{"id":368,"date":"2015-04-21T00:40:51","date_gmt":"2015-04-21T04:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/writingforpublicrelations\/chapter\/2-4-capitalization\/"},"modified":"2021-02-28T14:57:21","modified_gmt":"2021-02-28T19:57:21","slug":"2-4-capitalization","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/writingforpublicrelations\/chapter\/2-4-capitalization\/","title":{"raw":"2.4 Capitalization","rendered":"2.4 Capitalization"},"content":{"raw":"
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Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n
    \r\n \t
  1. Learn the basic rules of capitalization.<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Identify common capitalization errors.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    Text messages, casual e-mails, and instant messages often ignore the rules of capitalization<\/a><\/span>. In fact, it can seem unnecessary to capitalize in these contexts. In other, more formal forms of communication, however, knowing the basic rules of capitalization and using capitalization correctly gives the reader the impression that you choose your words carefully and care about the ideas you are conveying.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n

    Capitalize the First Word of a Sentence<\/h2>\r\n
    Incorrect:<\/b> t<\/u>he museum has a new butterfly exhibit.\r\nCorrect:<\/b> T<\/u>he museum has a new butterfly exhibit.\r\nIncorrect:<\/b> c<\/u>ooking can be therapeutic.\r\nCorrect:<\/b> C<\/u>ooking can be therapeutic.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
    \r\n

    Capitalize Proper Nouns<\/h2>\r\n

    Proper nouns\u2014the names of specific people, places, objects, streets, buildings, events, or titles of individuals\u2014are always capitalized.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    Incorrect:<\/b> He grew up in h<\/u>arlem, n<\/u>ew y<\/u>ork.\r\nCorrect:<\/b> He grew up in H<\/u>arlem, N<\/u>ew Y<\/u>ork.\r\nIncorrect:<\/b> The s<\/u>ears t<\/u>ower in c<\/u>hicago has a new name.\r\nCorrect:<\/b> The S<\/u>ears T<\/u>ower in C<\/u>hicago has a new name.<\/div>\r\n
    \r\n

    Tip<\/h4>\r\n

    Always capitalize nationalities, races, languages, and religions. For example, American, African American, Hispanic, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and so on.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    Do not capitalize nouns for people, places, things, streets, buildings, events, and titles when the noun is used in general or common way. See the following chart for the difference between proper nouns and common nouns.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    Common Noun<\/th>\r\nProper Noun<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n
    museum<\/td>\r\nThe Art Institute of Chicago<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    theater<\/td>\r\nApollo Theater<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    country<\/td>\r\nMalaysia<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    uncle<\/td>\r\nUncle Javier<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    doctor<\/td>\r\nDr. Jackson<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    book<\/td>\r\nPride and Prejudice<\/em><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    college<\/td>\r\nSmith College<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    war<\/td>\r\nthe Spanish-American War<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    historical event<\/td>\r\nThe Renaissance<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
    \r\n

    Exercise 1<\/h3>\r\n

    On your own sheet of paper, write five proper nouns for each common noun that is listed. The first one has been done for you.<\/p>\r\n

    Common noun: river<\/p>\r\n\r\n

      \r\n \t
    1. Nile River<\/li>\r\n \t
    2. <\/li>\r\n \t
    3. <\/li>\r\n \t
    4. <\/li>\r\n \t
    5. <\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

      Common noun: musician<\/p>\r\n\r\n

        \r\n \t
      1. <\/li>\r\n \t
      2. <\/li>\r\n \t
      3. <\/li>\r\n \t
      4. <\/li>\r\n \t
      5. <\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

        Common noun: magazine<\/p>\r\n\r\n

          \r\n \t
        1. <\/li>\r\n \t
        2. <\/li>\r\n \t
        3. <\/li>\r\n \t
        4. <\/li>\r\n \t
        5. <\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

          Collaboration<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

          Please share with a classmate and compare your answers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

          \r\n

          Capitalize Days of the Week, Months of the Year, and Holidays<\/h2>\r\n
          Incorrect:<\/b> On w<\/u>ednesday, I will be traveling to Austin for a music festival.\r\nCorrect:<\/b> On W<\/u>ednesday, I will be traveling to Austin for a music festival.\r\nIncorrect:<\/b> The f<\/u>ourth of j<\/u>uly is my favorite holiday.\r\nCorrect:<\/b> The F<\/u>ourth of J<\/u>uly is my favorite holiday.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
          \r\n

          Capitalize Titles<\/h2>\r\n
          Incorrect:<\/b> The play, f<\/u>ences<\/em>, by August Wilson is one of my favorites.\r\nCorrect:<\/b> The play, F<\/u>ences<\/em>, by August Wilson is one of my favorites.\r\nIncorrect:<\/b> The p<\/u>resident of the u<\/u>nited s<\/u>tates will be speaking at my university.\r\nCorrect:<\/b> The P<\/u>resident of the U<\/u>nited S<\/u>tates will be speaking at my university.<\/div>\r\n
          \r\n

          Tip<\/h4>\r\n

          Computer-related words such as \u201cInternet\u201d and \u201cWorld Wide Web\u201d are usually capitalized; however, \u201ce-mail\u201d and \u201conline\u201d are never capitalized.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

          \r\n

          Exercise 2<\/h3>\r\n

          Edit the following sentences by correcting the capitalization of the titles or names.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

            \r\n \t
          1. The prince of england enjoys playing polo.<\/li>\r\n \t
          2. \u201cOde to a nightingale\u201d is a sad poem.<\/li>\r\n \t
          3. My sister loves to read magazines such as the new yorker.<\/li>\r\n \t
          4. The house on Mango street<\/em> is an excellent novel written by Sandra Cisneros.<\/li>\r\n \t
          5. My physician, dr. alvarez, always makes me feel comfortable in her office.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
            \r\n

            Exercise 3<\/h3>\r\n

            Edit the following paragraphs by correcting the capitalization.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

            david grann\u2019s the lost City of Z<\/em> mimics the snake-like winding of the amazon River. The three distinct Stories that are introduced are like twists in the River. First, the Author describes his own journey to the amazon in the present day, which is contrasted by an account of percy fawcett\u2019s voyage in 1925 and a depiction of James Lynch\u2019s expedition in 1996. Where does the river lead these explorers? the answer is one that both the Author and the reader are hungry to discover.\r\nThe first lines of the preface pull the reader in immediately because we know the author, david grann, is lost in the amazon. It is a compelling beginning not only because it\u2019s thrilling but also because this is a true account of grann\u2019s experience. grann has dropped the reader smack in the middle of his conflict by admitting the recklessness of his decision to come to this place. the suspense is further perpetuated by his unnerving observation that he always considered himself A Neutral Witness, never getting personally involved in his stories, a notion that is swiftly contradicted in the opening pages, as the reader can clearly perceive that he is in a dire predicament\u2014and frighteningly involved.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
            \r\n

            Writing at Work<\/h4>\r\n

            Did you know that, if you use all capital letters to convey a message, the capital letters come across like SHOUTING? In addition, all capital letters are actually more difficult to read and may annoy the reader. To avoid \u201cshouting\u201d at or annoying your reader, follow the rules of capitalization and find other ways to emphasize your point.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

            \r\n

            Key Takeaways<\/h3>\r\n