YY.1 Capitalize the names of people and pets
What Is Capitalization?
Capitalization means writing the first letter of certain words with a big letter (A, B, C…) instead of a small letter (a, b, c…). We use capital letters to show that some words are important.
- My teacher's name is Ms. Smith.
- The dog's name is Buddy.
- I read a book about Lucy the cat.
Always start names of people and animals with a capital letter, even if they are in the middle of a sentence.
Capitalizing People's Names
When writing the name of a person, the first letter of the first and last name should always be capitalized.
- My friend is Emma.
- I went to see Mr. Johnson.
- My brother's name is David.
Think of people's names as special words. They always begin with capital letters.
Capitalizing Animals' Names
If an animal has a name, capitalize it just like a person's name. If you are only talking about the animal in general, do not use a capital letter.
- My dog's name is Max.
- The horse is called Star.
- I saw a cat in the yard. (no name, so no capital letter)
Capitalize the animal's name, but not the type of animal. For example: This is my cat, Bella.
Using Capital Letters Correctly
Capital letters make sentences clear and show respect for people and animals by writing their names correctly.
- Correct: We play with Luna the dog.
- Incorrect: We play with luna the dog.
- Correct: My teacher is Mrs. Green.
When checking your writing, look for people's and animals' names. Make sure the first letter of each name is capitalized.