Capitalize Geographical Names and Specific Roadways
Capitalization
Rulebase Summary
Capitalize geographical names for specific cities, counties, states, countries, land masses, mountains, and bodies of water — Lake Michigan, Mount Rainier, Pacific Ocean. Capitalize the specific names of avenues, streets, roads, routes, expressways, highways, freeways, parkways, and turnpikes — Route 66, Fifth Avenue, the New Jersey Turnpike.
Examples
A. We drove along the new jersey turnpike to get there.
A. We drove along the New Jersey Turnpike to get there.
A specific named roadway is a proper noun and is capitalized.
A. We took the Expressway to avoid traffic.
A. We took the expressway to avoid traffic.
A generic reference to a roadway — without the proper name — is lowercase.
Transcript Notes
Do not capitalize the general naming or renaming of any roadway (the expressway, the interstate, a parkway).
Capitalize specific names of geographic locations including lakes, rivers, oceans, and mountain ranges (Lake Placid, Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, the Rockies). Capitalize names of cities, states, nicknames, buildings, parks, airports, and train stations (Windy City, Empire State Building, Union Station).
Without the accompanying proper name, these references are lowercase and generic — exceptions exist for well-recognized references (the Hill for Capitol Hill, the Valley for the San Fernando Valley). Capitalize recognized references to specific areas even without a proper noun (Bay Area, Miracle Mile, Rose Garden). Many of these references are region-specific and require local research.
Style Guide References (5)
Morson's
Morson's
BGGP
BGGP
BGGP