Business English at Work 2003 Glencoe/McGraw-Hill

Capitalization

Use capitalization rules for proper nouns, first words in sentences, specific organizations, committees, government agencies, boards, and departments. Apply capitalization rules for publications, events, holidays, acts, bills, laws, and titles. Apply capitalization rules for academic degrees, languages, education levels and courses, and ethnic and religious designations. continued

Objectives

Business English at Work

PP 6-1a

Capitalization

continued

Apply capitalization rules for time periods, seasons, days and months, specific and general locations, and directions. Apply capitalization rules for abbreviations, nouns with numbers, trademarks, brand names, and product names. Apply capitalization rules for direct and indirect quotes, words after colons, and material within parentheses. continued

Objectives

Business English at Work

PP 6-1b

Capitalization

continued

Identify appropriate items to capitalize in lists, outlines, business letters, and legal documents.

Objectives

Business English at Work

PP 6-1c

Capitalization
Capitalization Rules
Capitalize the first word in a sentence.
Managing time reduces stress.

Capitalize proper nouns. Do not capitalize common nouns.

The Benbow Inn is in California. We attended a time management workshop.

Capitalize the names or nicknames of specific persons.

Elena Catelli
Business English at Work

Nick
PP 6-2a

Capitalization
Capitalization Rules
Always capitalize the pronoun I. Do not capitalize other pronouns unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence.
I return my phone calls at 11 a.m. He kept his urgent papers in a red folder.

Capitalize specific names of geographic locations. Do not capitalize general location names.
Kansas City is located in both Kansas and Missouri. The mountains of Colorado are beautiful.
Business English at Work PP 6-2b

Capitalization
continued

Capitalization Rules

Capitalize informal substitutions for proper nouns and shortened versions of proper nouns. These substitutions are often referred to as imaginative names and nicknames. the Oval Office Air Force One
Mother Nature a Big Mac Big Brother (intrusive big government) the Beltway (Washington, D.C.) the Big Apple (New York City) City of Angels (Los Angeles) the Pacific Rim
Business English at Work PP 6-2c

Capitalization
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Capitalization Rules

Capitalize adjectives formed from proper nouns. However, adjectives formed from proper nouns that are now commonly used and that are no longer identified with those nouns are not capitalized.
Proper Adjectives Italian leather Greek food Australian hat
Business English at Work

Commonly Used Adjectives french fries manila folder arabic numbers

PP 6-2d

Capitalization
Companies, Institutions, and Clubs
Capitalize the first letters of all major words in names of companies, institutions, organizations, and clubs. Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the), conjunctions (and, but, or, nor), and prepositions with fewer than four letters (of, in, on, by) unless one of these words is the first word of the name.
Valley of the Moon Camp The Pet Pantry
Business English at Work

Inn at the Tides Sonoma State University

PP 6-3a

Capitalization
continued

Companies, Institutions, and Clubs

Do not capitalize words such as company, club, institution, or organization when used as general expressions.
company employees our clubs policies the mission of the college
Business English at Work PP 6-3b

Capitalization
Departments, Committees, and Divisions
Capitalize the specific names of departments, committees, project teams, or divisions within the organization with which the writer is associated.
The Human Resources Department offers time management seminars.

Do not capitalize names of departments, committees, project teams, or divisions if words other than the appear before them or if the names are not precise.
Call someone in their accounting department about your refund.
Business English at Work PP 6-4

Capitalization
Government Units
Capitalize specific official names of foreign, national, state, and local government units.
The Republic of Ireland National Park Service

Capitalize the names of agencies, divisions, departments, offices, commissions, and boards.
Human Services Department Cultural Heritage Board

Capitalize short forms of the names of government units.

the House
Business English at Work

the Congress
PP 6-5

Capitalization
Titles
Capitalize a social, professional, religious, academic, political, or military title that precedes a name.
Mrs. Jamie Chen Professor Betty Howell Dr. Bruce Comstock Mayor Bob Lindsey

Capitalize a title that follows the name of a high-ranking foreign, national, or state government official. Capitalize a title used to substitute for the complete name of a highranking government official.
George W. Bush, President of the United States Thomas Vilsack, Governor of Iowa
Business English at Work PP 6-6a

Capitalization
continued

Titles

Do not capitalize the title of a company, institution, or association official that follows a name or that is used as a substitute for a complete name unless practice or tradition indicates to the contrary.
Robin Matthews, president of Evergreen Nursery Dan Johanson, secretary of United Farm Workers of America

Business English at Work

PP 6-6b

Capitalization
continued

Titles

Do not capitalize occupational titles used in a general way. The manager reviewed our priorities. Capitalize a title used as a substitute for a complete name in a direct address. When will you vote on the bill, Senator? Capitalize a title used in place of a name in minutes or bylaws. The President called the meeting to order.
Business English at Work PP 6-6c

Capitalization
Family Titles
Capitalize the title of a family member when it is used by itself or when it is used in direct address. I always wondered how Father found time to coach Little League. I will not be home for dinner tonight, Mom. Capitalize the title of a family member when it precedes a name. I ride to work with Aunt Julia.
Business English at Work PP 6-7

