Rule 1: Capitalize the first word in declarative , interrogative, imperative, and

exclamatory.Examples:Declarative: Several members if the royal family were impatiently waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Interrogative: Isn’t anyone going to start?

Imperative: Bo deeply when introduced to the Queen.

Exclamatory: What an unusual day this is?

Rule 2: Always capitalize the word I.

Examples:

• I watched the clock while I waited for you.

• I never understood why he was so late.

Rule 3: Capitalize all proper nouns.- The name of a specific person is perhaps the most common kind of

proper noun.

Examples:

• Martin Luther King

• Statue of Liberty

• Awtrey Middle School

Rule 4: Capitalize each part of a persons full name, including initials.

Examples:

• Margaret Rose Windsor

• L.T. Cornwall

Rule 5: Capitalize geographical names.

Examples:• Streets- Wildflower Drive Boxwood Drive• Towns and Cities- Acworth Kennesaw• Mountains- Mount Everest Cascade Range

Rule 6: Capitalize the names of specific events and periods of time.

Historical Periods Age of Enlightenment Middle AgesDays/Months Wednesday DecemberHolidays/religious days Christmas Labor DaySpecial events Boston Marathon

Rule 7: Capitalize the names of various organizations, government bodies, political

parties, nationalities, as well as the

languages spoken by different groups.

• Beta Club

• Supreme Court

• Republicans

• German, Spanish, English

Rule 8: Capitalize references to religions, deities, and religious scriptures

• Religions – Christianity, Islam,

• Deities – God, Allah, Jehovah

• Scriptures – Holy Bible, Torah, Koran

Rule 9: Capitalize names of specific places and items

• Monuments – Twin Towers, Effiel Tower

• Memorials- Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Wall

• Celestial Bodies – Mars, Jupiter, Aries, Earth

• Awards – Newberry Award, People’s Choice

Rule 10: Capitalize names of awards

• Awards – Newberry Award, People’s Choice, Academy Awards

Rule 11: Capitalize most proper adjectives

• A proper noun used to describe a common noun

• Spanish rice

• American literature

• Georgia history

• African American books

Rule 12: Capitalize brand names

• Capitalize brand names when used as adjectives. When the item is NOT part of the brand, do NOT capitalize the item.

• Kellog’s frosted flakes

• Campbell’s soup

• Apple Bottom jeans

• Timberland boots

• Coach purse

Rule 13: Capitalize titles when with a person’s name

• Do NOT capitalize title without a name

• Dr. Martin; the doctor walked to me

• Captain Douglas; our captain

• President Clinton; the president is missing

• Senator Obama; our senator is leaving town

• Sister O’dell; the sister in the church was singing off key

Rule 14: Capitalize family titles

• When a person’s name is with their family title, capitalize it

• Aunt Betty

• Uncle George

• Papa Joe

• Grandma Annette

• Grandma Karen

Rule 15: Capitalize titles of works

• Capitalize the first word and all other important words in titles of books, periodicals, poems, stories, plays.

• Do NOT capitalize conjunctions, articles, and prepositions that are shorter than (5) letters (and, in, an, the, on, of, with)

• Gone with the Wind

• The Cat in the Hat

Rule 16: Capitalize courses

• Capitalize the title of courses when the course is a language OR followed by a number

• Language Arts 7A• Honors English 10A• Math 7/8• Do NOT capitalize the course if you are

only referring to a class - language arts class, math class, social studies