Proper Noun vs. Common Noun: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on February 22, 2024
Proper nouns name specific, unique entities (e.g., 'Elizabeth', 'New York'), while common nouns refer to general items or classes of things (e.g., 'woman', 'city').
Key Differences
Proper nouns are specific names given to individual entities, making them unique and often capitalized, like 'Amazon River' or 'Shakespeare'. Common nouns, on the other hand, are general names for a class or group of entities, such as 'river' or 'writer', and are usually not capitalized unless they start a sentence.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 22, 2024
A proper noun identifies a one-of-a-kind item, like 'Mount Everest', which refers to a specific mountain. In contrast, a common noun like 'mountain' can refer to any mountain in general, not a specific one.
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Feb 22, 2024
In grammar, proper nouns are always capitalized because they denote specific, identifiable entities, like 'London' or 'Julia'. Common nouns are not typically capitalized (unless starting a sentence) as they represent general items, like 'city' or 'girl'.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 22, 2024
Proper nouns cannot usually be pluralized, as in 'There are many New Yorks', which is incorrect. Common nouns can be plural, like 'dogs', 'cities', or 'cars', to refer to more than one of a general category.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 22, 2024
Proper nouns do not take a definite or indefinite article in most cases ('the' or 'a'), as in 'I visited Eiffel Tower'. Common nouns usually require an article or quantifier, like 'a dog', 'the city', or 'some water'.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 22, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Specificity
Names specific, unique entities.
Refers to general classes of items.
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Feb 22, 2024
Capitalization
Always capitalized.
Not capitalized unless at sentence start.
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Feb 22, 2024
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Proper Noun and Common Noun Definitions
Proper Noun
Proper Noun refers to unique entities and is always capitalized.
We visited London last summer.
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Jan 24, 2024
Common Noun
Common Noun can be singular or plural and can be generic.
There are many cars on the road.
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Proper Noun
A Proper Noun identifies individual names of people, cities, or landmarks.
The book was written by Hemingway.
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Common Noun
A Common Noun is a general name for a person, place, or thing.
The cat sat on the mat.
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Proper Noun
Proper Noun is used for names of days, months, organizations, and titles.
I have an appointment on Monday.
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Common Noun
A Common Noun is typically not capitalized unless it starts a sentence.
Birds fly south for the winter.
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Proper Noun
A Proper Noun signifies a one-of-a-kind name not shared by common items.
The Titanic sank in 1912.
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Common Noun
Common Noun denotes a general class or category, not specific.
She loves reading books.
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Proper Noun
A Proper Noun is a specific name for a particular person, place, or thing.
I met Sarah at the park.
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Jan 24, 2024
Common Noun
A Common Noun represents general items, not unique names.
We walked through a forest.
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Jan 24, 2024
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can Common Nouns be capitalized?
Only if they start a sentence or are part of a title.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 22, 2024
What is a Proper Noun?
A name given to a specific individual, place, or organization.
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Feb 22, 2024
What is a Common Noun?
A general name for a type or class of objects or people.
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Feb 22, 2024
Can Proper Nouns be pluralized?
Generally, no, because they refer to specific entities.
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Feb 22, 2024
Is 'school' a Common Noun?
Yes, unless it's part of a specific name like 'Lincoln High School'.
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Feb 22, 2024
Are objects like 'chair' Common Nouns?
Yes, because they denote a class of items.
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Feb 22, 2024
Are Proper Nouns always capitalized?
Yes, Proper Nouns are always capitalized.
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Feb 22, 2024
Why are Proper Nouns capitalized?
To indicate their uniqueness and specific identity.
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Feb 22, 2024
Can Proper Nouns be used without context?
They usually identify specific entities without needing context.
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Feb 22, 2024
Do Common Nouns represent specific things?
No, they represent general categories or types.
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Feb 22, 2024
Can a Proper Noun become a Common Noun?
Rarely, usually in cases of genericization.
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Feb 22, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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