A quick start
You’ll sometimes see people write “lake Texoma,” especially in casual posts or comments. It looks small, but that lowercase l undercuts the name. In English, when we name a specific natural feature—Lake Texoma, Mississippi River, Mount Rainier—we capitalize it because it’s a proper noun, not a generic thing. That’s the whole story in one line. The rest of this guide gives you the why, the when, and the few edge cases that trip writers up.
| Lake Name | Lake Texoma |
|---|---|
| Location | Border of Texas and Oklahoma |
| Created By | Denison Dam on the Red River |
| Year Completed | 1944 |
| Surface Area | About 89,000 acres |
| Shoreline | Approximately 580 miles |
| Managing Authority | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Purpose | Flood control, water supply, hydroelectric power, recreation |
| Known For | Striped bass fishing and boating |
| Nearby Cities | Denison (TX), Durant (OK) |
| Nickname | “Texoma” |
| Fun Fact | One of the largest reservoirs in the U.S. |
| Grammar Note | Always capitalize both words: Lake Texoma |
Proper vs. common, in plain English
A proper noun names one specific person, place, or thing; a common noun is a general label. So Lake Texoma is a proper noun, while “a lake,” “the lake,” or “this lake” are common nouns and stay lowercase. If you remember only one rule: capitalize the name of the specific place; lowercase the generic word when you’re not naming a specific one. Style resources teach the same distinction—many reliable grammar guides explain this rule.
So, should we capitalize “Lake Texoma”?
Yes—always when you’re naming the lake. In English, the generic word (Lake) is capitalized when it’s part of a feature’s official name, and the specific word (Texoma) is capitalized because it’s the unique identifier. That’s why we write Lake Texoma, Lake Michigan, and Lake Tahoe, not “lake Texoma” or “lake Michigan.” Both AP style (widely used in newsrooms) and The Chicago Manual of Style (common in books and long-form publishing) explicitly back this rule.
What AP style says
The Associated Press’s guidance is straightforward: capitalize common nouns like river, street, and party when they’re part of a proper name; lowercase them when they stand alone. AP’s examples include Ohio River vs. “the river,” which maps cleanly to Lake Texoma vs. “the lake.” If you write to AP style, Lake Texoma is the only correct form.
What Chicago style says
Chicago’s rule on topographical names points the same way. It notes that the generic element of a geographic name (river, lake, mount, etc.) is capitalized when it’s part of the name, and even covers how to treat shared generics in plural constructions. Bottom line in Chicago: Lake Texoma is capitalized.
The official name matters
There’s also a practical reason to keep the capitalization: “Lake Texoma” is the official federal name of the reservoir created by Denison Dam on the Red River, administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. When you refer to a federally named feature, you mirror the official form—capital L, capital T.
How geographic names are built
If you’ve ever wondered why we capitalize the generic word, the answer comes from how place-names are formed. In U.S. naming standards, most geographic names have two parts: a generic element that describes the kind of feature (Lake, River, Mount) and a specific element that uniquely identifies it (Texoma, Colorado, Rainier). Federal naming authorities explicitly note that they handle spelling, capitalization, word form, and diacritics for official names—so the generic element isn’t just a descriptor; it’s part of the name.
Who sets the standard
Within the federal government, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names decides standard names and their orthography (how they’re written), and the USGS database is the official repository for domestic names. That’s why you’ll see Lake Texoma with both words capitalized across government publications and maps. Using the standardized form ensures consistency across agencies—and your writing benefits from the same clarity.
When lowercase is right
Lowercase is not taboo—it’s perfect when you’re not naming a specific lake. Examples:
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“We drove out to the lake at sunset.”
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“The kids swam in a lake near the campground.”
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“Several lakes in the region are popular for striped bass.”
The rule is simple: capitalize the common noun when it’s part of the formal name; lowercase when it stands alone.
Common mistakes (and quick fixes)
Mistake: Writing “lake Texoma.”
Fix: Lake Texoma (both words capitalized).
