Proper Writing: Learn Capitalization in English with These Tips 

Speaking and writing a language are two different fields. Speaking a language entails understanding, recognizing, and using grammar rules efficiently. Writing involves a new set of rules different from the ones applied in speaking. Several people always get stuck in writing and identifying the letter to capitalize.  

 Do you understand how to use capitalization rules efficiently in English? Do not fret; this article will help you understand capitalization rules. Check out the following five rules of capitalization and the use of capitalization. 

Five Rules of Capitalization 

Capitalization rules might seem simple at first glance, but sometimes you might get stuck on the letter to capitalize. Some individuals even end up applying capitalization rules inappropriately. Check out the following five capitalization rules and avoid any mistakes when writing. 

Capitalize the First Word of a Sentence 

This rule seems the easiest of all the capitalization rules. Most of you understand that you should always start with a capital letter when writing an English sentence. Let’s look at the sentences below; 

1. They are pretty. 
2. Would you like to understand the wonders of mentorship? 
3. Marion came to school but did not attend the lecture. 

The sentences above have used the proper capitalization rule; the first letter of the sentences is capitalized. 

Capitalize Proper Nouns  

 Another rule of capitalization in writing is to capitalize all proper nouns. Whenever writing any piece, an article, a blog, or a book, always capitalize the first letter of proper nouns. This is where most of you need clarification. Following the first rule, capitalization rules apply to the first letter of a sentence, but you might find a proper noun at the middle or end of a sentence. The rule does not change; whether the proper noun is at the beginning or end, make sure you capitalize it. For example; 

We met Sean and Mikami at the market.  

In the sentence above, we have capitalized t and n because Sean and Mikami are proper nouns. 

Capitalize Days, Months, and Holidays 

If you are writing any piece and come across days of the week, months, and holidays, you should capitalize the letters of the words. Examples of words to capitalize in this category include; Monday, Friday, December, August, Christmas, and Thanksgiving.  

Stay clear. Remember to capitalize the first letter of the words whenever you are writing days, months, or holidays. 

Capitalize Period and Events 

Up to this point, you might get bored because you thought capitalization applies only to proper nouns and the beginning of a sentence. You can learn and get used to this rule just as you are used to the precise directions. This applies when talking about specific periods, eras, and historical events. For example, when talking about World War. World War is an event that occurred a long time ago, but we can remember it. When discussing such circumstances, we have to capitalize each letter of the word. 

Capitalize the First Word of a Quote 

This rule does not apply to all quotes. It is applicable when the quote is a complete sentence. For example, Mario asked, “What is Everyone doing this weekend?” 

There are several other rules applied in capitalizing. We have highlighted just but a few. If you want to learn more about the rules of capitalization, you can enroll in a program related to English and learn more about capitalization. 

 Lets us now have a look at the primary uses of capitalization. We have highlighted three basic uses of capitalization in English.  

Basic Uses of Capitalization 

Capitalization is used in three basic ways: at the beginning of a sentence, for the pronoun ‘I,’ and for all proper nouns, including cities, companies, people, brand names, and days.

Writing the First letter of a Sentence 

This is the most straightforward and obvious use of capitalization. You are supposed to use a capital letter at the beginning of each sentence. This capitalization usage applies in all languages. 

Writing the Pronoun ‘I.’ 

Capitalization is used when writing the pronoun ‘I’ Anytime you write the pronoun I, remember to use upper case. This is because you are too important; thus, use big letters to refer to yourself. 

Writing All Proper Nouns 

We use capitalization when writing all proper nouns. Proper nouns are official names of something, such as cities, companies, people, brand names, and days.   

From the discussion, capitalization involves using capital letters in writing. Let us see the formula used for capitalization. Use this formula if you use an electronic machine to write and wish to change your writing from lowercase to upper. Select and highlight the words you want to capitalize and type =PROPER(A2), then press enter.  

Types of Capitalization 

There are different types of capitalization. They include; 

• Title case 
• Sentence case 
• Initial capitals or CamelCase 
• ALL CAPS 

Title Case 

This type of capitalization involves capitalizing major words and leaving out minor words. Major words include; nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and all four-letter words. Minor words include conjunctions, short prepositions, articles, and three-letter words.  

We use title case in the following areas;  

• Titles of books, articles report 
• Titles of periodicals 
• All headings 
• Titles of your work 
• Titles of tests or measures 

 Sentence Case 

This type of capitalization involves writing all the letters in lower except at the beginning of a sentence when writing proper nouns. 

Have you ever sat down and thought of why we should use the capitalization rule in writing? What about the importance of capitalization? Let us check out the benefits of the capitalization rule. 

Initial capitals or CamelCase 

This capitalization rule is used for compound words or phrases, where the first letter of each word is capitalized. It is also called CamelCase because the capital letters look like the humps on a camel’s back. For example: “iPhone, PowerPoint, eCommerce.” 

ALL CAPS 

In this capitalization rule, all letters in the text are capitalized. This is usually used for emphasis or to convey a sense of shouting. For example: “THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG.” 

Benefits Of Capitalization Rules 

When it comes to writing, proper capitalization makes your work grammatically correct and enjoyable to read. Proper use of capitalization in any art of writing will make your piece outstanding. 

• Capitalization helps readers identify proper nouns and distinguish them from common nouns, leading to more straightforward communication and understanding. For example, capitalizing “New York City” versus “city” helps readers understand that you are referring to a specific place.

• Capitalization can also be used to convey tone and emphasis in writing. For example, capitalizing a word or phrase can indicate importance or urgency, while using all lowercase letters can convey informality or casualness.

• Following capitalization rules is essential in professional settings, as it shows attention to detail and adherence to standard conventions. This can enhance your credibility and reputation as a writer or communicator.

• Proper capitalization is crucial for clarity and consistency in written documents, such as resumes, academic papers, and business proposals. Inconsistent capitalization can make a copy look sloppy or unprofessional.

• Capitalization can also affect the meaning of a word or phrase. For example, “March” (capitalized) refers to the third month of the year, while “march” (lowercase) refers to a verb meaning to walk militarily.

Did you find this information meaningful? Check out our blog to learn more about capitalization. University Of the People has excellent programs and experienced professors who can help you understand capitalization rules better. Our tuition-free facility offers online learning to accommodate students’ schedules. Visit our website for more information.