Learn on PengiElements of Language, 3rd CourseChapter 10: Capital Letters: The Rules for Capitalization

Lesson 1: Basic Capitalization Rules

In this Grade 6 grammar lesson from Elements of Language, 3rd Course, students learn the foundational rules of capitalization, including capitalizing the first word of every sentence, the first word of a directly quoted sentence, and the pronoun I. The lesson also covers capitalizing the first word in letter salutations and closings, as well as distinguishing proper nouns from common nouns. Practice exercises reinforce each rule through sentence-level identification tasks.

Section 1

Capitalizing First Words

Definition

Capitalize the first word in every sentence. Capitalize the first word of a directly quoted sentence, even when the quoted sentence appears in the middle of a longer sentence.

Explanation

Every sentence needs to begin with a capital letter—it's the universal signal that a new thought is starting! This rule also extends to sentences that are quoted directly. When you quote someone, the first word of their sentence gets a capital letter, even if it's placed inside your own sentence.

Examples

  • The squirrels are busy gathering nuts for the winter.
  • My coach announced, "Practice is canceled due to the rain."
  • He turned to me and whispered, "do you think anyone noticed?" should be written as "Do you think anyone noticed?"

Section 2

Capitalizing the Pronoun 'I'

Definition

The pronoun I is always capitalized.

Explanation

The pronoun I is unique and always gets special treatment. No matter where it shows up in a sentence—at the beginning, in the middle, or even in a contraction like I'm or I've—it must be capitalized. This is a simple, straightforward rule with no exceptions to worry about!

Examples

  • When I get home from school, I like to read for an hour.
  • My friends asked if i'd be able to join them later. (The pronoun I in the contraction i'd should be capitalized: I'd)
  • She laughed and said, "You and I should form a team!" (The pronoun i should be capitalized: I)

Section 3

Capitalizing Letter Salutations and Closings

Definition

Capitalize the first word in both the salutation and the closing of a letter.

Explanation

When writing a letter or email, the greeting (or salutation) and the farewell (or closing) each need to start with a capital letter. Think of them as bookends for your message. Remember that names and titles are also capitalized, but other words in the phrase usually are not.

Examples

  • Salutation: My dear friend,
  • Closing: With love,
  • Yours faithfully, (The first word of the closing should be capitalized: Yours faithfully,)

Section 4

Proper Nouns vs. Common Nouns

Definition

A proper noun names a particular person, place, thing, or idea. Proper nouns are capitalized. A common noun names a kind or type of person, place, thing, or idea. A common noun generally is not capitalized unless it begins a sentence or is part of a title.

Explanation

Think of it this way: a common noun is a general category, like river, while a proper noun is a specific one, like the Amazon River. A helpful tip: if you can identify the noun's exact identity without any other context, it's probably a proper noun and needs a capital letter.

Examples

  • Common Noun: city, Proper Noun: Paris
  • Common Noun: team, Proper Noun: Chicago Cubs
  • Common Noun: leader, Proper Noun: Abraham Lincoln

Section 5

Capitalizing Names of People and Animals

Definition

Capitalize the names and initials of people and the names of animals.

Explanation

Always capitalize the unique names you give to people, pets, or other animals. This includes first names, last names, and initials. A key point to remember is that in multi-word names, short prepositions like of or the are generally not capitalized unless they appear at the very beginning of the name.

Examples

  • People: My favorite author is J. K. Rowling.
  • Animals: Our family dog is named Buddy.
  • Titles: We learned about William the Conqueror. (The article the is not capitalized.)

Section 6

Capitalizing Geographical Names

Definition

Capitalize geographical names, including the names of towns and cities, counties, townships, provinces, states, countries, continents, islands, mountains, bodies of water, parks and forests, regions, roads, streets, highways, and other geographical names.

Explanation

If a name appears on a map, it's a proper noun and needs to be capitalized. This rule covers everything from huge continents like Africa to small local parks like Central Park. Be careful with multi-word names: articles and short prepositions like the or of in the middle of a name stay lowercase.

Examples

  • They are planning a trip to the Rocky Mountains next year.
  • My family is from a town in hennepin county. (This should be capitalized: Hennepin County)
  • Have you ever visited the Bay of Bengal? (The preposition of is not capitalized.)

Section 7

Capitalizing Organizations and Institutions

Definition

Capitalize the names of organizations, teams, institutions, and government bodies.

Explanation

The official names for groups—like businesses, sports teams, schools, and government departments—are proper nouns and require capitalization. This helps distinguish a specific entity, like the Supreme Court, from a general term like a court. As with other proper nouns, do not capitalize short prepositions or articles in the middle of a name.

