In this chapter, you studied some of the major rules that help you decide when it is appropriate to capitalize a word in a sentence. If in doubt about whether to capitalize or to use lower case, check a current reference manual.

Rules included in this chapter cover capitalization of proper nouns, first words in a sentence, personal names, geographic locations, and proper noun substitutions and derivatives. Articles, conjunctions, and prepositions with fewer than four letters are not capitalized in company, institution, organization, or club names. Always use an official document or a telephone directory to verify the spelling of the name of a group or government unit.

Titles preceding personal names are capitalized, but those following a name are not. The first letters of all four-letter words in titles of books, magazines, and newspapers are capitalized. The titles of these publications are placed in italics. In all other published works, the first letters of all words with the exception of articles, conjunctions, and prepositions with fewer than four letters are also capitalized. The titles, however, of these other published works are placed in quotation marks.

Names of specific language and ethnic designations are capitalized. Specific educational course titles are capitalized, but general areas of study are not. Seasons of the year are not capitalized unless they are connected with specific events. When compass directions designate specific regions, they are capitalized. When they refer to general directions, they are not capitalized.

Although the first letters of words in trademarks and brand names are capitalized, the type of product is usually not capitalized. Abbreviations that represent proper nouns are capitalized. Some abbreviations for common nouns are also capitalized.

The first word of a complete sentence in a direct quotation is capitalized, but when a quotation is interrupted, the first word in the second part is not capitalized.

In business letters, only the first letter of the first word in a complimentary close is capitalized. E-mail and Web site addresses are usually not capitalized.