When should you capitalize the names of specific countries, states, or cities?

The names of specific countries, states, or cities should be capitalized in the following situations:

1. At the beginning of a sentence: Whenever a country, state, or city name appears at the beginning of a sentence, it should always be capitalized. For example, "France is known for its rich history."

2. Proper nouns: Country, state, and city names are considered proper nouns, and as such, they should always be capitalized. For instance, "I have always wanted to visit New York City."

3. Adjectives derived from proper nouns: When an adjective is derived from a proper noun, it should also be capitalized. For example, "I love Italian cuisine."

4. Official names: If a country, state, or city has an official name, it should be capitalized. For instance, "The official name of Germany is the Federal Republic of Germany."

5. Specific regions or districts: If a specific region or district within a country, state, or city has a name, it should be capitalized. For example, "I live in the Upper East Side of Manhattan."

6. Historical events or landmarks: When referring to historical events or landmarks that are associated with a specific country, state, or city, their names should be capitalized. For instance, "The Great Wall of China is a famous landmark."

It is important to note that generic terms like "country," "state," or "city" are not capitalized unless they are part of a proper noun or used as part of a specific name. For example, "I visited the city of Paris" or "The United States is a country."