Commas unit 12

Capitalization
Unit 12


Unit 12 Capitalization


Parts of Proper Nouns



Organizational Terms



Persons’ Titles Preceding Names



Persons’ Titles Following Names



Persons’ Titles That Stand Alone

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Parts of Proper Nouns

Capitalize words such as a bridge, building,
church, ocean, park, river or school only
when they are part of the actual name.


The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension
bridge.



My favorite zoo is the San Diego Zoo.

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Tryout Sentences
1.

Georgia borders the Atlantic (ocean, Ocean); the (ocean,
Ocean) also separates the United States from Europe.

2.

The Chrysler (building, Building) is in New York City;
the (building, Building) is one of the world’s tallest.

3.

The Hudson (river, River) is the (river, River) that
separates New York from New Jersey.

4.

We first went to the Grand (canyon, Canyon); then we left
the (canyon, Canyon) and went on to Hoover (dam,
Dam).

5.

On your trip to London, stop at Westminster Abbey; many
of Britain’s rulers are buried in the (abbey, Abbey).

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Organizational Terms
Capitalize the specific names of associations,
chapters, clubs, companies, and corporations.
Capitalize a department or committee that is part of
the organization for which you work; capitalize a
department within an organization to which you are
writing.


We make an annual donation to the American Lung
Association.



Do you belong to the Photography Club?



Our Tax Department can settle the problem.

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Tryout Sentences
1.

I work for Castillo & Company; our (claims department,
Claims Department) will be able to help you.

2.

Only five (board, Board) members were present at the
meeting.

3.

Ms. Cavanaugh, please remind the (production department,
Production Department) of tomorrow’s meeting.

4.

The General Motors (corporation, Corporation) is a
(corporation, Corporation) that has been in business for
many years.

5.

The officers of this (chapter, Chapter) cannot be nominated
for another term.

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Persons’ Titles Preceding Names
Do not capitalize a preceding title when the
person’s name following the title is an
appositive. In the case of the President of the
United States, the title of President is always
capitalized.


We asked the mayor, Levon Best, to speak to
our members.



The President, Woodrow Wilson, was in

office when war was declared in 1917.

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Tryout Sentences
1.

Ahmad wrote a letter to his (senator, Senator),
Fred Winkler, protesting the latter’s vote on the
health bill.

2.

Please photograph me shaking the hand of our
(superintendent, Superintendent), Ester Singleton,
who is in charge of our schools.

3.

Jelisa had the honor of introducing the (vice
president, Vice President) of the Birch
Corporation, Colette Lebourveau.

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Tryout Sentences (cont)
4.

The (president, President), John Kennedy, was
assassinated while in office.

5.

All engineering students were invited to the
retirement dinner of their (professor, Professor),
Bryan Flaherty.

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Persons’ Titles Following Names
Do not capitalize a title when it follows a
person’s name.


Several books are available on the life of
Charles DeGaulle, president of France.



Deanna interviewed Bryce Elwood, governor
of our state.

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Tryout Sentences
1.

I work for Carmella Vaca, (advertising manager,
Advertising Manager) of our company.

2.

Cassandra Haight, (chairperson of the board,
Chairperson of the Board), is grooming a
successor.

3.

An award was presented to Jonathan Adkins,
(governor, Governor) of our state, for his
assistance on behalf of the flood victims.

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Tryout Sentences (cont)

4.

Has Joan Magner, (professor, Professor) of
mathematics, requested a leave of absence?

5.

We finally met Dirk Bostwich, (president,
President) of Bostwich Stores, Inc.

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Persons’ Titles That Stand Alone
Do not capitalize a title that stands alone or is
used in place of a person’s name.


The professor has written a book.



My doctor is on vacation.

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Tryout Sentences
1.

Our (attorney, Attorney) asked the (judge, Judge)
for a trial postponement.

2.

I heard that the (governor, Governor) issued a
reprieve.

3.

The army brass is sending a four-star (general,
General) to inspect the troops.

4.

My brother is a (cardinal, Cardinal) in Rome.

5.

The hospital advised me that my (doctor, Doctor)
is on call for emergencies.

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