| Exemplary Prose: |
| Essential Writing Skills in Context |
Apply rules for capitalization of agencies, proper nouns and names,
capitalization of beginning of sentences, lines of p
Capitalization is perhaps the most easy of all writing mistakes to detect. Some capitalization errors are glaringly obvious (like forgetting to capitalize the first letter of a sentence), while others are more obscure and require writers (and even some teachers) to go hunting for a higher authority to clarify the rule. The higher authority I suggest you consult would be the Capitalization page on the Grammar Rules section of this CD. For now, here are seven rules that you should be aware of, and below them are 3 examples of capitalization questions that you may see on the HSGQE.
1. Capitalize the first word of every sentence and the first word of a greeting and closing of a letter.
As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain, and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality. Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
Dear John,
Sincerely,
2. Always capitalize the personal pronoun I.
The roaring of the wind in my wife and the stars through the window pane are my children. The mighty abstract idea I have of beauty in all things stifles the more divided and minute domestic happiness. John Keats (1795-1821)
If you tell me I'm fired, I'll quit!
3. Capitalize words such as mother, father, aunt, uncle, etc., only when they are used as names.
Is Dad home yet, it's well past midnight?
I went to visit my Aunt Carmella before she had her surgery.
My dad is home every night by seven sharp..
I went with my mom and dad to visit my aunt and uncle.
4. In titles, capitalize the first, last and all important words. Usually we don't capitalize articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions.
Shadows on the Koyukuk was written by the brother of the author of On the Edge of Nowhere.
The Iliad was the first book I read in college.
5. Capitalize names of specific persons, places, and geographic locations, but don't capitalize directions.
Did you know that Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York but was raised in the South?
If you head due west, you'll eventually hit the Pacific Ocean.
6. Capitalize the initials of a person's name.
P.J. Brown has had a successful basketball career.
An excellent guide to writing was co-authored by E.B. White.
7. Capitalize the names of the days of the week, month, and holiday.
This year Thanksgiving will be on the third Thursday in November.
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Below are 3 examples of questions you may see on the HSGQE. These were taken from HSGQE writing practice tests. Try them out and see how you do.
1. Directions: Look at the underlined part. Choose the answer that shows the best capitalization and punctuation for that part. (C)
The line of cars filed into the amusement park it took an eternity to reach the gate.
A. amusement park, it
B. Amusement Park. It
C. amusement park. It
D. Correct as it is
2. In the paragraph below, there are five mistakes
in capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. List each mistake and its
correction on a separate piece of paper.
3. Directions: read the passage and look at the
numbered, underlined parts.
“Gold!” The cry went out from the Yukon and sounded around (22) north america. People from all walks of life quit their jobs, left their families, and headed North to seek adventure and riches. Many had no (23) idea how difficult the journey would be, and were decidedly unprepared for the task at hand. Those who didn’t turn back found more strength of (24) character within themselves than gold in the rivers; however that didn’t stop more people from heading North every day.
A) North america
B) North America
C) north America
D) Correct as it is
Answer: C The correct sentence should read:
The line of cars filed into the amusement park. It took an eternity to reach the gate.
Answer: The paragraph should read as follows:
The film, Star Wars, is a creation by George Lucas about a young man, Luke Skywalker, who discovers his true strength of character through adversity. Driven to join the rebellion against the Empire after the deaths of his aunt and uncle, Luke befriends Han Solo, a smuggler with troubles of his own. Together they rescue Princess Leia and destroy the Empire's Death Star. Return to 2.
The correct answer is B. The question tests your knowledge of capitalization. North America is a proper noun and should be capitalized. Return to 3.