Should Eagle be Capitalized?

The question of whether or not the word “eagle” should be capitalized can be confusing for some, but the answer is fairly straightforward. According to the Associated Press Stylebook, the word “eagle” should be lowercase unless it is part of a proper name, such as the bald eagle or the American Eagle clothing store.

In general, proper nouns are capitalized, while common nouns are not. Proper nouns are nouns that refer to a specific person, place, or thing. Common nouns, on the other hand, refer to general items, such as animals, plants, or objects.

For example, the words “dog” and “cat” are common nouns, so they should not be capitalized. The word “German Shepherd” is a proper noun, so it should be capitalized.

The same rule applies to the word “eagle.” If it is used to describe a type of bird, it should remain lowercase. However, if the word is part of a proper name, such as the “bald eagle” or “steppe eagle,” it should be capitalized.

In summary, the word “eagle” should be lowercase unless it is part of a proper name. Remember that proper nouns refer to specific people, places, or things, while common nouns refer to general items.

For more information on capitalization and other grammar topics, refer to the Associated Press Stylebook or Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab.