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BBB.1 Capitalization: people, pets, and titles of respect

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What does it mean to capitalize names?

Capitalization means writing the first letter of certain words as an uppercase letter. When writing the names of people and pets, the first letter of each name should always be capitalized.

Examples:
  • emma → Emma
  • max the dog → Max the dog
  • my cousin john → my cousin John
Note

Names are special nouns. Always begin them with a capital letter, no matter where they appear in a sentence.

Capitalizing names of pets

Just like people’s names, pets have names too. Always capitalize the first letter of your pet’s name when you write it.

Examples:
  • My cat is named Luna.
  • We take Bella to the park.
  • His dog Rocky loves to play fetch.
Note

If it is a name that belongs to a person or an animal, capitalize it. Do not capitalize common words like “dog,” “cat,” or “fish.”

Capitalizing titles of respect

When you use a title of respect with a person’s name, always capitalize the title and the name.

Examples:
  • Mr. Smith is our teacher.
  • I saw Dr. Lee today.
  • Mrs. Johnson read us a story.
Note

Titles like Mr., Mrs., Ms., and Dr. are always capitalized when used before a person’s name.

Why is capitalization important?

Capitalization shows respect and makes your writing clear. It helps the reader know which words are names and titles.

Examples:
  • “I am going to see Dr. Miller.”
  • Sophie has a new puppy.”
  • “My pet Buddy likes to sleep.”
Note

When in doubt, ask yourself: Is this a person’s name, a pet’s name, or a respectful title? If yes, capitalize it.

Putting it all together

In your writing, always remember to capitalize the names of people, pets, and titles of respect. This makes your work neat and correct.

Examples:
  • We went to the park with Max.
  • Mrs. Green helped us with our project.
  • My brother Alex took our dog Bella for a walk.
Note

Practice by writing sentences about your own family, friends, and pets using correct capitalization.