Questions tagged [proper-nouns]

A proper noun or proper name is a noun representing a unique entity as opposed to a common noun, which represents a class of entities or non-unique instances of that class. Proper nouns are usually, but not invariably, capitalized in English.

A proper noun or proper name is a noun representing a unique entity (such as London, Jupiter, John Hunter, or Toyota), as distinguished from a common noun, which represents a class of entities (or nonunique instance[s] of that class)—for example, city, planet, person or corporation).

In English, proper nouns are not normally preceded by an article or other limiting modifier (such as any or some), and are used to denote a particular person, place, or object without regard to any descriptive meaning the word or phrase may have (for example, a town called "Newtown" may be, but does not necessarily have to be, a new [recently built] town).

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Why are the United States often referred to as America?

People often refer to the country US as America and to the people from the US as Americans. As far as I know, that's the only case in the world where a continent's name is used for a country's name (let me know if I'm wrong). Why does that happen?
Ivo Rossi
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Why are days of the week proper nouns?

Is there any particular reason why days of the week are proper nouns?
Chris
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"Internet" or "The Internet"

As a proper noun, and as something commonly referred to in everyday life, I've heard both "the internet," and "internet" when using it as a noun. Ex: I went on the Internet Vs. I found my answer via Internet Although the second of the two sounds…
David
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Capitalization of software terms--design pattern

I'm editing a software blog, and the author is describing a design pattern called the "abstract factory pattern." He capitalizes the 'A' and the 'F' in some places and not in others. The Wikipedia article is guilty of doing the same thing, and…
Amanda
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Company names, use of "have" and "has"

Possible Duplicate: Are collective nouns always plural, or are certain ones singular? Should company names be followed by "has" or "have"? It depends on whether a company is treated as a singular proper-noun: Samsung has gotten itself in a lot…
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Are there diagnostic tests to distinguish between proper and common nouns?

Are there some fill-in-the-blank type questions that, if one were to fill in the blank and it sounded right to a fluent speaker then it would have to be a proper noun (or it would have to be a common noun)?
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How do names of heroes in comics sound to the native?

For example, names of heroes are: Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Spiderman, Wolverine, etc. Also names of villains can be included: Joker, Bane, Magneto, etc. (Sorry if I put heroes in villains and villains in heroes.) The most of these names are…
Jeon
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Capitalisation of "Hall effect"

How should I capitalise Hall effect? I am using this in a brochure and want to get the capitalisation right. I am certain that Hall is capitalised, as this phenomenon (concerning the behaviour of electrical currents near magnets) was named after its…
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How to write company name

This is the name of a company: Taobao Network Co., Ltd. Is it correct that every first letter is capitalised? Also, why is there a comma?
lovespring
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Sun and earth in combination as proper nouns

I have done an extensive research and I am aware that Sun and Earth can be ordinary and proper nouns depending on the context. I am writing the engineering text, which is also concerned with transfer of energy and light between Earth/earth and…
Pygmalion
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How to denote a piece of art or a person?

If I want to refer to a piece of art, like a painting, sculpture, film, TV series, or a person associated with such a piece of art in an essay then how do I denote it? Do I italicize that part or put that part into double quotes or single quotes?…
EdmDroid
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Referring more than one proper noun

When we are referring more than one proper noun, then do we need to capitalize the first alphabet of it. For example: which one of the following is correct? 1) By Theorems 4.2 and 4.3, we can prove the following. 2) By theorems 4.2 and 4.3, we can…
Ram
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What is the best way to refer in English to a zoo all whose animals are carved in stone?

I of course don't have English as my primary language, so have some forgiveness. I would translate the name as "The Rock Zoo" (doesn't seem to make it) "The Zoo on Rock" (better) "The Zoo on Stone" "The Zoo on Stones" Which one(s) is( are)…
dsign
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Does the properness of 'Street' (in the name of a street) survive when discussing two particular streets together?

So do Smith St and Wesson St meet: "at the corner of Smith & Wesson Streets"; or "at the corner of Smith & Wesson streets"?
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Use of proper noun District Attorney's Office or D. A.'s Office vs district attorney's office

Is it correct to use the lowercase for district attorney's office when a particular office (e.g., Shelby County District Attorney's Office) is not included? Even if you're referring to a particular DA's office in ongoing text, is lowercase still…
xoxocrow
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