more.
Module 4
Capitalization: 4 more rules
Information taken from: Hogue, A. (2008).
First steps in academic writing. Longman:
N.Y.

2. Capitalize…
7. Names of specific structures such as buildings,
roads, and bridges.
• The US President
lives in the White
House.
• My brother stays at
the Hilton Hotel.
• I visited the Kremlin
when I went to
Russia.
Correct
• The US President
lives in the white
house.
• My brother stays at
the hilton hotel.
• I visited the kremlin
when I went to
Russia.
Incorrect

3. Capitalize…
8. Names of specific organizations, such as
businesses, schools, and clubs.
• I want to work with
the United Nations.
• I belong to the
Students’ Chess
Club.
• He works at Ernst &
Young.
Correct 
• I want to work with
the united nations.
• I belong to the
students’ chess
club.
• He works at ernst &
young.
Incorrect 

4. Capitalize…
9. Names of the days, months, holidays, and special time
periods.
BUT NOT names of seasons
• We have English 1 on
Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesdays and
Friday.
Days of the Week
Correct 
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday, Sunday
Days of the week
• We have English 1 on
monday, tuesday,
wednesday and
friday.
Days of the Week
Inorrect 

5. Capitalize…
9. Names of the days, months, holidays, and special time
periods.
BUT NOT names of seasons
• My birthday is in
September.
• I start classes in August.
• I go on vacations in
December.
Months
Correct 
• January, February, March, April, May, June, July,
August, September, October, November, December
Months
• My birthday is in
september.
• I start classes in august.
• I go on vacations in
december.
Months
Inorrect 

6. Capitalize…
9. Names of the days, months, holidays, and special time
periods.
BUT NOT names of seasons
• My favorite holiday is
Christmas.
• I celebrate New Year’s
Day with my family.
• I don’t like to wear a
costume in Halloween.
Correct 
• Christmas, New Year’s Day, Halloween, Love and
Friendship Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Easter, etc…
Holidays and Special Time Periods
• My favorite holiday is
christmas.
• I celebrate new year’s day
with my family.
• I don’t like to wear a
costume in halloween.
Inorrect 

7. Capitalize…
9. Names of the days, months, holidays, and special time
periods.
BUT NOT names of seasons
• My favorite seasons are
spring and fall.
• It always snows in winter.
• I love the colors of the
leaves in fall.
Correct 
• The four seasons are: winter, spring, summer and fall.
Seasons
• My favorite seasons are
Spring and Fall.
• It always snows in
Winter.
• I love the colors of the
leaves in Fall.
Incorrect 

8. Capitalize…
10. Geographic areas.
BUT NOT compass directions
• I want to visit the Middle
East.
• Eastern Europe is very
interesting.
• Is that in Southeast Asia?
Correct 
• Compass directions: east, west, north, and south.
• Example: Drive south for 2 miles and turn west.
Compass directions
• I want to visit the middle
east.
• Eastern europe is very
interesting.
• Is that in southeast asia?
Incorrect 