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Capitalization Rules for Clear Writing

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A1 (Beginner)Writing

Capitalization Rules for Clear Writing

Capitalization means using a big letter (A, B, C) at the start of certain words. It is one of the first skills of clear writing. Get it right and your writing instantly looks correct and professional. This lesson covers every rule you need.

Capitalization means using a big letter (A, B, C) at the start of certain words. It is one of the first skills of clear writing. Get it right and your writing instantly looks correct and professional. This lesson covers every rule you need.

1. The first word of a sentence

Always start a sentence with a capital letter, whatever type it is.

Type Example
Statement My brother is at home.
Command Close the door.
Question Are you a student?
Exclamation Look out!

2. The pronoun “I”

The word I is always a capital letter, anywhere in a sentence: “Aisha and I are friends.”

3. Names of people, titles & job titles

Capitalize people’s names. Capitalize a job name only when it is used as a title before a name. Put a period after abbreviated titles.

Capital (title) Small (not a title)
Professor Basker She is a professor.
Dr. Kim, Ms. Park He is a doctor.

4. Places

Capitalize cities, countries, continents, and specific place names: seas, oceans, lakes, rivers, deserts, mountains, planets, streets, buildings, schools, and companies.

  • Cities & countries: Cairo, Malaysia, London
  • Place names: the Nile, the Pacific Ocean, Jeju Island
  • Buildings & schools: Seoul National University, the Hilton Hotel
Sun, moon & seasonsDo not capitalize sun, moon, or the seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter). Do capitalize the months and days: January, Monday.

5. Languages, nationalities, days & months

Always capital Examples
Languages / nationalities Arabic, English, Japanese
Days of the week Sunday, Monday
Months of the year July, February

6. Brand names & acronyms

Capitalize a brand name but not the product: “a Samsung television.” Capitalize acronyms made from first letters: the UN, the USA, the UAE, TV, ID.

Tutor tip for Arabic speakersArabic has no capital letters, so this rule is brand-new for many Arabic speakers — it feels strange at first, and that is completely normal. Two habits fix 90% of mistakes: (1) capitalize the very first letter of every sentence, and (2) always write I as a capital. Build those two into muscle memory first, then add names and places.

Examples from EduCareer

  • Aisha studies English and Arabic every Monday.
  • Omar and I visited Dubai in the UAE last July.
  • Yusuf lives on Victoria Street near the Hilton Hotel.
Common mistakes

i study english on monday.  →  I study English on Monday.

my friend omar lives in cairo.  →  My friend Omar lives in Cairo.

We go to the beach every Summer.  →  We go to the beach every summer. (seasons are small)

Check your understanding

Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.

1.Which sentence is capitalized correctly?
Capitalize the first word of the sentence and the name.
2.Choose the correct form.
Capitalize the name Omar and always capitalize I.
3.Which word must always be a capital letter?
The pronoun I is always capitalized.
4.Pick the correctly written place name.
Both words of a specific place name are capitalized.
5.Which is correct?
Languages are always capitalized.
6.Which word should NOT be capitalized?
Seasons are not capitalized; days, months and languages are.
7.Choose the correct sentence.
Capitalize the city and the month; do not capitalize every word.
8.When is a job word capitalized?
"Professor Basker" (title) vs "she is a professor" (not a title).
9.Which is correct?
Capitalize the title and name; abbreviated titles take a period.
10.Pick the correct capitalization.
Capitalize the brand (Samsung) but not the product (television).
11.Which sentence starts correctly?
Questions also start with a capital letter.
12.Choose the correct acronym form.
Acronyms use capital letters: the UN.
13.Which is correct?
Capitalize both the name and the country.
14.Which day is written correctly?
Days of the week are capitalized.
15.Select the correct sentence.
Start with a capital, but do not capitalize "sun".
16.Which is correct?
Capitalize I, the language, and the day.
17.Pick the correct street name.
Capitalize both words of a street name.
18.Which nationality is correct?
Nationalities are capitalized.
19.Choose the fully correct sentence.
Names, city and month all take capitals.
20.What is wrong here: "my Teacher is from Japan."
Start with My; "teacher" is not a title here, so it stays small. Japan is correct.

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