When should words be capitalized?

Always capitalize: the first word of a sentence, proper nouns (names of specific people, places, organizations), the pronoun 'I', days and months, and titles before names (President Lincoln). Do not capitalize common nouns or seasons.

Are job titles always capitalized?

Only when they precede a name as a title: 'President Smith spoke' (capitalized). When used as a general reference: 'The president spoke' (not capitalized). This distinction is one of the trickiest capitalization rules.

How are book titles capitalized?

Major words in titles are capitalized (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs). Minor words (a, an, the, and, but, or, in, of) are lowercase unless they are the first or last word. Different style guides have slightly different rules.

Capitalization Checker

Flags likely capitalization errors — missing capitals after periods and for proper nouns. Free, no signup required.

How to Use Capitalization Checker

Paste your text into the input area.
The tool scans for likely capitalization errors — missing capitals after periods, uncapitalized proper nouns, and unnecessary capitals.
Review each flagged issue with the suggested correction.
Apply the corrections to clean up your text.

Why It Matters

Capitalization errors are among the most common mechanical mistakes in student writing. Core rules include capitalizing the first word of a sentence, proper nouns, the pronoun 'I', and titles before names. Students often struggle to distinguish proper nouns from common nouns or apply rules inconsistently. Consistent practice builds automatic correctness in writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should words be capitalized?: Always capitalize: the first word of a sentence, proper nouns (names of specific people, places, organizations), the pronoun 'I', days and months, and titles before names (President Lincoln). Do not capitalize common nouns or seasons.
Are job titles always capitalized?: Only when they precede a name as a title: 'President Smith spoke' (capitalized). When used as a general reference: 'The president spoke' (not capitalized). This distinction is one of the trickiest capitalization rules.
How are book titles capitalized?: Major words in titles are capitalized (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs). Minor words (a, an, the, and, but, or, in, of) are lowercase unless they are the first or last word. Different style guides have slightly different rules.

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