 A noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or idea. Whatever exists, we assume, can be named, and that name is a noun. |
| A proper noun, which names a specific person, place, or thing (Jimmy, Queen Elizabeth, United States, South Carolina, Mt. Everest, God, Spanish), is almost always capitalized. |
| Common nouns name everything else. Common nouns usually are not capitalized. |