Writing Prompt ~ The Word “English”

Posted by: Tara Benwell

Writing Prompt: The word English is always capitalized, even when it is used as an adjective to describe a person, thing, nationality or country. In English, languages, nations and nationalities are always capitalized. Not using a capital E in the word English (or when referring to other languages in English) makes your writing seem careless. Demonstrate your understanding of this important rule of English capitalization by writing a short paragraph using the word English as many times as you can. Try to use other language words and nationalities in your paragraph, too.

Example

I am an English language teacher. I have a pet peeve that relates to my English language students. It doesn’t matter if they are Spanish, Korean, or French, they often forget to use capital letters in their writing. This is especially true when they write the word English. I don’t know if forget is the right word. I think that these English learners may not realize how important this rule is in English. Or, maybe they think that if they use English as an adjective, it should not be capitalized. This isn’t true. English is always capitalized. It’s a simple rule. Some teachers like the term “proper adjective”. They teach their students that an adjective that is derived from a proper noun (e.g., Hawaiian dancing, Shakespearean plays) is a proper adjective and should also be capitalized. I did not learn that in English class when I was a student, but maybe it’s a good way to think of it. Maybe I should have my English learners write this sentence out 100 times in English: The word English is always capitalized.

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Written by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub

Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
© EnglishClub.com

12 comments

• Kulvinder says:
  

  I have been English learning one year ago so diffecal for me.my life gole is improving my English .

• Hager says:
  

  Hello guys . I’m Hager from Egypt . My first language is Arabic . Arabic language is mother of languages . Arabic language is first language of all Arab countries . In our language , we don’t use capitalized like English language . since a year , I decided develop and improve my English language . I took
  an English course and now I preparing to a TOEFL test . Before learn English I write English without capitalized but now I writing with capitalized . I try to improve writing and speaking English for a TOEFL test . I need more confident during speaking English .

• omer abdikadir dahir says:
  

  hello mate, the English language is very essential in our modern world, because, now all of us we live in single click world.
  so that the English language is the only language that you can proceed with your daily life needs.

• Hrushikesh Panda says:
  

  I like English language as it’s so called an international language.I am so pleased to say that the group facilitate the skill of learning English correctly with much more confidence.

• Ally Zat says:
  

  English is the most difficult of all languages to learn. The English language has many words that mean the same thing.

• ABDUL MUJIB ADEYEMI says:
  

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• W. Tad PFEFFER says:
  

  One exception to this rule:”english” in sports refers to imparting a spin to a ball, causing its path to curve. This would be a trivial use of “english” if not for the fact that it’s moved into the language in many other contexts, and someone can be said to “put some english on” almost any activity imaginable, and the meaning, while vague, will be generally understood.

• Esteban Rayo says:
  

  I am an assiduous English learner, since boy I practice my English reading English literature or speaking in English with my parantes and siblings.
  However, I did not have very good English grades when I was at school. I think that the professor did not motivate us adequately.
  I would like very much to vist an English speaking country, such as United States.

• Tania says:
  

  I have been English learner for years and it´s the first time I take this English lesson about why the word English is always capitalized. Maybe none of my English teachers know this essential rule abouth the English language. My English could be seen as scarce because I was ignoring this. My futures English colleagues will correct me in this mistake, fortunately I found this English prompt and I will never forget that languages and nations are always capitalized.

• laziz says:
  

  good letter

• play fireboy and watergirl online free says:
  

  Yes mates you are right as we read the long name and think what is inside the website game or anything else so first of all I want to clear your doubt you just very near about world most demandable play fireboy and watergirl free. And this directly link up with the improvement of the game portal.

• Ekawaty says:
  

  Hello.. I’m Ekawaty from Indonesia. I am an English learner. For the first, let me to say sorry because I just realize that sometimes I write English without capitalized. From now on, I promise to capitalized when I write English. Actually in our language, we also using capitalized when we write or describe the name of place, people, and country even in the middle of sentences. Thank you for this usefull information about the word English. I do need correction about my writing to improve my English. Thank you in advance.