Grammar Handbook: Common and Proper Nouns

Nouns can be divided into two categories: common nouns and proper nouns.

:: Common Nouns
Common nouns name ordinary things that are not specific or important enough to be capitalized (except at the beginning of a sentence). Common nouns refer to any of a class of people, places, or things. Common nouns include most of the nouns used to name things.

A few examples:
key
flower
dog
city
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:: Proper Nouns
Proper nouns name particular people, places, or things, that are special enough to be always capitalized.

A few examples:
President Clinton
Georgia
Sony
Catholic
Pacific Ocean
Melissa
McDonalds
Walnut Street
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