English capitalization rules: When to capitalize

 

English capitalization rules: When to capitalize

Institutions (companies, brands, agencies, etc.)

The names of companies, brands, agencies, and other large groups like hospitals are also proper nouns. Some small words like prepositions may still be lowercased in such names.

Volkswagen Group

Bank of China

If you’re referring to a department by its proper name, you can capitalize it. However, if you’re referring to a general department, keep it lowercased.

“She works in the Psychology Department.”

“I didn’t even know our school had a psychology department.”

Historical eras

Capitalize periods and events when referring to them by their specific name but not when you’re using them as general terms. If a period of time is named after a proper noun, capitalize the proper noun. The word for the period is sometimes capitalized, as in the examples below, but other times it is lowercased, as in the Victorian age.

European Renaissance

Islamic Golden Age

Generally, you do not capitalize the names of centuries because they are too broad.

the twentieth century

AUTHOR

Dr L Suresh

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science

Coimbatore - 641020

Contact: 9944138137

e-mail ID: sureshenglit@rmv.ac.in