Proper nouns and words derived from them are capitalized; common nouns are not. Proper nouns name specific persons, places, and things. All other nouns are common nouns. The following types of words are usually capitalized: names of deities, religions, religious followers, sacred books; words of family relationship used as names; particular places; nationalities and their languages, races, tribes; educational institutions, departments, particular courses; government departments, organizations, political parties; historical movements, periods, events, documents; and trade names.
PROPER NOUNS |
COMMON NOUNS |
|---|---|
|
God (used as a name) |
a god |
|
Uncle Pedro |
my uncle |
|
Father (used as a name) |
my father |
|
Lake Superior |
a picturesque lake |
|
the South |
a southern state |
|
University of Wisconsin |
a state university |
|
the Democratic Party |
a political party |
|
the Enlightenment |
the eighteenth century |
|
Advil |
a painkiller |
Months, holidays, and days of the week are capitalized: May, Labor Day, Monday. The seasons and numbers of the days of the month are not: summer, the fifth of June.
EXCEPTION: Capitalize Fourth of July (or July Fourth) when referring to the holiday.
Names of school subjects are capitalized only if they are names of languages: English, French. Names of particular courses are capitalized: Geology 101, Principles of Economics.