Which Sentence Shows Correct Capitalization?

Explanation of Correct Capitalization

Capitalization rules

Capitalization is the writing of a word with its first letter in uppercase and the remaining letters in lowercase. Correct capitalization is essential to convey meaning accurately and to show respect for proper nouns. In the English language, there are specific rules for capitalization, especially when it comes to proper nouns.

Proper Nouns

Proper nouns are the specific names of people, places, organizations, and things. They are always capitalized to distinguish them from common nouns. When we refer to specific deserts like the Sahara Desert or continents like Africa, they are considered proper nouns and should be capitalized.

Location Indicators

Words indicating direction or location such as northern, southern, eastern, and western are not considered proper nouns unless they are part of a proper noun. In the sentence provided, "northern" is used to describe a direction rather than a specific region or people. Therefore, it should not be capitalized.

Correct Answer Justification

The correct answer to the question is the fourth option: "The Sahara Desert stretches 3,200 miles across the northern portion of Africa." In this sentence, the proper nouns "Sahara Desert" and "Africa" are correctly capitalized, while the directional term "northern" is not capitalized as it refers to a direction rather than a specific region or people.

Overall, understanding the rules of capitalization, especially when it comes to proper nouns, is crucial for effective communication and writing in English.