Overview:
Capitalizing words within a sentence or title alerts readers to the importance of those words. Besides the first word beginning a sentence, proper nouns, special events, some awards, specific dates, and holidays are capitalized. Key words are capitalized within titles of works.
What Are Some General Rules?
The first word of any type of sentence is always capitalized. In addition, the first word is capitalized at the beginning of a direct quotation. Jill asked, “Will you be going home during break?” However, if the direct quotation is interrupted, the words following the second set of quotation marks are not. “I don’t know,” she replied, “because it depends on when I can leave work.”
What About Proper Nouns?
Proper nouns, such as the names of people, specific places, and events, are always capitalized, no matter where they occur in the sentence. Robert and Scott planted the trees along the waterfront. They saw the exhibits at the Museum of Flight. We went to the fireworks show at Lake Union last Fourth of July.
What About Proper Adjectives?
Proper adjectives are either formed from proper nouns, or proper nouns themselves are used as adjectives. In that case, the proper adjective is capitalized but the common noun modified is not. We studied the Shakespearean sonnets in English class. Did you meet the Russian exchange student? When did the first European settlers arrive?
What About Titles of Works?
Within titles of books, periodicals, poems, stories, articles, plays, paintings, and music, the first word in the title, key words, and verbs are capitalized. Did you ever read To the Lighthouse? That article was published in The New York Review of Books. One of Van Gogh’s best-known paintings is Starry Night.
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