Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
URL: http://www.siue.edu/IS/WRITING/
Published by: Instructional Services Department
Last Updated: August 22, 2005 
Contact: Webmaster
© Copyright 2005, SIUE Online Writing Center

1.  Capitalize nationality, race, language, religion when used as nouns or adjectives: Protestant, Jewish, American, Negro, Catholic, French, English, etc.

2.  Capitalize names of states, cities, bodies of water, places, streets, etc.: Pacific Ocean, New Zealand, Harlem, California, Central Park, Jones Street, etc.
            But don't capitalize general terms for these: the lake, a town, a large state, etc.

3.  Capitalize the specific name of buildings, organizations, and institutions: Empire State Building, Paradise Theater, National Organization of Women, Johnson City Library, etc.
            But don't capitalize general terms for these: a tall building, an expensive theater, a feminist group, etc.

4.  Capitalize the specific names of historical events, historical periods, and documents:  Spanish-American War, the Renaissance, the Constitution, etc.
            But don't capitalize the general terms for these: a terrible war, a new charter, etc.

5.  Capitalize the names of months, days, and holidays: June, Monday, Fourth of July, etc.
            But don't capitalize seasons: summer, fall, winter, spring.

6.  Capitalize professional titles when they are part of names: Dr. Smith, Professor Greenstein, Judge Alvarez, etc.
            But don't capitalize general professions: the doctor, the professor, the judge, etc.

7.  Capitalize family relationships when they are part of names: Uncle Joe, Grandmother Stein, Cousin Beverly, Mother, etc.
            But don't capitalize family relationships that are not names:  an uncle, her grandfather, her aunt, my cousin, etc.

8.  Capitalize brand names: Greaso hair oil, Quick drafting ink.
            But don't capitalize the type of product: dog food, soup.

9.  Capitalize names for sections of the country: the East, the Northwest, the South, etc.
            But don't capitalize directions: east on the boulevard.

10.  Capitalize the specific names of academic courses: Mathematics 151, Sociology 111, World Literature 110.
            But don't capitalize subjects (unless they are also languages): tough mathematics course, an A in sociology, etc.

11.  Capitalize titles of books, poems, plays, films (capitalize the first word and everything else except articles, conjunctions, and prepositions):  A Farewell to Arms, "Ode to a Bat," etc.