Do You Capitalize The Word “American”? Learn When To

When writing, we must consider a number of factors to ensure that the reader understands our thoughts and that our message is presented effectively. Those factors are attached to those classes we received back in school and are essential to show in our writing today. When it comes to writing a paper, whether for work, school, or university, have you asked yourself, do you capitalize the word “American?”

“American” is a word that, like many others, follows specific rules when it comes to capitalization. In this case, it refers to: a common noun or adjective that is part of a proper name is capitalized. For this reason, “American” is always capitalized. 

We can understand that it may be challenging to remember all of the capitalization rules. But that’s when we come in. In this article, we will discuss all that needs to be known about the capitalization of “American.”

Origins

America gets its name from Amerigo Vespucci. He was an Italian explorer who came up with the theory that the territories discovered by Christopher Columbus belonged to a separate continent. Martin Waldseemüller’s map from 1507 depicted the new continent for the first time as “America.” There were continuous updates to maps after the discovery of the “New World.” The size and location of the land were unknown. As a result of this uncertainty, maps from the 1500s are incredibly inaccurate and contradictory.

According to history, the word “American” has its origins in the Modern Latin “Americanous,” from America, referring at that time to The Western Hemisphere and its indigenous people. Throughout the English language, the meaning of the word “American” varies widely depending on context. The term “American” is usually used to describe things or people connected to the United States of America. The adjective or the noun can be used to describe something related to the United States.

The Rules Of Capitalization

It may seem straightforward how to capitalize names and titles, but there are other factors involved in capitalization in English besides just knowing how to capitalize names and titles in professional and academic environments. The following sections will explain those in detail.

The first word of a sentence

When writing, the first letter of a sentence is capitalized to indicate that the sentence is beginning. For example:

• • The text message was deleted when I clicked that button.

• All my expenses need to be covered with this side hustle.

• Andrea needs to go home. Now!

Proper nouns

They should always be capitalized since they describe particular names or objects. Additionally, irrespective of how they appear in a sentence, they are always capitalized in English. Example:

• She said her name was Maria, not Stacey. Her tone was definitely harsh.
• I would like to think that, in another life, my actual name was Benson.
• Elizabeth Taylor was an amazing actress.

When Quoting Capitalize The First Word

When we are quoting, we should always capitalize the first word. However, this rule only applies if the quote is a complete sentence. Examples:

• JP’s bank associate said: “You will not be able to buy that home if you keep spending money like crazy.”
• Her mom warned her: “If you leave this house, don’t come back!”

Titles

Whenever a title precedes a name, it should be capitalized. This is usually used to add honor to the receiving person’s name. Examples:

• I am certain that Queen Elizabeth is a descendant of Queen Victoria.

• Prince Harry announced that he would be having a second child with Megan.

Countries, nationalities, and specific languages

Since they are considered proper nouns, we should always capitalize them. Examples:

• Spain is the country the couple chose to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
• Lady Gaga said she was a proud American.

It is important to note that when following capitalization rules when referring to a country, nationality, and a specific language, it is done due to their known state of being proper nouns. Additionally, when used as part of appropriate titles, proper names, or proper adjectives, they are official designations of countries, national domains, and primary administrative divisions. Hence, they also need to be capitalized. Furthermore, when referring to someone’s nationality in written English, the word should be preceded by capital letters. It does not matter if it is at the beginning of the sentence, in the middle, or at the end. It is good to remember that the phrase nationality itself is only capitalized when shown at the beginning of a sentence; otherwise, it should be written in lowercase.

Examples In Sentences

To have a better understanding, the following section will show sentences with appropriate capitalization of the term.

1. Carl, Paul, Jason, Carla, and Rose are all American.
2. American Airlines is still operating in some parts of the American continent.
3. She changed her nationality from American to Peruvian.
4. I would have guessed she was American, but apparently, she is Indian.
5. Mary and Jhon went clubbing yesterday. They were kicked out at 3 am. They explained it happens a lot to Americans in this part of town.
6. I would like to think that what’s in Joshua’s drink is strawberry slushy instead of alcohol. Remember, for Americans, the legal drinking age starts at 21.
7. With his actions, Ray clearly demonstrated how Jose was assaulting him. The only reason he is not being deported is because he is American.
8. Americans generally celebrate the 4th of July by having barbeques and lighting fireworks.
9. She said that she was 100 percent American. I think that she was lying, if I am honest.
10. Well, American or not, I think that she should be able to go to court and fight her case.

Quotes Using The Term

• “Half of the American people haven’t read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half.”

― Gore Vidal, Screening History

• “Americans no longer talk to each other. They entertain each other. . They do not argue with propositions; They do not exchange ideas, they exchange images; they argue with good looks, celebrities, and commercials.”

― Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business

• It is time to reestablish the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions. We must dismiss the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker.

― Ronald Reagan

• The path to success is not simple to follow, but with hard work, drive and passion, it’s possible to achieve the American dream.

―Tommy Hilfiger

• I am overwhelmed with gratefulness, and my heart is full. ‘American Sniper’ has broken records, which follows such an honest path of Chris’s life.

―Taya Kyle

• We are not going to ship American boys 9 or 10 thousand miles away from their homes to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves.

―Lyndon B. Johnson

Conclusion

Capitalization is very important in our daily lives. Whether we are writing emails, letters, or simply texting, proper capitalization gives words greater weight than they usually would. Additionally, it says a lot about who we are. When it comes to terms such as “American” grammar rules, state that they should always be capitalized because they are proper nouns, regardless of the place they hold in the sentence.

After going through this post, there is no doubt in mind that we now know the rules for capitalization. If you ever find yourself in need of clarification, you can always refer back to this article.