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Sentence structure & punctuation · Topic 17 of 17

Capitalization

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Grammar · capitalization

Capitalization

Capitalize the first word of a sentence and every proper noun or proper adjective; general words, seasons and compass directions stay lowercase.

01 · Always capitalizeFirst word of a sentence
02 · Specific namesProper nouns get capitals
03 · TitlesDr. Patel, but the doctor
01

The rules

Every sentence starts with a capital letter: The clinic opens at noon. must know
Capitalize proper nouns and proper adjectives: Denver, Friday, a Mexican dish must know
Capitalize a title right before a name: Dr. Patel · Ana Patel, our doctor
Capitalize a family word used as a name: I called Dad · I called my dad
Days, months, holidays capitalized; seasons lowercase: a Monday in summer
Region capitalized, compass direction lowercase: lives in the South · drove south
Subjects lowercase; courses and languages capitalized: biology · Biology 101 · Spanish
Capitalize the first word of a quoted full sentence: She said, "Wait here."
Titles: capitalize first, last and major words: A Guide to the Heart and Lungs
02

Capital or lowercase?

Commonly confused
CapitalizeLowercase
TitleDr. Patel; Senator RuizAna Patel, our doctor; the senator
Family wordI asked Mom.I asked my mom.
DirectionWe moved to the South.Drive south two miles.
School subjectEnglish; Biology 101biology; math
Time wordsMonday, July, Thanksgivingsummer, winter, spring
03

Common mistakes

A general word stays lowercase; part of a name is capitalized: a river · the Ohio River
04

More detail

Show 3 more facts
Diseases lowercase unless named for a person: asthma · Parkinson's disease
sun and moon lowercase; Earth capitalized when discussed as a planet: Earth orbits the sun
"the" before a proper noun usually stays lowercase: we kayaked on the Mississippi River
Pearl

A specific name gets a capital; a general word does not: Lake Erie, but a lake.

Sources · GrammarBook.com — Capitalization Rules · OpenStax Writing Guide with Handbook — Handbook (H10 Mechanics: capital letters; titles of works) · GrammarBook.com — Quotation Marks · Union Test Prep — HESI A2 Grammar study guide: nouns (common vs proper, capitalization) · TSTC Library — HESI A2 guide (Grammar: apply the rules of capitalization) · Built from the verified NurseSavvy HESI A2 fact map (facts reviewed 2026-10-16). HESI is a trademark of Elsevier; NurseSavvy is not affiliated with Elsevier.

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