8 Capitalization Rules You Should Know

Summary

This video from Grammar League provides a concise guide to capitalization rules, offering eight essential tips to help viewers master them. Key points include capitalizing the first word of a sentence, proper nouns such as names and cities, and specific elements like days and holidays. The video also covers when not to capitalize, such as after colons and seasons. Viewers are encouraged to use Grammarly for further writing assistance. The video wraps up by promoting more episodes on writing and communication tips, ensuring viewers' skills remain sharp.

Takeaways

• 😀 Capitalize the first word of a sentence—it's always mandatory.
• 🐶 Proper nouns like names of people, cities, countries, companies, and specific titles should always be capitalized.
• ⚖️ After a colon, you generally don't capitalize the following word unless it's a proper noun or a complete sentence.
• 🗣️ Capitalize the first word of a full-sentence quote but not for partial quotes.
• 📅 Always capitalize days, months, and holidays, but seasons should not be capitalized.
• 📚 In titles, capitalize the first word, all nouns, verbs, adjectives, and proper nouns, but lowercase articles, conjunctions, and prepositions unless they are longer than five letters.
• 🌍 Always capitalize cities, countries, nationalities, and languages, as they are proper nouns.
• ⏳ Capitalize specific time periods, eras, and historical events, but centuries and the numbers before them should not be capitalized.
• 🔄 Remember to check capitalization rules when writing to ensure correct usage, especially with names and quotes.
• 📝 Use tools like Grammarly to help you with capitalization and other writing mechanics for flawless communication.

Q & A

What is the first rule of capitalization mentioned in the video?

The first rule is to always capitalize the first word of a sentence.

What kinds of words are proper nouns that should be capitalized?

Proper nouns include names of people (e.g., Jane Austen, Judge Judy), cities, countries, companies, religions, and political parties.

When should you capitalize 'Mom' and 'Grandma'?

You should capitalize 'Mom' and 'Grandma' when they are used as forms of address, like in 'Wait until Mom sees this.'

Is it necessary to capitalize the first word after a colon?

Usually, you do not need to capitalize the first word after a colon unless it is a proper noun or begins a complete sentence.

When should you capitalize the first word of a quote?

Capitalize the first word of a quote when it is a complete sentence, for example, 'Mario asked, What is everyone doing this weekend?'

Should you capitalize the names of seasons?

No, seasons are not proper nouns, so you do not need to capitalize them. However, days, months, and holidays should be capitalized.

What words should be capitalized in titles of books, movies, and other works?

Capitalize the first word, all nouns, all verbs, all adjectives, and all proper nouns in titles. Articles, conjunctions, and prepositions are typically not capitalized unless a style guide specifies otherwise.

What are some examples of historical events or time periods that should be capitalized?

Specific periods, eras, and historical events with proper names should be capitalized, such as the Renaissance or World War II. However, centuries and the numbers before them are not capitalized.

Should you capitalize nationalities, cities, and languages?

Yes, nationalities, cities, countries, and languages are all proper nouns, so they should be capitalized.

What tool does the video recommend for checking capitalization and improving writing skills?

The video recommends using Grammarly to check grammar and improve capitalization and overall writing skills.