Capitalization

Abbreviations:

Capitalize the letters in abbreviations if the word abbreviated would normally be capitalized:

                                 Federal Bureau of Investigation—FBI

                                 Housing and Urban Development—HUD

                                 Monday—Mon.

                                 Boulevard—Blvd.

After a Colon:

Capitalize the first word after a colon if it is a proper noun. 

                                 The new parents considered the following three names 
                                 for their baby boy: Robert, John, and Anthony.

Capitalize the first word after a colon if it is a complete sentence: 
                                
                                 After three weeks in Central America, he had the following to  
                                 show for his diplomatic efforts: He had a broken windshield, a   
                                 sunburn, a depleted wallet, and some colorful weavings.
                                                               -BUT-
                                 After three weeks in Central America, he had the following to  
                                 show for his diplomatic efforts: a broken windshield, a 
                                 sunburn, a depleted wallet, and some colorful weavings.                  

Compass Points:

Capitalize the points of the compass when they refer to specific places:

                                 the South, back East, the Midwest

Capitalize the points of the compass when they refer to global divisions (not states):

                                 Southern Europe
                                          -BUT-
                                 eastern Montana

Do not capitalize the points of the compass when they refer to direction:

                                 south of here, farther north

Do not capitalize the points of the compass when they are used adjectivally:

                                 western clothing, southwest wind

General:

Always capitalize the following:

         1. The first letter of a sentence:

                                 Television news coverage is seldom comprehensive.

         2. Official titles when combined with the name of the holder:

                                 President George Bush

         3. The first letter of the important words in literary titles:

                                 The Grapes of Wrath

         4. Nations, states, counties, cities:

                                 United States, Minnesota, Stevens County, Minneapolis

          5. Days of the week, months, holidays:

                                 Tuesday, January, Christmas

          6. Major historical events and periods:

                                 Dark Ages, Great Depression

           7. Schools, political parties, businesses:

                                 University of California, Republican Party, 
                                      
                                 Pacific Telephone Company
                                      
           8. People's names and initials:

                                 John B. Davis

           9. Proper names of geographic features; lakes, rivers, mountains, etc:

                                 Lake Tahoe, Mississippi River, Rocky Mountains

         10. Nationalities and other proper noun group memberships:

                                 Swedish, Irish
                                 New Yorker, Martian
                                 Democrat, Hoosier
                                 Arkansas Razorback

                                           -BUT-

                                 San Diego resident
                                 native Alaskan
                                       
          11. Names of deities:

                                 God, Buddha, Siva                 

Holidays:

Capitalize all holidays and religious days:

                                 Memorial Day, All Saints Day

Outlines:

Capitalize the first word of each item in an outline:

                                 1. Preparing the soil
                                 2. Planting the seeds
                                 3. Irrigating
                                 4. Harvesting

Parentheses:

Capitalize the first word of a parenthetic statement only if it is a proper noun or begins a complete sentence:

                                 It made no sense for them to continue arguing. (They
                                 were certainly not resolving anything.)                 

                                                              -BUT-

                                 The train (a monorail) arrived early in Brussels.
                                  
Poetry:

Capitalize the first word in each line of poetry:

                                 My heart so full it overflows in sonnets
                                 Pray thee, Fair Maid, don't tread upon it

            NOTE:  In modern verse, this and all other rules are often ignored.

Prefixes:

Foreign name prefixes-such as d', da, van, and von-are usually capitalized when not preceded by a name or title:

                                 D' Meres, but Johnny d'Meres

                                 Von Stufalt, but Baron von Stufalt

American or British name prefixes are usually capitalized regardless of precedent:
          
                                 Van Pelt, also Dolores Van Pelt

        NOTE: Discovering individuals' preferential spelling of their own
                 names is the only safe method.

Proper Names and Titles:

Capitalize all proper names:

                                 Joe's Diner, San Diego, Elizabeth Barklay
                                  
Capitalize words combined with or substituted for proper names to form titles:

                                 Ivan the Terrible, the Sunshine State

                                 the Great Gatsby, Nader's Raiders

Capitalize official titles and academic degrees when they are used with the name of the holder:

                                 President Truman; Ron Hill, Ph.D.

                                 Reverend Jesse Jackson, Dr. Greaves

                                 Senator Cranston, Mayor Moore

                                 Mister Jones, Lady Jane

Capitalize a title when it is used without the name, when it is used in direct address, or when it definitely refers to a certain person:
                                     
                                 I'm telling you, Doctor, there is something wrong.
           
                                 The Mayor is coming.

Capitalize family terms when they are used with the name to which they apply, or when they refer to a specific family member:

                                 Aunt Jane, Uncle Albert, My heart belongs to Daddy.

But do not capitalize family terms which follow a possessive pronoun:

                                 My mother is coming along for the ride.

Capitalize family terms when they are used in direct address:

                                 If I didn't care, Mother, I wouldn't mention it.
                            
Do not capitalize family terms when they are used in the generic sense:

                                 He had a face only a mother could love.

Capitalize the important words in literary titles:

                                 The Fall of the House of Usher

                                 Mating Behavior of Cephalopods

Quotations:

Capitalize the first word of a complete quotation:

                                 She asked,  "Where is my briefcase?"

Do not capitalize the resumed portion of a quoted sentence:

                                 "There is no point," she said, "in continuing this 
                                 discussion."
Seasons:

Capitalize the names of the seasons of the year if they are personified:

                                 Hurry, sweet Summer, we need you.
                                                          -BUT-
                                 I can hardly wait for this summer.