Capitalization

Unit 12

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Unit 12 Capitalization Parts of Proper Nouns

Organizational Terms

Persons’ Titles Preceding Names

Persons’ Titles Following Names

Persons’ Titles That Stand Alone

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Parts of Proper NounsCapitalize words such as a bridge, building, church, ocean, park, river or school only when they are part of the actual name.

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge.

My favorite zoo is the San Diego Zoo.

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Tryout Sentences

1. Georgia borders the Atlantic (ocean, Ocean); the (ocean, Ocean) also separates the United States from Europe.

2. The Chrysler (building, Building) is in New York City; the (building, Building) is one of the world’s tallest.

3. The Hudson (river, River) is the (river, River) that separates New York from New Jersey.

4. We first went to the Grand (canyon, Canyon); then we left the (canyon, Canyon) and went on to Hoover (dam, Dam).

5. On your trip to London, stop at Westminster Abbey; many of Britain’s rulers are buried in the (abbey, Abbey).

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Organizational TermsCapitalize the specific names of associations, chapters, clubs, companies, and corporations. Capitalize a department or committee that is part of the organization for which you work; capitalize a department within an organization to which you are writing.

We make an annual donation to the American Lung Association.

Do you belong to the Photography Club?

Our Tax Department can settle the problem.

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Tryout Sentences1. I work for Castillo & Company; our (claims department,

Claims Department) will be able to help you.

2. Only five (board, Board) members were present at the meeting.

3. Ms. Cavanaugh, please remind the (production department, Production Department) of tomorrow’s meeting.

4. The General Motors (corporation, Corporation) is a (corporation, Corporation) that has been in business for many years.

5. The officers of this (chapter, Chapter) cannot be nominated for another term.

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Persons’ Titles Preceding NamesDo not capitalize a preceding title when the person’s name following the title is an appositive. In the case of the President of the United States, the title of President is always capitalized.

We asked the mayor, Levon Best, to speak to our members.

The President, Woodrow Wilson, was in office when war was declared in 1917.

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Tryout Sentences1. Ahmad wrote a letter to his (senator, Senator),

Fred Winkler, protesting the latter’s vote on the health bill.

2. Please photograph me shaking the hand of our (superintendent, Superintendent), Ester Singleton, who is in charge of our schools.

3. Jelisa had the honor of introducing the (vice president, Vice President) of the Birch Corporation, Colette Lebourveau.

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Tryout Sentences (cont)

4. The (president, President), John Kennedy, was assassinated while in office.

5. All engineering students were invited to the retirement dinner of their (professor, Professor), Bryan Flaherty.

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Persons’ Titles Following NamesDo not capitalize a title when it follows a person’s name.

Several books are available on the life of Charles DeGaulle, president of France.

Deanna interviewed Bryce Elwood, governor of our state.

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Tryout Sentences1. I work for Carmella Vaca, (advertising manager,

Advertising Manager) of our company.

2. Cassandra Haight, (chairperson of the board, Chairperson of the Board), is grooming a successor.

3. An award was presented to Jonathan Adkins, (governor, Governor) of our state, for his assistance on behalf of the flood victims.

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Tryout Sentences (cont)

4. Has Joan Magner, (professor, Professor) of mathematics, requested a leave of absence?

5. We finally met Dirk Bostwich, (president, President) of Bostwich Stores, Inc.

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Persons’ Titles That Stand AloneDo not capitalize a title that stands alone or is used in place of a person’s name.

The professor has written a book.

My doctor is on vacation.

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Tryout Sentences1. Our (attorney, Attorney) asked the (judge, Judge)

for a trial postponement.

2. I heard that the (governor, Governor) issued a reprieve.

3. The army brass is sending a four-star (general, General) to inspect the troops.

4. My brother is a (cardinal, Cardinal) in Rome.

5. The hospital advised me that my (doctor, Doctor) is on call for emergencies.