02B: PUNCTUATION+

15. Capitalize only when Needed

For the most part, general capitalization rules are the same ones you probably learned in the third grade and feel are easy to remember, such as capitalizing the first word of every sentence and capitalizing proper nouns. The difficulty comes when you're trying to determine which nouns are "proper" and which are "common" enough to not require capitalization.

15.1 Remember to capitalize specific proper nouns, but not nouns that refer to general categories.

Explore the difference in Exhibit 2B.2.

CAPITALIZED

NOT CAPITALIZED

I am enrolled in MCom 320.

I am taking a business writing class.

I love Mom's crazy jokes.

My mom is late - is your mom coming?

I need a Kleenex. (Kleenex is a trademark).

Please get me a tissue.

Introduce him to President Clay.

Introduce him to the president of the company.

Exhibit 2B.2: Capitalizing Specific Proper Nouns

15.2 Be sure to capitalize proper adjectives,

as in these examples:

CAPITALIZED: I am taking a French class.

  (Languages are capitalized).

NOT: I love french fries.

  (This has become common usage over time).

CAPITALIZED: Could we install a Coke machine in the lunchroom?

   (Coke is a trademark. If you don't want to specify a brand, you could say, "Could we install a drink machine . . .?")


15.3 When creating a list, capitalize the first word of each item in a vertical list.

(Reminder: Make lists parallel, as emphasized in Chapter 2a. Note how each of these bullet items begins with a verb).:

      • Reduce days in receivables
      • Hire a new IT manager
      • Slash unnecessary expenses

15.4 When referring to a title - including book titles, job titles, and degrees - use correct capitalization.

TITLES OF BOOKS, MOVIES, AND OTHER WORKS OF ART: Capitalize the first and last words, and all verbs, adverbs, adjectives, nouns, and pronouns, regardless of the length of the word. For all other words - mainly articles and prepositions - capitalize only those that are more than four letters long.

EXAMPLES: The Call of the Wild

How I Met Your Mother

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

JOB TITLES: Capitalize the job title when it precedes the person's name, but not the general reference to a job title.

EXAMPLES: The president of this company is Jackie Jones.

Carol introduced the new head of our company, President Jackie Jones.

DEGREE: Capitalize the formal degree title, but not the general reference.

EXAMPLES: Cary Lewis is earning a Master of Public Administration (MPA).

(This is the formal title, a proper noun).

Claire Dixon is working on a degree in business administration.

(Business administration is a general field of study; no need to capitalize).

15.5 With direct quotations, capitalize the first word of the quotation when the first word of the quotation begins the sentence.

Read the following correctly capitalized sentences, noticing that in the second sentence, the quote doesn't start with a capital letter, since the quoted material finishes the logical flow of the sentence:

CAPITALIZED QUOTE: Warren Buffett has said, "Rule No.1: Never lose money. Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1".

PARTIAL QUOTE NOT CAPITALIZED: Warren Buffett has said that we should "never lose money".

15.6 Capitalize compass points when they refer to a specific place or region

and not when they refer to a general area:

CORRECT: Lake Tahoe is about four hours east of San Francisco.

    (Do not capitalize general compass points).

CORRECT: Jamie Parsons was raised in the South.

   (Capitalize compass points when they refer to recognized regions).