BBB.3 Capitalization: names of places and geographic features
What is capitalization?
Capitalization means using a capital letter at the beginning of certain words. Capital letters help readers understand that a word is special or important.
- city → City (when it is part of a name)
- park → Park
- river → River
Capital letters are not used for every word. They are used for specific names and important places.
Capitalizing names of places
The names of places are proper nouns and must begin with capital letters.
- New York
- California
- Chicago
- Lincoln Elementary School
If the place has more than one word, capitalize the first letter of each important word.
Capitalizing geographic features
Geographic features are natural places on Earth, such as rivers, mountains, deserts, and oceans. Capitalize them when they are part of a specific name.
- Mississippi River
- Rocky Mountains
- Pacific Ocean
- Sahara Desert
The general word (river, mountain, ocean) is capitalized only when it is included in the name.
When not to capitalize
Do not capitalize place words when they are not part of a specific name.
- We swam in the river.
- The mountains looked tall.
- She visited a park near her house.
Ask yourself: Is this the exact name of a place? If not, use a lowercase letter.
Using capitalization in sentences
Correct capitalization helps make your writing clear and easy to read.
- We visited Central Park last summer.
- The boat crossed the Atlantic Ocean.
- My family drove through the Grand Canyon.
When you proofread your writing, check that all place names and geographic features are capitalized correctly.