When to use capital letters in English

Correct spelling is not only about which letters we use in the word. We should also know when to begin a word with a capital letter. (This is called capitalisation.)

Here are some examples of when we should and should not use capital letters in English.

Use a capital letter for the first letter of the first word of a letter or email:

Dear Mr Smith
Thank you for your email and the information.

When you begin a new sentence:

We need the goods as soon as possible. Could you please send them tomorrow?

For days of the week and for months:

Monday, Tuesday, etc.
January, February, etc.

When beginning a quotation:

The chairman replied, “We plan to make further changes.”

For names of companies:

Speakspeak International Limited; British Rail.

For the first letter of a proper noun, i.e. someone’s name:

John Logie Baird invented the television.
Marcel is a French teacher.

For names of countries and the first letter of adjectives derived from country names, languages, etc.:

Finland, the Czech Republic. It’s a French company. He’s French.

For many abbreviations and acronyms:

VAT (Value Added Tax); VIP (Very Important Person).

We don’t use capital letters in these cases:

For the names of the seasons:

spring, summer, autumn, winter.

for the following common abbreviations:

m (abbreviation for million)
bn (abbreviation for billion)
plc (a public limited company).

I’ve given 10 rules. There are others, of course. Feel free to add to the list by leaving a comment below.

Comments

whowritesthiscrap says:

November 14, 2011 at 11:01 am

Thanks for not capitalising ‘chairman’. I see that mistake far too often.

- Stuart Cook says:
  
  November 17, 2011 at 2:12 pm
  
  Thanks for your comment. Yes, words like that often confuse people because when used as a job title they should be capitalised. However, as you quite rightly pointed out, not in this case.
  
patsy says:

February 21, 2013 at 12:07 pm

I am writing a book and one of the characters is Major Randal. I know that has to be capitalised.
But if I simply refer to him as the major or the major said, do I capitalise major? I have a feeling I do not but I have this niggle that says maybe I do.

Hope you are still there and will answer.
Thanks
Patsy

- Stuart Cook says:
  
  February 21, 2013 at 1:37 pm
  
  Hi, Patsy
  
  Yes, you should capitalise it – it’s a rank: ‘The Major said’, ‘She consulted the Major’, etc.
  Note that unless you’re beginning a sentence, the article should not be capitalised: ‘I saw the Major’ (small ‘t’).
  
  If you’re speaking about ranks in general, they’re not capitalised: ‘His generals deserted him’, etc.
  
  - patsy says:
    
    February 21, 2013 at 4:31 pm
    
    Thank you so much.
    is it OK if I come across any more little things like that, that I email you again?
    Patsy
    
    - Stuart Cook says:
      
      February 21, 2013 at 5:25 pm
      
      Yes, fine – I always welcome comments. Please be sure to post questions on a relevant page.