Explain the difference between proper nouns and common nouns in terms of capitalization.

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Explain the difference between proper nouns and common nouns in terms of capitalization.

Proper nouns and common nouns are two different types of nouns that vary in terms of capitalization.

A proper noun is a specific name given to a particular person, place, thing, or idea. It is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence. Proper nouns include names of individuals (e.g., John, Mary), specific locations (e.g., Paris, New York City), organizations (e.g., Microsoft, United Nations), titles (e.g., President, Doctor), and unique events (e.g., Christmas, Independence Day). Capitalizing proper nouns helps to distinguish them from common nouns and emphasizes their individuality.

On the other hand, common nouns are general names given to a class or category of people, places, things, or ideas. They are not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence or are part of a title. Common nouns include generic terms such as dog, city, book, and tree. They refer to common, everyday objects or concepts that are not specific or unique. By not capitalizing common nouns, we differentiate them from proper nouns and indicate their general nature.

In summary, the key difference between proper nouns and common nouns lies in their capitalization. Proper nouns are always capitalized, regardless of their position in a sentence, as they refer to specific names of individuals, places, organizations, titles, or events. On the other hand, common nouns are not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence or are part of a title, as they represent general categories or classes of people, places, things, or ideas.