English & Language Usage · Conventions of standard English
Capitalization Rules
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Apply capitalization conventions to names, titles, and sentences.
Read the explanations, try the quick checks, then take the lesson quiz to see what to review next.
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Proper Names Versus General Categories
Capitals mark beginnings and proper names, not importance. Capitalize official course names but not general fields (Introduction to Biology; biology), named regions but not directions (the Pacific Northwest; drive northwest), and a title when it functions as part of a name (Professor Alvarez) rather than as a general description (the professor). Title-capitalization styles differ on short words, so follow the assigned style.
Worked example: On monday, professor Chen teaches history in the West wing becomes On Monday, Professor Chen teaches history in the west wing.
Why This Matters: Use language structure and context to choose clear, accurate sentences in academic and everyday writing.
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