Rhetoric and Composition/Capitalization

Capitalize means to use uppercase for the first letter of a word.

Basic Principles

• Proper nouns: Capitalize nouns that are the unique identification for a particular person, place or thing.

  Example: Michael, Minnesota, North America.

• Proper names: Capitalize common nouns like party only when they are part of the full name for the person, place or thing.

  Example: I am a member of the Democratic Party.

  Example: Are you going to the party?

They are also lowercased when being used in a plural setting:

• Example: The Democratic and Republican parties.

• Sentences: Capitalize the first word of every sentence including quoted statements and direct questions.
• Composition: Capitalize the main words in the names of books, movies, plays, poems, operas, songs, radio and television programs, etc.

  Example: Family Guy.

• Titles: Capitalize formal titles only when used in front of a name, not when used after the name.

  Example: Associate Professor John Doe / John Doe, associate professor.

• Academic titles: Capitalize and spell out formal titles only when they precede a name.

  Example: Chancellor David Nachriener.

Bibliography

• W:Capitalization