When to use CAPITAL LETTERS in English
TLDRIn this engVid lesson, Rebecca addresses the common confusion surrounding English capitalization rules. She clarifies when to capitalize certain words in different contexts, such as subjects or courses, places, and professions or titles. Rebecca explains that subjects like algebra are not capitalized when mentioned in a general sense, but are capitalized when referring to a specific course, like Algebra 101. The same rule applies to places and institutions, where general references are not capitalized, but proper names are. When discussing professions, titles are capitalized when referring to a specific individual, such as Dr. Patel or Professor Brown. Rebecca also touches on the capitalization of language names and provides an overview of 'Title Case Capitalization' for books, movies, shows, songs, reports, and articles, emphasizing the importance of capitalizing nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, while typically not capitalizing articles, prepositions, or conjunctions, unless they are the first or last word. She advises learners to follow specific style guides required by their institutions and encourages practicing through quizzes on the engVid website for better understanding and mastery of the topic.
Takeaways
- 📚 Always capitalize the first word in a sentence, the word 'I', and proper nouns such as names of people and places.
- 🔍 When referring to a subject of study, like algebra, it's not capitalized. However, if you're referring to a specific course, like Algebra 101, it is capitalized.
- 🏫 For places, capitalize the name if it's a specific institution, such as the Brookfield Bank, but not if it's a general reference, like 'a bank'.
- 🌐 When talking about languages, always capitalize the name of the language, whether you're studying it or taking a course in it.
- 🏛 In the case of professions and titles, use lowercase when referring to a profession in general, but capitalize when you're talking about a specific person by their title, like Dr. Patel or Professor Brown.
- 🏢 For job positions, don't capitalize the title when it's used generically, but do capitalize it when it's part of a name or title, like on a business card or at the end of an email signature.
- 📖 When writing titles of books, movies, shows, etc., follow Title Case Capitalization rules, which typically capitalize nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, but not articles, prepositions, or conjunctions unless they are the first or last word.
- 🎥 In titles, articles like 'a', 'an', and 'the' are usually not capitalized unless they are the first or last word.
- 📝 For titles, prepositions are generally not capitalized unless they are the first or last word in the title.
- ✍️ Practice is key to mastering capitalization rules. EngVid offers quizzes and a wide range of lessons to help reinforce your understanding.
- 📈 Use these capitalization rules in various contexts such as exams like IELTS or TOEFL, work reports, university assignments, cover letters, and resumes to improve the professionalism of your writing.
Q & A
What are the general rules for capitalizing the first word in a sentence, proper nouns, and the word 'I'?
-In English, the first word of a sentence, the pronoun 'I', and the names of people and places are always capitalized.
When should you capitalize the name of a subject when referring to what you are studying?
-You should capitalize the name of a subject when it refers to a specific course title, such as 'Algebra 101'.
What is the exception to the capitalization rule when talking about subjects?
-The exception is with languages; regardless of the context, the name of a language is always capitalized, whether you are studying it or taking a course in it.
How do you determine whether to capitalize 'bank' when referring to a place of business?
-You do not capitalize 'bank' when referring to the general concept of a bank. However, you do capitalize it when mentioning a specific bank by name, such as 'Brookfield Bank'.
What is the rule for capitalizing the word 'university'?
-The word 'university' is not capitalized when used in a general sense. However, when referring to a specific university by name, such as 'University of Oxford', it should be capitalized.
When does the word 'doctor' need to be capitalized in a sentence?
-The word 'doctor' should be capitalized when you are referring to a specific doctor by name or title, such as 'Dr. Patel'. It is not capitalized when you are talking about a doctor in general.
What is the general rule for capitalizing job titles in a sentence?
-Job titles are generally not capitalized when used before 'a' or 'the', referring to someone in a general sense. However, they are capitalized when used as part of a name or on a business card, email signature, or in an address.
How should you capitalize words in the title of a book or movie according to 'Title Case Capitalization'?
-In 'Title Case Capitalization', you capitalize the first and last words of the title, as well as all nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Articles, prepositions, and conjunctions are not capitalized unless they are the first or last word.
What is an example of a title where the first word is not capitalized?
-An example is 'how to Get the Ideal Job', where 'how' is the first word and it is not capitalized because it is a smaller word (usually articles, prepositions, and conjunctions).
What is the importance of practicing and taking quizzes on English capitalization rules?
-Practicing and taking quizzes helps solidify understanding and ensures that learners can correctly apply capitalization rules in their writing, which is crucial for academic assignments, professional reports, and standardized English exams like IELTS or TOEFL.
