Purdue University North Central Writing Center Handout

Rules for Capitalization

Capitalize...

1.         The first word of every sentence.

2.         The first word of every direct quotation.

            "We've jogged two miles," he said, "and I feel great."

3.         The first, last, and every important word in a title.  Don't capitalize prepositions, short connecting words,  the to in front of a verb, or a, an, the.

            Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice.

            Sally Struthers played Archie's daughter in the show All in the Family.)

4.         Names of people, places, languages, and nationalities.

            Uganda            English            Indian

5.         Names of months, days of the week, and special days.

            February            Wednesday                 Thanksgiving            Valentine’s Day

6.         A title of relationship if it takes the place of the person's name.  If my (or a similar word) is in front of the word, a capital is not used.

            I think Mother wrote to her.

            I think my mother wrote to her. 

            She visited Aunt Rhonda.

            Did she visit her aunt?

7.         Names of particular people or things, but not general ones.

            I spoke to Professor Warnock

            I spoke to the professor.

            We walked along the banks of the Wabash River.

            We walked along the banks of the river.