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YY.1 Capitalization of the names of people and pets

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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.

Examples:
  • My teacher's name is Ms. Smith.
  • The dog's name is Buddy.
  • I read a book about Lucy the cat.
Helpful Hint

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.

Examples:
  • My friend is Emma.
  • I went to see Mr. Johnson.
  • My brother's name is David.
Helpful Hint

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.

Examples:
  • My dog's name is Max.
  • The horse is called Star.
  • I saw a cat in the yard. (no name, so no capital letter)
Helpful Hint

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.

Examples:
  • Correct: We play with Luna the dog.
  • Incorrect: We play with luna the dog.
  • Correct: My teacher is Mrs. Green.
Helpful Hint

When checking your writing, look for people's and animals' names. Make sure the first letter of each name is capitalized.