adjectives taken from names or proper nouns. (But when these words have an independent meaning, they usually have no capital letter.)
Shakespearean drama a Marxist government the British economy an old Victorian house
BUT: a china plate a hamburger and French fried · a glass of scotch
the following words only when they are used as (part of) a name: words for directions (north, south etc.); words like river, lake, sea; and words like road and street used in addresses.
South Africa BUT the countries of southern Africa
the political leaders of the West BUT He drove east for three hours.
a walking holiday in the North-East
the Yellow River BUT a sample of river water
Lake Erie the Red Sea Mount Everest
134 Dewey Road BUT she crossed the road
Central Park BUT a walk in the park
staying at the Station Hotel BUT a cheap hotel
people’s titles when they come before the name or when a title is used alone instead of the name
Ms Eliot Mr Salmon Sir Edward BUT Can I help you, sir?
Dr Grey Good Morning, Doctor. BUT She’s a doctor
Queen Elizabeth a visit by the Queen BUT the early kings of England
President Kennedy BUT re-elect the president America’s first president
words for members of a family when they are used as a title before a name, or used alone instead of the name. Family words do not have capitals after my, your etc.
Uncle Ben and Aunt Freda BUT visit your uncle and aunt
Yes, Dad BUT he hasn’t got a dad
a letter to Mother BUT I wrote to my mother
religions (and their adjectives) and the highest God
the history of Hinduism he is a Christian according to Islamic law
I know God listens to our prayers. BUT ‘Polytheism’ is the belief in many gods.
important words in titles of books, etc and in headlines in newspapers, etc. This means at least the first word and all nouns and adjectives (some writers put other words in capitals too)
A Modern Guide to the Ancient World How to start a Small Business Notice that words like ‘south’, ‘father’, ‘king’ that have a capital letter only in certain uses are spelled with small letters in the dictionary. Common uses with capitals can be found in the examples.