Capitalization
Publications
Capitalize the first letters of all the words with four or more letters in the title of a book, magazine, or newspaper. Underscore or place these titles in italics. Do not capitalize articles, conjunctions, or prepositions with fewer than four letters unless they are the first or last words in the title. Ames Daily Tribune The Boston Globe
Business English at Work

Travel and Leisure Sports Illustrated magazine

PP 6-8a

Capitalization
continued

Publications

Capitalize the first letters of all the main words in works such as chapters in books, magazine articles, plays, musical productions, movies, documentaries, speeches, radio and television programs, and poems. Place quotation marks around these titles. Do not capitalize articles, conjunctions, or prepositions with fewer than four letters unless they are the first or last words in the title.
The Death of a Salesman (play) Phantom of the Opera (musical production)
Business English at Work PP 6-8b

Capitalization
Events and Holidays
Capitalize the names of historical and current events, holidays, and special events.
Vietnam War Thanksgiving Labor Day Leukemia Curathon Summit Avenue Walking Tour

Business English at Work

PP 6-9

Capitalization
Acts, Bills, and Laws
Capitalize specific titles of laws, acts, codes, and amendments.
Child Safety Law 102 Family and Medical Leave Act

Do not capitalize general names of laws, acts, codes, or amendments.

the animal control regulations several conservation bills
Business English at Work PP 6-10

Capitalization
Academic Degrees
Capitalize a specific academic degree that follows a persons name.
Jan Reynolds, Ph.D., teaches time management.

Do not capitalize academic degrees used in a general way.

She received her associates degree from Pikes Peak Community College.

Business English at Work

PP 6-11

Capitalization
Languages
Always capitalize names of specific languages. Mark speaks Danish and Swedish fluently. This computer program translates English into Japanese.

Business English at Work

PP 6-12

Capitalization
Education Levels, Subjects, and Courses
Capitalize a specific education course title.
Office Communications 202

Do not capitalize the general name of a course or area of study or a general level of education.
majoring in computer applications earning an accounting certificate completed classes in business English and communications
Business English at Work PP 6-13

Capitalization
Ethnic Designations
Capitalize the names of nationalities, ethnic groups, and races.
Native Americans British Asian Hispanic

Business English at Work

PP 6-14

Capitalization
Religious References
Capitalize the names of specific religious groups, religious days and books, names of churches, and any adjectives formed from religious terms.
Judaism Christians Koran Easter

Business English at Work

PP 6-15

Capitalization
Days, Months, and Seasons
Capitalize days of the week and months of the year. Monday September Do not capitalize the name of a season unless it is listed with a specific year or is included in the specific name of an event.
summer sales
Business English at Work

Art in Autumn Festival

PP 6-16

Capitalization
Time Periods
Do not capitalize time periods, decades, or centuries used in a general way. first-quarter earnings the last century Do not capitalize a.m. or p.m. or general times of the day. The seminar began at 9 a.m. Our luncheon will start at noon.
Business English at Work PP 6-17

Capitalization
Compass Directions
Capitalize compass directions when they designate specific regions of the country.
the far East Southerners Northern Ireland Westerners

Capitalize derivatives of specific regions.

Do not capitalize general compass points or directions.
northern Minnesota turn west on Interstate 5
250 South Eastman Lane
Business English at Work

east side of Chicago travel north on Ely Road

312 Swan Drive, SE
PP 6-18

Capitalize compass points that are part of a street name.

Capitalization
Abbreviations
Capitalize an abbreviation representing a proper noun.
UPS AFLAC United Parcel Service American Family Life Assurance Company

Capitalize some shortened forms of common nouns.

CPA PC CEO
Business English at Work

certified public accountant personal computer chief executive officer

PP 6-19

Capitalization
Nouns With Letters and Numbers
Capitalize nouns when they precede a letter or number.
Volume 5 Highway 126

Do not capitalize the first letters of the words line, paragraph, page, size, and verse when they precede a number.
page 3
Business English at Work

paragraph 4
PP 6-20

Capitalization
Trademarks, Brand Names, and Product Names
Capitalize trademarks or specific brand names.
Maytag
appliances

Kleenex
tissues

Do not capitalize the type of product.

Business English at Work

PP 6-21

Capitalization
First Words
Capitalize the first word of a direct quotation that is a complete sentence.
Brenda said, We are finishing a project.

Do not capitalize the first word of a quotation that cannot stand as a complete sentence.
My manager said there is no free lunch.

Do not capitalize the first word of the second part of an interrupted quotation.
Wasted time, Elaine said, helps you reduce tension.
Business English at Work PP 6-22

Capitalization
Capitalizing Words Following a Colon
Capitalize the first word following a colon if two or more complete sentences are involved. Consider these ideas for overcoming procrastination: Set a deadline and stick with it. Start with small portions of the project.

Do not capitalize the first word of material following a colon if it is not a complete sentence. Shelly said time wasters are categorized into two types: internal and external.
Business English at Work PP 6-23a

Capitalization
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Capitalizing Words Following a Colon

Capitalize the first word of a sentence that follows a colon if the sentence states a formal rule (regulation) or needs emphasis. Remember: Do priority tasks first. Do not capitalize the first word of a sentence that follows a colon if the sentence simply expands or completes the first part of the sentence. Michelle had one major goal for the day: she wanted to complete the report.
Business English at Work PP 6-23b

End of

Business English at Work 2003 Glencoe/McGraw-Hill