Capitalization Rules: When to Capitalize Words in English

English capitalization follows specific rules, but many writers struggle with when to capitalize and when not to. This guide covers all the essential rules so you can capitalize with confidence.

The First Word of a Sentence

Always capitalize the first word of every sentence. This is the most basic capitalization rule, but it's worth stating because it applies everywhere — from formal documents to text messages.

The meeting starts at noon.

What time is it?

Proper Nouns and Proper Adjectives

Capitalize specific names of people, places, organizations, and things. These are called proper nouns. Also capitalize adjectives derived from proper nouns.

Marie Curie, London, Microsoft, the Eiffel Tower

Shakespearean, Victorian, American, Italian cuisine

Days, Months, and Holidays

Capitalize days of the week, months of the year, and holidays. Do not capitalize seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter) unless they are part of a proper name.

Monday, January, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day

We visited in spring. (not capitalized)

The Spring Collection has arrived. (capitalized as part of a title)

Titles of Works

For titles of books, movies, articles, songs, and other works, capitalize the first and last words and all major words in between. Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet), or short prepositions (at, by, for, in, of, on, to, with) unless they are the first or last word.

To Kill a Mockingbird

The Lord of the Rings

"Bohemian Rhapsody"

Headings and Subheadings

Two common styles exist for headings. Title case capitalizes major words (as described above). Sentence case capitalizes only the first word and proper nouns. Choose one style and use it consistently.

The Benefits of Regular Exercise (title case)

The benefits of regular exercise (sentence case)

After a Colon

In American English, capitalize the first word after a colon if it begins a complete sentence. If it begins a list or a fragment, do not capitalize.

He had one goal: He wanted to win the championship. (complete sentence)

Bring these items: a towel, sunscreen, and water. (list)

Proper Nouns in Mid-Sentence

Proper nouns are always capitalized, even in the middle of a sentence. This includes brand names, product names, and specific titles.

She bought an iPhone and a Samsung television.

President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.

Family Relationships

Capitalize family titles (Mom, Dad, Uncle, Grandma) when they are used as proper names. Do not capitalize them when they follow a possessive pronoun or article.

I asked Mom for advice. (used as a name)

I asked my mom for advice. (follows possessive — not capitalized)

Directions and Regions

Capitalize compass directions (North, South, East, West) when they refer to specific regions. Do not capitalize them when they indicate direction.

She lives in the South. (region)

Drive south for two miles. (direction)

Religious Terms

Capitalize names of religions, deities, holy books, and religious figures.

Christianity, God, the Bible, the Quran, Buddha

Pronouns referring to God (He, Him, His) are often capitalized in religious texts, though this is a style choice.

Quick-Reference Table

Capitalize: First word of a sentence, proper nouns, days/months/holidays, titles of works, headings (in title case), religions and holy books, specific regions, family titles used as names.
Do Not Capitalize: Seasons, compass directions (when indicating direction), family titles after possessives, general subjects (chemistry, history), job titles used descriptively.

Need to Fix Capitalization?

If you need to convert text between different capitalization styles, use our free case converter. It supports uppercase, lowercase, title case, sentence case, and more — perfect for fixing headings, titles, and bulk text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I capitalize job titles?

Capitalize job titles when they appear directly before a name (President Biden) or in formal signatures. Do not capitalize them in descriptive use (the president of the company).

Is the Earth capitalized?

Capitalize Earth when referring to the planet as a proper name. Use lowercase "earth" for soil or ground.

Should I capitalize my degree?

Capitalize specific degree names: Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science. Do not capitalize general references: bachelor's degree, master's degree.