Capitalization
You are already aware that nouns fall into two general categories:
proper nouns and common nouns. All nouns refer to persons,
places, things, or ideas, but only certain nouns—proper nouns—
are capitalized. All other nouns do not require capitalization
(unless they occur at the beginning of a sentence). Let’s look at the
specifics that govern English capitalization.
A. The first word in a sentence is always capitalized. It does not mat-
ter if the sentence begins with a common noun or some other
grammatical element.Terrell is my brother.
The children are fast asleep.
Are you going home now?
When is that program on?B. The first word in the title of any work of art (e.g., short story,
article, book, TV program, film, painting, song, CD) is always capi-
talized. All the other words in the title are also capitalized, except
for the articles, conjunctions, and prepositions. (However, if an
article, conjunction, or preposition is the last word in a title, it must
be capitalized.)
“How to Buy a House”
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Finding Nemo
“Take Me Out to the Ball Game”C. The same rule applies to official names of businesses and insti-
tutions.The University of Illinois at Chicago
Sears Roebuck and Company95Unit 19
05 (077-098) Units 14-19 11/3/04 1:41 PM Page 95
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