Capitalization

When do you write "english" and when "English"? Capital letters follow strict rules in English!

Capitalization means writing a letter as an uppercase (capital) letter. In English, capital letters are not optional — they follow clear rules. Using them correctly helps your writing look accurate and professional.

The first word of a sentence

Always capitalise the first word of every sentence.

The weather is nice today.
She asked, "Are you coming?"

After a full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark, the next sentence always begins with a capital letter.

The pronoun "I"

The word I is always capitalised, no matter where it appears in a sentence.

I think I understand. My friend and I went home.

Names and titles of people

Proper names are always capitalised:

William Shakespeare, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein

Titles are capitalised when they come before a name:

President Lincoln, Queen Elizabeth, Doctor Brown

But not when used generally:

The president spoke. A doctor helped him.

Places and geographical names

Specific place names are always capitalised:

London, New York, Japan, Europe, the Pacific Ocean, Mount Everest

General words are not:

a city, a river, the mountain

Languages and nationalities

English always capitalises:

• languages → English, Spanish, German
• nationalities → French, American, Japanese

This is different from some other languages.

Days, months, and holidays

Days: Monday, Tuesday
Months: January, April

Holidays: Christmas, Easter, New Year's Day

Seasons are NOT capitalised:
spring, summer, autumn, winter

Organisations, events, and works

Official names use capital letters:

the United Nations, Harvard University, the French Revolution

Titles of books, films, and artworks capitalise the main words:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
The Eiffel Tower

Adjectives from proper nouns

Words formed from names also use capitals:

a French restaurant, a Shakespearean play, American culture

Common mistakes to avoid

Do NOT capitalise general words unnecessarily:

❌ I went to the City → ✔ I went to the city

Do NOT write languages in lowercase:

❌ i speak english → ✔ I speak English

Do NOT forget capitals in names:

❌ london → ✔ London

Why capitalization matters

Capital letters signal important information — names, beginnings, and specific things. They help the reader understand meaning quickly and avoid confusion.

Correct capitalization is one of the easiest ways to make your writing clearer and more polished.