Capitalization Rule Y Puntuation Rule

¿What is Capitalization?

Capitalization occurs when the first letter in a word is an upper case letter. For example, the first word in this sentence contains a capital F.

¿Why do we use Punctuation and Capitalization? There are many instances in writing where capitalization is appropriate. Writers use capital letters and punctuation marks to help the reader better understand what is written.

Capital Letters

All sentences begin with capital letters.

1.) The first word of a quoted sentence.

2.) Proper nouns begin with capital letters. (Names of people, specific

monuments, cities, states, etc.)

Mr. Thompson asked if Anna would help.

Uncle Bob took us to Dallas.

3.) A person's title when it precedes his or her name (Dr. Richardson)

4.) High-ranking government officials (President Bush, Attorney General Smith

5.) The pronoun I is always capitalized.

I want to go to San Francisco.

My sister and I are in the same class.

6.) A capital letter begins the first, last, and any important word in the title of

a book, magazine, song, movie, poem, or other work.

Read the first chapter of Kite Runner.

I saw American Pie last year.

Capitalization Rules

Rule 1

Capitalize the first word of a quoted sentence.

Examples:

He said, "Treat her as you would your own daughter."

"Look out!" she screamed. "You almost ran into my child."

Rule 2

Capitalize a proper noun.

Example:

Golden Gate Bridge

Rule 3

Capitalize a person's title when it precedes the name. Do not capitalize when the title is acting as a description following the name.

Examples:

Chairperson Petrov

Ms. Petrov, the chairperson of the company, will address us at noon.

Rule 4

Capitalize the person's title when it follows the name on the address or signature line.

Example:

Sincerely,

Ms. Haines, Chairperson

Rule 5

Capitalize the titles of high-ranking government officials when used before their names. Do not capitalize the civil title if it is used instead of the name.

Examples:

The president will address Congress.

All senators are expected to attend.

The governors, lieutenant governors, and attorneys general called for a special task force.

Governor Fortinbrass, Lieutenant Governor Poppins, Attorney General Dalloway, and Senators James and Twain will attend.

Rule 6

Capitalize any title when used as a direct address.

Example:

Will you take my temperature, Doctor?

Rule 7

Capitalize points of the compass only when they refer to specific regions.

Examples:

We have had three relatives visit from the South.

Go south three blocks and then turn left.

We live in the southeast section of town.

Southeast is just an adjective here describing section, so it should not be capitalized.

Rule 8

Always capitalize the first and last words of titles of publications regardless of their parts of speech. Capitalize other words within titles, including the short verb forms Is, Are, and Be.

Exception:

Do not capitalize little words within titles such as a, an, the, but, as, if, and, or, nor, or prepositions, regardless of their length.

Examples:

The Day of the Jackal

What Color Is Your Parachute?

A Tale of Two Cities

Rule 9

Capitalize federal or state when used as part of an official agency name or in government documents where these terms represent an official name. If they are being used as general terms, you may use lowercase letters.

Examples:

The state has evidence to the contrary.

That is a federal offense.

The State Board of Equalization collects sales taxes.

We will visit three states during our summer vacation.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been subject to much scrutiny and criticism lately.

Her business must comply with all county, state, and federal laws.

Rule 10

You may capitalize words such as department, bureau, and office if you have prepared your text in the following way:

Example:

The Bureau of Land Management (Bureau) has some jurisdiction over Indian lands. The Bureau is finding its administrative role to be challenging.

Rule 11

Do not capitalize names of seasons.

Example:

I love autumn colors and spring flowers.

Rule 12

Capitalize the first word of a salutation and the first word of a complimentary close.

Examples:

Dear Ms. Mohamed:

My dear Mr. Sanchez:

Very truly yours,

Rule 13

Capitalize words derived from proper nouns.

Example:

I must take English and math.

English is capitalized because it comes from the proper noun England, but math does not come from Mathland.

Rule 14

Capitalize the names of specific course titles.

Example:

I must take history and Algebra 2.

Rule 15

After a sentence ending with a colon, do not capitalize the first word if it begins a list.

Example:

These are my favorite foods: chocolate cake, spaghetti, and artichokes.

Rule 16

Do not capitalize when only one sentence follows a sentence ending with a colon.

Example:

I love Jane Smiley's writing: her book, A Thousand Acres, was beautiful.

Rule 17

Capitalize when two or more sentences follow a sentence ending with a colon.

Example:

I love Jane Smiley's writing: Her book, A Thousand Acres, was beautiful. Also, Moo was clever.

Punctuation Rules

Punctuation is a really important part of writing. It's used to help make your writing easy to understand. It would be really hard to read a story that had no capital letters, periods or commas.

Here are some of the rules for Punctuation:

Apostrophes (')

Rule 1

Use the apostrophe with contractions. The apostrophe is always placed at the spot where the letter(s) has been removed.

Examples:

don't, isn't

You're right.

She's a great teacher.

Rule 2

Use the apostrophe to show possession. Place the apostrophe before the s to show singular possession.

Examples:

one boy's hat

one woman's hat

one actress's hat

one child's hat

Ms. Chang's house

NOTE: Although names ending in s or an s sound are not required to have the second s added in possessive form, it is preferred.

Examples:

Mr. Jones's golf clubs

Texas's weather

Ms. Straus's daughter

Jose Sanchez's artwork

Dr. Hastings's appointment (name is Hastings)

Mrs. Lees's books (name is Lees)

Rule 3

Use the apostrophe where the noun that should follow is implied.

Example:

This was his father's, not his, jacket.

Rule 4

To show plural possession, make the noun plural first. Then immediately use the apostrophe.

Examples:

two boys' hats two women's hats

two actresses' hats

two children's hats

the Changs' house

the Joneses' golf clubs

the Strauses' daughter

the Sanchezes' artwork

the Hastingses' appointment

the Leeses' books

Rule 5

Do not use an apostrophe for the plural of a name.

Examples:

We visited the Sanchezes in Los Angeles.

The Changs have two cats and a dog.

Rule 6

With a singular compound noun, show possession with 's at the end of the word.

Example:

my mother-in-law's hat

Rule 7

If the compound noun is plural, form the plural first and then use the apostrophe.

Example:

my two brothers-in-law's hats

Rule 8

Use the apostrophe and s after the second name only if two people possess the same item.

Examples:

Cesar and Maribel's home is constructed of redwood.

Cesar's and Maribel's job contracts will be renewed next year.

Indicates separate ownership.

Cesar and Maribel's job contracts will be renewed next year.

Indicates joint ownership of more than one contract.

Rule 9

Never use an apostrophe with possessive pronouns: his, hers, its, theirs, ours, yours, whose. They already show possession so they do not require an apostrophe.

Correct:

This book is hers, not yours.

Incorrect:

Sincerely your's.

Rule 10

The only time an apostrophe is used for it's is when it is a contraction for it is or it has.

Examples:

It's a nice day.

It's your right to refuse the invitation.

It's been great getting to know you.

Rule 11

The plurals for capital letters and numbers used as nouns are not formed with apostrophes.

Examples:

She consulted with three M.D.s.

BUT

She went to three

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