Nouns

2008 Oct 18

A proper noun is a noun which names a specific person, place, or thing. Proper nouns are capitalized. That includes the following categories of names:

• Each part of a person's name (first, middle, last)
• Given or pet names of animals
• Geographical and celestial names
• Monuments, buildings, meeting rooms
• Historical events, documents, laws, and periods
• Months, days of the week, holidays
• Groups and languages
• Religions, deities, scriptures
• Awards, vehicles, vehicle models, brand names
• Some parts of last names may not be capitalized
• Sometimes the part of the last name following Mac (but never Mc or M') may not be capitalized. There is no rule, just learn the name.
• Sometimes the part of the last name following the particles de, du, d', den, der, des, la, le, l', ten, ter, van, or von (and similar particles) may or may not be capitalized. The particles themselves may or may not be capitalized. Check to see how the person prefers it. The spelling rule in Europe, where such particles are more common, is not to capitalize the particle when the first name is being used with it, but to capitalize the part that follows the particle. The particle is capitalized if the last name with the particle is used by itself.

Nouns which are not proper nouns are called common nouns.

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