Capitalization Rules: The Complete Guide

When to Use Capital Letters (And When Not To)

Quick Answer

Always capitalize: First word of sentences, proper nouns (names, places), titles before names, days/months.

Never capitalize: Seasons (spring, summer), general directions (north, south) unless part of a name.

Rule 1: First Word of Sentences

Always capitalize the first word of every sentence.

  • The sun is shining. ✓
  • What time is it? ✓
  • Hello, how are you? ✓
  • After a colon (optional): She said: "Hello." ✓
  • After quotes: "Wait," she said. ✓

Rule 2: Proper Nouns

Capitalize specific names of people, places, and things.

  • Names: Sarah, John, Einstein ✓
  • Places: New York, Mount Everest, Pacific Ocean ✓
  • Organizations: Google, United Nations, Harvard ✓
  • Specific things: The Eiffel Tower, Constitution ✓
  • But NOT general nouns: "a city," "the mountain," "the ocean" ✗

Rule 3: Titles Before Names

Capitalize titles when used with a name.

  • President Biden ✓ vs. "the president spoke" ✗
  • Doctor Smith ✓ vs. "see a doctor" ✗
  • Professor Johnson ✓ vs. "my professor" ✗
  • Queen Elizabeth ✓ vs. "the queen" ✗
  • Mom/Dad as names: "I asked Mom" ✓ vs. "my mom" ✗

Rule 4: Days, Months, Holidays

  • Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday ✓
  • Months: January, February, March ✓
  • Holidays: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah ✓
  • But NOT seasons: spring, summer, fall, winter ✗

Comparison Chart

Capitalize ✓ Don't Capitalize ✗
Proper nouns (Sarah, Paris) Common nouns (girl, city)
Days/Months (Monday, July) Seasons (spring, winter)
Titles with names (Dr. Smith) Titles alone (the doctor)
Regions (the South, the West) Directions (go south, head west)
Languages (English, French) Subjects (math, history)*

*Exception: Language courses and specific course names are capitalized (English 101).

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

❌ Incorrect:

"I love Spring."

✓ Correct:

"I love spring."

Why? Seasons aren't capitalized (unless part of a proper name like "Spring Festival").
❌ Incorrect:

"The President spoke today."

✓ Correct:

"The president spoke today." / "President Biden spoke."

Why? Capitalize only when used as a title with the name.
❌ Incorrect:

"I'm heading North."

✓ Correct:

"I'm heading north." / "I live in the North."

Why? Directions are lowercase; regions (the South, the North) are capitalized.

Quick Tips

💡 The Name Test

Is it a specific name? Capitalize. Is it a general category? Lowercase.

✅ Mom/Dad Test

Can you replace with their name? "I asked Mom" (asked Sarah) = capitalize. "My mom" = lowercase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I capitalize "internet"?

Modern style: lowercase "internet" and "web." Older style used capitals. Both are acceptable; be consistent.

What about job titles in resumes?

In resumes, job titles are often capitalized for emphasis (Marketing Manager). In regular writing, follow standard rules.

How do I capitalize titles of works?

Capitalize first/last words and all major words. Lowercase articles (a, an, the), prepositions (in, on), and conjunctions (and, but) unless first/last.

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