“The” should not have a capital letter unless it is the first word of a sentence. 'The' is the exception to this rule because it can precede the name of a country if that name includes 'States,' 'Kingdom,' 'Republic,' etc., and rivers, seas, and oceans. The articles 'a,' 'an,' and 'the' do not typically precede proper nouns.

For example:įatima moved to the United States of America from Trinidad and Tobago. Only the important words are capitalized when a proper noun includes a preposition or conjunction. Things – Common things that are proper nouns include company names, historical monuments, and brand names. In some cases, a specific residence can function as a proper noun, such as the White House and Buckingham Palace. Places – Specific names of locations (township, city, state, country, continent, etc.) and bodies of water (Lake Erie, Nile River, Pacific Ocean) are proper nouns. Nicknames and pet names are also proper nouns and should be capitalized. People – A person's first, middle, and last name are considered proper nouns (or proper names) and should be capitalized. There are several specific grammar rules for proper nouns that relate to capitalization, use of articles, directions, relationships, dates, and job titles.

What is a proper noun