PROPER CAPITALIZATION IN ENGLISH 2
B1–B2 · IntermediateA word may need a capital letter as part of an official name but not when it is used generally. This second exercise practices capitalization in place names, titles, and other naming expressions.
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Choose the sentence that has the correct capitalization.
1. Which is correct?
Correct answer: He was born in New York City. — proper noun — City is part of the official name New York City.
2. Which is correct?
Correct answer: His parents were from the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan. — city here is a common noun (= the city called...), not part of the name.
3. Which is correct?
Correct answer: When we were in Washington, we saw President Obama. — titles used directly before a name are capitalised — President Obama.
4. Which is correct?
Correct answer: The senator was talking to the president. — titles without a name following are not capitalised — the senator, the president.
5. Which is correct?
Correct answer: He was examined by Dr. Jones. — titles used directly before a name are capitalised — Dr. Jones.
6. Which is correct?
Correct answer: Many good American writers come from the South. — South = a specific geographic region — capitalised as a proper noun.
7. Which is correct?
Correct answer: Go south for three blocks, then turn right. — south here is a direction, not a region — not capitalised.
8. Which is correct?
Correct answer: They have a cottage on Lake Michigan. — Lake Michigan is a proper name — both words capitalised.
9. Which is correct?
Correct answer: My favorite book is "The Fellowship of the Ring". — in titles, minor words like of and the are not capitalised.
10. Which is correct?
Correct answer: FBI stands for "Federal Bureau of Investigation". — official organisation names are proper nouns — all significant words capitalised.
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Grammar review
This exercise focuses on one tricky pattern: a word like city, president, south, or lake is only capitalized when it's actually part of a specific proper name, not when it's used generically.
New York City (part of the name) vs. the city of Kalamazoo (generic)
President Obama (title + name) vs. talking to the president (generic)
from the South (a specific region) vs. go south for three blocks (a direction)
For the broader rules, see Capitalization 1.
New York City (part of the name) vs. the city of Kalamazoo (generic)
President Obama (title + name) vs. talking to the president (generic)
from the South (a specific region) vs. go south for three blocks (a direction)
For the broader rules, see Capitalization 1.
