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The rules of capitalization can be extensive, varying on the context in which words are used.  Writing Quick Tips is meant to provide simple, functional rules that will suffice for most writing tasks.  Capitalization Tips suggests some clear-cut rules that will allow writers to quickly verify that words are being capitalized when appropriate.

1. First words.  Capitalize the first word in every sentence, including the first word of every quote that represents a complete sentence, unless the sentence is in parenthesis.
   • We are going to the zoo.
   • He asked which zoo we were going to  (he never pays attention to what I tell him) but he did not really care.
2. Quotations. Capitalize the first word of a direct quote.   Do no capitalize fragments of quotations or quotations resumed within a sentence.
   • Mary stated, "These rules are easy to follow."
   • "If not sure," she said, "check the Web."
   • "I don't need to know everything," Matt said, "if I can find information when I need it."
3. Capitalize the word "I."
   • In case you were not sure, I provided some additional resources you can check.
   • I went to the store, but I did not buy ice cream.
4. Capitalize proper nouns.  Always use capitalization for  the deity, place names, street names, persons' names, organization names, brand names, languages, and specific course titles.
   • He prayed to God to help him meet the challenges in his life.
   • No one in their right mind would swim in the Rock River.
   • John Nicks was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
   • I was always good at algebra, earned an "A" in Beginning Algebra; but I struggled in English, so I signed up to take Basic Writing 101.
5. Capitalize important historical events, documents and time periods.  
   • The Magna Carta precedes our Declaration of Independence.
   • I have never read anything about the Victorian Era.
6. Capitalize days of the weeks, months, and holidays.
   • I enjoy May, especially when Memorial Day falls on a Monday.
   • For teachers, it is an October nightmare when Halloween falls on a Wednesday.  
7. Capitalize east, west, north, and south only when used as sections of the country.  Do not capitalize them when they are used to refer to directions.
   • He said he would move to the West if he could not buy land in Wisconsin.
   • He took the highway west, but then got off at the second exit and headed south to the gas station.
8. Capitalize the first word and all important words in titles of books, plays, poems, magazines, etc.
   • Return of the Jetti
   • The Land of Oz
   • The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
9. Capitalize the middle initial in names and titles when they accompany names.  Do not capitalize the title if it does not refer to a specific person.
   • The ship was captained by Captain J. B. Smith.
   • He was the captain.
10. Capitalize the first word in each line of a poem. 
    • Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? 
      Thou art more lovely and more temperate: 
      Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, 
      And summer's lease hath all too short a date:

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