Language Arts - Punctuation
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Language Arts - Punctuation - Capitalization

Capitalization

The most basic rule about capitalization is that you should always capitalize the first word in a sentence: 


	CORRECT: 
		The train will be here soon.

	INCORRECT: 
		the train will be here soon.
Another basic rule is capitalizing the word "I". 

	CORRECT:
		In a few minutes I will feed the fish.

	INCORRECT:
		In a few minutes i will feed the fish.
You should also capitalize the first word in a direct quote: 

	CORRECT:
		Jill said, "There are seven ants in the jar."

	INCORRECT:
		Jill said, "there are seven ants in the jar."

Another capitalization rule is that proper nouns must be capitalized. Proper nouns are the names of specific persons, places, or things. 


	CORRECT: 
		His dog's name is Spot.
		We will eat at Chuck's Steak House tonight.
		They went to Utah last weekend.

	INCORRECT: 
		His dog's name is spot.
		We will eat at chuck's steak house tonight.
		They went to utah last weekend.
The days of the week and the names of months must also be capitalized: 

	CORRECT:
		The game will be played on Tuesday.
		Jill's birthday is in October.

	INCORRECT:
		The game will be played on tuesday.
		Jill's birthday is in october.
Titles and words of family relationship are capitalized only when they come right before the name of a person: 

	CORRECT:
		Jill talked to her Uncle Sam.
		Jill talked to her uncle.
		The president gave a speech.
		We heard a speech given by President Williams.

	INCORRECT:
		Jill talked to her uncle Sam.
		Jill talked to her Uncle.
		The President gave a speech.
		We heard a speech given by president Williams.
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