Examples

  • My cousin plays for the Boston Red Sox.
  • She will attend the University of Toronto in the fall.
  • The decision was made by the Haywood city council. (This should be capitalized: Haywood City Council)

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Chapter 10: Capital Letters: The Rules for Capitalization

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Section 1

Capitalizing First Words

Definition

Capitalize the first word in every sentence. Capitalize the first word of a directly quoted sentence, even when the quoted sentence appears in the middle of a longer sentence.

Explanation

Every sentence needs to begin with a capital letter—it's the universal signal that a new thought is starting! This rule also extends to sentences that are quoted directly. When you quote someone, the first word of their sentence gets a capital letter, even if it's placed inside your own sentence.

Examples

  • The squirrels are busy gathering nuts for the winter.
  • My coach announced, "Practice is canceled due to the rain."
  • He turned to me and whispered, "do you think anyone noticed?" should be written as "Do you think anyone noticed?"

Section 2

Capitalizing the Pronoun 'I'

Definition

The pronoun I is always capitalized.

Explanation

The pronoun I is unique and always gets special treatment. No matter where it shows up in a sentence—at the beginning, in the middle, or even in a contraction like I'm or I've—it must be capitalized. This is a simple, straightforward rule with no exceptions to worry about!

Examples

  • When I get home from school, I like to read for an hour.
  • My friends asked if i'd be able to join them later. (The pronoun I in the contraction i'd should be capitalized: I'd)
  • She laughed and said, "You and I should form a team!" (The pronoun i should be capitalized: I)

Section 3

Capitalizing Letter Salutations and Closings

Definition

Capitalize the first word in both the salutation and the closing of a letter.

Explanation

When writing a letter or email, the greeting (or salutation) and the farewell (or closing) each need to start with a capital letter. Think of them as bookends for your message. Remember that names and titles are also capitalized, but other words in the phrase usually are not.

Examples

  • Salutation: My dear friend,
  • Closing: With love,
  • Yours faithfully, (The first word of the closing should be capitalized: Yours faithfully,)

Section 4

Proper Nouns vs. Common Nouns

Definition

A proper noun names a particular person, place, thing, or idea. Proper nouns are capitalized. A common noun names a kind or type of person, place, thing, or idea. A common noun generally is not capitalized unless it begins a sentence or is part of a title.

Explanation

Think of it this way: a common noun is a general category, like river, while a proper noun is a specific one, like the Amazon River. A helpful tip: if you can identify the noun's exact identity without any other context, it's probably a proper noun and needs a capital letter.

Examples

  • Common Noun: city, Proper Noun: Paris
  • Common Noun: team, Proper Noun: Chicago Cubs
  • Common Noun: leader, Proper Noun: Abraham Lincoln

Section 5

Capitalizing Names of People and Animals

Definition

Capitalize the names and initials of people and the names of animals.

Explanation

Always capitalize the unique names you give to people, pets, or other animals. This includes first names, last names, and initials. A key point to remember is that in multi-word names, short prepositions like of or the are generally not capitalized unless they appear at the very beginning of the name.

Examples

  • People: My favorite author is J. K. Rowling.
  • Animals: Our family dog is named Buddy.
  • Titles: We learned about William the Conqueror. (The article the is not capitalized.)

Section 6

Capitalizing Geographical Names

Definition

Capitalize geographical names, including the names of towns and cities, counties, townships, provinces, states, countries, continents, islands, mountains, bodies of water, parks and forests, regions, roads, streets, highways, and other geographical names.

Explanation

If a name appears on a map, it's a proper noun and needs to be capitalized. This rule covers everything from huge continents like Africa to small local parks like Central Park. Be careful with multi-word names: articles and short prepositions like the or of in the middle of a name stay lowercase.

Examples

  • They are planning a trip to the Rocky Mountains next year.
  • My family is from a town in hennepin county. (This should be capitalized: Hennepin County)
  • Have you ever visited the Bay of Bengal? (The preposition of is not capitalized.)

Section 7

Capitalizing Organizations and Institutions

Definition

Capitalize the names of organizations, teams, institutions, and government bodies.

Explanation

The official names for groups—like businesses, sports teams, schools, and government departments—are proper nouns and require capitalization. This helps distinguish a specific entity, like the Supreme Court, from a general term like a court. As with other proper nouns, do not capitalize short prepositions or articles in the middle of a name.

Examples

  • My cousin plays for the Boston Red Sox.
  • She will attend the University of Toronto in the fall.
  • The decision was made by the Haywood city council. (This should be capitalized: Haywood City Council)

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 10: Capital Letters: The Rules for Capitalization

  1. Lesson 1Current

    Lesson 1: Basic Capitalization Rules

    LearnPractice
  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Capitalization of Proper Nouns and Titles

    LearnPractice