When Is ‘National Park’ Capitalized?
Throughout various texts, you may encounter the phrase “national park” written both in lowercase and with capitalization, as in “National Park.” The question arises: when should you capitalize ‘national park’? The answer hinges on whether it functions as a proper noun or a common noun. Generally, ‘national park’ is only capitalized when referring to a specific, officially named park, and remains lowercase when used in a generic sense. This distinction is vital for correct grammar and proper noun usage.
What Are Nouns?
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines nouns as words that identify or name a thing, person, animal, place, quality, idea, or action. Recognizing the type of noun helps determine whether the phrase should be capitalized.
Common Nouns
Common nouns are general terms that refer to a class of objects, entities, or concepts and are written in lowercase unless they start a sentence. For example, when you talk about national parks in general, the phrase is a common noun, and therefore, not capitalized.
Proper Nouns
Proper nouns specify a unique name for a particular person, place, or thing and always require capitalization. For instance, “Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve” is a proper noun, with “National Park” as part of the formal name, thus capitalized.
Guidelines for Capitalizing ‘National Park’
Below are detailed instances where capitalization of “national park” is appropriate, illustrating proper usage:
As Part of a Specific Park’s Official Name
When referring to a particular park, the phrase is a proper noun and should be capitalized. Examples include:
- Yosemite National Park
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Zion National Park
- Arches National Park
- Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
Within Organizational Titles, Departments, or Agencies
When “national park” appears as part of the official name of an organization or governmental body, it is capitalized. Examples are:
- National Park Foundation
- National Park Service
- National Parks Conservation Association
- National Park Trust
- Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
In Titles and Headings
When “national park” is used within titles, book chapters, or article headlines, it is capitalized to adhere to title case conventions. Examples include:
- Your Guide to the National Parks
- Hiking the Wonders of Acadia National Park
- National Parks of the United States
- Secrets of the National Parks
- Atlas of the National Parks
Rules of Proper Capitalization
Capitalization rules can sometimes seem complex, but understanding the core principles simplifies the process. Here are key guidelines:
Names, Derived Terms, and Titles
Names of people and titles are always capitalized, including derived terms. For example:
- Sommerfeld–Kossel displacement law (named after physicists Arnold Sommerfeld and Walther Kossel)
- The Freudian revolution (referring to Sigmund Freud’s theories)
- Benford’s law (named after mathematician Frank Benford)
Note that occupations are generally lowercase unless used as formal titles or in direct address, such as “Professor Utonium” or “Senator Dianne Feinstein”.
Names of Places and Landmarks
Geographical locations like countries, continents, cities, streets, monuments, and landmarks are capitalized. Examples include:
- Continents: Africa, Europe, Asia
- Races: Caucasian, Asian, Neanderthal
- Nationalities and Languages: Tahitian, Japanese, French
- Cities: Manila, Michigan City, San Francisco
- Street Names: Park Avenue, Wall Street
- Bridges: Golden Gate Bridge, London Bridge
- Landmarks: The White House, Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal
When used generically, such terms are lowercase, like “river” or “mountain.” Examples:
- Rhine River
- Mayon Volcano
- Great Barrier Reef
- Pacific Ocean
- Ethiopian Highlands
- Jupiter (planet)
- Reed Flute Cave
Cardinal directions – north, south, east, west – are lowercase unless part of a proper noun.
Times and Dates
Specific events, holidays, and historical periods are capitalized, such as:
- Renaissance Period
- French Revolution
- Third Sunday of August
- St. Patrick’s Day
- Cold War
> Conversely, general times of day or periods like “morning” or “afternoon” are lowercase.
Other Proper Nouns
Names of organizations, brands, religions, and divine entities are capitalized. Examples include:
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Roman Catholic
- The North Face
- Hinduism
- World Wide Fund for Nature
Species, elements, and medical conditions are typically lowercase unless they are part of a formal name.
Summary and Final Tips
Deciding whether to capitalize “national park” hinges on whether it is a proper noun or a common noun. Remember, proper nouns are always capitalized, while common nouns are not. This rule applies across the board for all nouns: names, places, titles, and specific terms. Keep this guideline handy to ensure proper grammatical usage when referencing national parks or similar entities in your writing.
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