Proper nouns
A noun is a word that refers to a person, thing, or idea. A proper noun is the specific name of a person, organization, or location. Proper nouns always have their first letter capitalized.
Examples of when to capitalize
- The first and last names of a person
Examples: Gillian Welch, Steve Jobs, Francis Crick, Michael Jackson
- Names of companies and organizations
Examples: World Wildlife Fund, United Nations, Volkswagen, Springer Nature
- Countries and cities
Examples: Australia, India, Germany, New York, London, Beijing
- Months of the year, days of the week
Examples: January, August, Monday, Saturday
Examples of when not to capitalize
- Names of chemicals or generic drugs
Example: benzene, acetaminophen