What is the best way to further improve one's understanding of English capitalization rules?
-The best way to further improve one's understanding is to practice the rules through quizzes and exercises, and to refer to specific style guides as required by educational institutions or workplaces.
Why is it important to follow specific style guides for capitalization when submitting academic papers or professional reports?
-Following specific style guides ensures consistency and professionalism in writing. Different institutions and fields may require different capitalization styles, and adhering to these guidelines demonstrates respect for the required standards and helps avoid misunderstandings.
Outlines
📚 English Capitalization Rules for Subjects and Professions
Rebecca from engVid introduces the nuances of capitalization in English, focusing on when to capitalize words in different contexts. She explains that general subjects like algebra or psychology are not capitalized, but when referring to a specific course, such as Algebra 101 or Psychology 201, the course name is capitalized. The same rule applies to places and professions. For instance, 'bank' is not capitalized when used in a general sense, but 'Brookfield Bank' is, as it's a proper noun. Similarly, professions like 'doctor' or 'professor' are not capitalized when referred to in a general sense, but are capitalized when referring to a specific individual by their title, such as Dr. Patel or Professor Brown.
🏛 Capitalization in Names of Places and Titles
The second paragraph delves deeper into capitalization rules, particularly for places and titles. Rebecca clarifies that generic terms like 'library' or 'university' are not capitalized, but specific names like 'Toronto Public Library' or 'University of Oxford' are. She also addresses the capitalization of job titles in different contexts. For example, 'sales manager' is not capitalized when used in a general statement, but it is capitalized when it precedes a name on a business card or at the end of an email signature. Additionally, direct conversational references to someone's title, like 'Doctor' or 'Professor', are capitalized when referring to a specific person.
📚 Title Case Capitalization for Books, Movies, and Reports
In the third paragraph, Rebecca discusses the concept of 'Title Case Capitalization', which is a common style for writing the titles of books, movies, shows, songs, reports, and articles. She notes that different style guides like MLA and AP have varying rules, but generally, nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are capitalized, while articles, prepositions, and conjunctions are not, unless they are the first or last word in the title. She provides examples such as 'Star Wars', 'Return of the Jedi', 'Designated Survivor', and 'Life in Pieces' to illustrate the rule. Additionally, she mentions that the first and last words in a title are typically capitalized.
📝 Applying Capitalization Rules in Writing and Exams
The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of mastering capitalization rules for various writing tasks, including exams like IELTS or TOEFL, work reports, university assignments, cover letters, and resumes. Rebecca encourages viewers to practice what they've learned by taking a quiz on the engVid website, which offers over a thousand lessons on different aspects of English. She also invites viewers to subscribe to her channel for more lessons aimed at improving their English proficiency.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Capitalization
💡Subject
💡Course
💡Language
💡Place
💡Profession
💡Title
💡Direct Conversation
💡Title Case Capitalization
💡Style Guides
💡Article
Highlights
English capitalization rules can be confusing, but this lesson aims to clarify when to capitalize certain words.
Generally, the first word in a sentence, 'I', names of people and places are always capitalized.
In the context of subjects or courses, capitalize the name of a course but not the general subject.
An exception is made for languages, which are always capitalized regardless of context.
When referring to places, capitalize the name of a specific institution but not a general location.
Professional titles are not capitalized when used generically, but are capitalized when referring to a specific individual.
Job positions are generally not capitalized when mentioned in a general sense.
However, job titles are capitalized when used in official contexts such as business cards or signatures.
In direct conversation, capitalize professional titles like 'Doctor' or 'Professor' when addressing a specific individual.
Capitalization rules for titles of books, movies, shows, and songs can vary based on different style guides.
Title Case Capitalization is a common rule where nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are capitalized.
Articles, prepositions, and conjunctions are usually not capitalized in Title Case, except when they are the first or last word.
Examples provided include the capitalization patterns in titles like 'Star Wars', 'Return of the Jedi', and 'Designated Survivor'.
Book titles like 'The Alchemist' and 'Catcher in the Rye' follow the same Title Case Capitalization rules.
For reports or articles, the first word and last word are typically capitalized, along with all major words.
Understanding and applying these capitalization rules is crucial for academic and professional writing.
Practice is essential for mastering capitalization rules; the speaker recommends taking a quiz on their website for further understanding.
The website www.engvid.com offers a quiz and over a thousand lessons to help improve English language skills.
Subscribing to the channel can provide access to more useful lessons for English language learners.
Transcripts
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