Proper Noun vs. Common Noun — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on October 6, 2023
A Proper Noun names a specific individual, place, or thing and is always capitalized, while a Common Noun refers to a general class of people, places, or things.
Difference Between Proper Noun and Common Noun
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
In literature, Proper Nouns help in character or location identification, like "Harry Potter" or "Hogwarts." Meanwhile, Common Nouns such as "wizard" or "school" offer a general classification.
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A Proper Noun designates a unique entity and gives it a specific name, ensuring it stands apart from others. On the other hand, a Common Noun is more generalized, not focusing on the uniqueness but rather on the commonalities among entities.
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While a Proper Noun would pinpoint a certain individual, such as "Michael Jordan," a Common Noun would refer to any player in the category, like "basketball player."
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Similarly, cities like "New York" or "Los Angeles" are Proper Nouns because they name specific places. The term "city," however, is a Common Noun, as it can refer to any city in the world.
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Proper Nouns always begin with a capital letter, whether they're at the beginning of a sentence or not. Conversely, Common Nouns are only capitalized if they start a sentence.
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Comparison Chart
Capitalization
Always capitalized
Capitalized only at the start of sentences
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Definitions
Proper Noun
A noun representing one of its kind.
Mars is known as the Red Planet.
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Common Noun
A noun not capitalized unless it begins a sentence.
The river flows calmly.
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Proper Noun
The specific title of something.
Mount Everest is the highest peak.
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Common Noun
A term for any member of a class of people, places, or things.
The city is bustling with activity.
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Proper Noun
A name used for an individual person, place, or organization.
Paris is known for its cuisine.
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Common Noun
A generic term without particular distinction.
Every forest has its own beauty.
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Proper Noun
A capitalized noun designating a unique entity.
Shakespeare wrote many plays.
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Common Noun
A noun that represents a category or group.
A laptop is essential for modern work.
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Proper Noun
A noun that distinguishes a particular object.
The Titanic sank on its maiden voyage.
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FAQs
Can a Common Noun ever be capitalized?
Yes, if a Common Noun starts a sentence, it is capitalized.
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What is a Proper Noun?
A Proper Noun is a name that identifies a specific individual, place, or thing and is always capitalized.
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How is a Common Noun different from a Proper Noun?
A Common Noun refers to a general category or class of things, while a Proper Noun names a specific entity.
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Do Common Nouns always start with a lowercase letter?
Common Nouns generally start with lowercase unless they begin a sentence.
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Give an example of a Proper Noun and Common Noun in a sentence.
"The author, J.K. Rowling, wrote a book." Here, "J.K. Rowling" is a Proper Noun, and "book" is a Common Noun.
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Why is it important to distinguish between Proper and Common Nouns?
Distinguishing helps in precise communication, with Proper Nouns offering specificity and Common Nouns giving general information.
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Can a word be both a Proper Noun and a Common Noun?
Yes, depending on context. For example, "apple" can refer to a fruit (Common Noun) or the tech company "Apple" (Proper Noun).
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How can one identify a Common Noun in a sentence?
A Common Noun gives a generic name to people, places, or things without being specific and isn't usually capitalized.
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Are all names of places Proper Nouns?
Yes, specific names of places, like "California" or "Amazon River," are Proper Nouns.
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Do all languages differentiate between Proper and Common Nouns?
While many languages have this distinction, the rules and ways they differentiate might vary.
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Author Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
