|
|
Links
|
|
|
Download |
|
|
 
|
Use
a capital letter at the start of a sentence.
|
|
|
1. Each
new sentence should start with a capital letter.
2. This also applies to sentences
contained within quotation marks.
Examples:
At 4 o'clock, he stood up and said:
"You can all leave if you wish." 
He was considered "The sexiest man
ever to come out of Barnsley".
|
|
YOU
MUST START A NEW SENTENCE
Once
you have expressed a complete idea, you should put a full stop and
end the sentence. Do not insert a comma and continue
writing. This is a very common mistake.
John sprang to his feet and ran to the shop, he needed to buy
more beer
before the second half started. 
The Loch Ness Monster was spotted 8 times in the '60s, I
camped
there for a year and did not see a thing, I caught
dozens of trout
though.
(Occasionally,
it may be appropriate to use a dash or a
semicolon instead of a full
stop and then continue writing.
See lesson "Extend
a Sentence".)
|
|
|
START A NEW SENTENCE
WITH HOWEVER
The word "however" (usually written "However,")
nearly always starts a new sentence. It is a common mistake to
"merge" sentences using "however".
I am leaving on Tuesday, however, I will be back on Wednesday
to
collect my wages.
I am leaving on Tuesday. However, I will be back on Wednesday
to
collect my wages. 
Do not feed the fish in this tank, however, you may feed
the
animals in the petting zoo.
The centre forward is very fast. However, he can only kick
the
ball with his left foot.
(Mini Test)
(Occasionally,
it may be appropriate to use a dash or a
semicolon before
"however".
See lesson "Extend
a Sentence".)
|
|
|
NOT ALWAYS
Be aware
that the word "however" does not always start a new
sentence.
John has confirmed that he can attend the meeting on Saturday.
Simon, however, is out of the
country until Monday.
(See lesson "Parenthesis".)
|
|
|
Top |
|
|
Use
capital letters for proper nouns, but not for common nouns.
|
|
|
|
|
COMMON
NOUN AND PROPER NOUN?
A common
noun is the word for something (like "tower"). A proper noun is the
name
of something
(like "The Eiffel Tower").
(See lesson "Nouns".) |
1. Capitalise
the names of people, places, planets, days of the week, titles of rank or relationship (when joined to person’s name),
months, holidays, departments, clubs, companies, institutions, bridges, buildings, monuments, parks, ships, hotels, streets,
historical events and documents.
Examples (proper nouns in bold):
The next lake the party
visited was Lake Michigan.
(The word "lake"
is a common noun; it is the word for an in-land water feature.
"Lake
Michigan" is a proper noun; it is the name of the lake.)
According
to Lord Davies, The Church
in London is not
actually a church; it is
a public house.
I intend to stay for Armistice Day.
Could you ask Sergeant Allan or the other
sergeant to arrange the patrol
on Friday
morning?
(Mini Test)
|
|
IN
BUSINESS WRITING
In business writing particularly,
it is considered
good practice (for politeness) to capitalise some common nouns,
such as "Company" and "Director" - you have a
choice.
The
manager of your company confirmed the booking in writing
on 15 August.
The Manager of your Company confirmed the booking in writing
on 15 August.
In the main, this pertains to job titles and names of
departments. Other words which may be important enough in the
context of your writing to warrant capital letters are:
Director, President, Office Manager, Commanding Officer
Division, Claims Department, Court, Regiment, Unit
The Director will cast the final vote.
(Mini Test)
|
|
|
STICK
TO THE RULES
Do not be tempted to give a word a capital letter just because it is an important
word in your sentence.
|
[picture 1]
[picture 2]
[picture 3]
| |
|
|
Place your order using the form in our latest Brochure.
We value our Clients' opinions.
No one could play the Guitar like Stuart.
(Mini Test)
|
|
|
Top |
|
|
Do
not capitalise the points of the compass unless they form part of a name.
|
|
|
Capitalise
the names of the seasons when they are personified; i.e. when they are
given human traits.
|
|
|
Titles
can be written in title case; i.e. only capitalise the principal words.
|
|
|
Use capital letters in adverts as required.
|
|
