College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

Capital LettersCapital Letters

College Writing SkillsCollege Writing Skills, 6E , 6E and and College College Writing Skills with ReadingsWriting Skills with Readings, 6E, 6E

John LanganJohn Langan

Chapter Thirty-Five

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

Capital Letters

There are seven main uses of

Let’s take a look. . . .

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

Capital Letter Use

1. First Word in a Sentence or Direct Quotation:

No one tries to get arrested for jaywalking.

He said, “Are you talking to me?”

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

Capital Letter Use

2. Names of Persons and the Word I:

Whenever I see Willem Dafoe onscreen, I get goose bumps.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

Capital Letter Use

3. Names of Particular Places:

I have to go to Acme Products, then to the Grand Canyon.

But use small letters if the specifics aren’t given:

I have to go to the store, then to the park.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

Capital Letter Use

4. Names of Days of the Week, Months, and Holidays:

Last Friday, March 21, was Earth Day.

But use small letters for the seasons:

I love the fall and spring.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

Capital Letter Use

5. Names of Commercial Products:

Henry loves Oreos.

But use small letters for the type of product (cookies).

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

Capital Letter Use

6. Titles of Books, Magazines, Newspapers, Articles, Stories, Poems, Films, TV Shows, Songs, Papers That You Write, and the like.

I just finished the book Hannibal.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

Capital Letter Use

7. Names of Companies, Associations, Unions, Clubs, Religious and Political Groups, and Other Organizations:

I’d like to join the NBA.

Sally works for the Rand Corporation.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

Other Uses of Capital Letters

• Names That Show Family Relationships. But do not capitalize words like mother or uncle when they are preceded by a possessive word like my.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

Other Uses of Capital Letters

• Titles of Persons When Used with Their Names: Dr. Jones. But use small letters without specific names.

• Specific School Courses: Zoology I. But use small letters for general subject areas.

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

Other Uses of Capital Letters

• Languages: French• Geographic Locations:

the Southwest. But use small letters in directions: “Head east.”

• Historical Periods and Events: the Middle Ages

College Writing Skills / CWS with Readings, 6E ©2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

Other Uses of Capital Letters

• Races, Nations, and Nationalities: Native American

• Opening and Closing of a Letter. Note: Capitalize only the first word in a closing, as in “Sincerely yours.”

Dear Jo