Mistake: Lowercasing after a preposition—“at lake Texoma,” “from lake Texoma.”
Fix: Prepositions don’t change capitalization: “at Lake Texoma,” “from Lake Texoma.”
Mistake: Assuming sentence case headlines force lowercase.
Fix: Even in sentence-case headlines, proper nouns stay capitalized: “Weekend guide: Camping at Lake Texoma.” Headline conventions don’t override proper-name capitalization.
Plurals, lists, and the “shared generic” wrinkle
Writers often stumble when listing multiple features. Two patterns help:
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Generic first, multiple specifics: “Lakes Erie and Ontario” → here the shared generic (“Lakes”) is lowercase, and each specific name is capitalized.
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Specific first, repeated generic: “the Illinois and Chicago Rivers” → capitalization shows the shared generic applies to each river.
For Lake Texoma, if you’re pairing it with another lake, you’d write “Lakes Texoma and Thunderbird” or “Lake Texoma and Lake Thunderbird,” depending on rhythm.
Short forms and nicknames
Sometimes writers drop the generic and use just the specific: “We spent the weekend at Texoma.” In U.S. naming practice, that’s called a short form—typically just the specific element—and it’s acceptable in contexts where the reference is clear. If you use the short form, Texoma remains capitalized because you’re still naming the place.
Why getting it right matters
Capitalization isn’t just a grammar nicety:
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Credibility and professionalism. Correct names tell readers you pay attention to detail.
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Clarity for readers. “Lake Texoma” instantly signals the exact place; “the lake” could be anywhere.
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Search and indexing. Search engines are case-insensitive, but consistent use of the official name improves matching across sources (maps, government sites, travel guides) that standardize on Lake Texoma.
Quick test you can use
If you can replace the word with a generic description and you’re not losing the identity, use lowercase: “the lake,” “that river,” “a mountain.” If you’re naming the place, capitalize both the generic and the specific: Lake Texoma, Red River, Mount Baker.
A few style-safe examples
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Correct: “We booked a campsite on Lake Texoma.”
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Correct: “The marina on Lake Texoma fills up in July.”
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Correct: “Several lakes in the region are popular for striped bass.”
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Correct: “Lakes Texoma and Thunderbird are weekend favorites.”
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Incorrect: “We watched the sunset at lake Texoma.”
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Incorrect: “Texoma lake is crowded in summer.”
Each correct example treats Lake Texoma as a single proper name; each incorrect one either lowercases the generic part of the proper name or scrambles the order.
What to do in brand or headline voice
If your brand uses sentence case for headlines or social copy, keep proper nouns capitalized. “Weekend at Lake Texoma: where to launch, camp, and eat” is sentence case but still correct. This follows common newsroom practice and style guide conventions.
The authoritative sources behind this guide
You don’t have to take my word for it; major style and naming authorities agree:
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AP Style: Capitalize common nouns like river when part of a proper name; lowercase when standalone—e.g., Ohio River vs. “the river.” Apply the same logic to Lake.
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Chicago Manual of Style: Capitalize the generic element in topographical names when it’s part of the name; provides guidance for lists with shared generics.
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U.S. Board on Geographic Names / USGS: Sets official federal usage and orthography and explains the generic + specific structure of names.
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Uses Lake Texoma in official materials.
Quick checklist (save this)
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Are you naming the place? Use Lake Texoma.
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Are you speaking generically? Use the lake.
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Listing multiple features? “Lakes Texoma and Thunderbird” or “Lake Texoma and Lake Thunderbird.”
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Using a short form? Texoma is fine in context—and stays capitalized.
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Citing official info? Government sources and maps use Lake Texoma.
Wrap-up
The take-home is simple and strong: capitalize “Lake Texoma” every time you name the lake. It’s a proper noun; the generic word Lake is part of the official name; and the specific word Texoma is unique to that place. AP and Chicago styles match, and federal naming standards reinforce the form. When you’re talking generally—“the lake,” “a lake,” “lakes in the area”—lowercase is right. Keep this distinction in your pocket, and your captions, headlines, and posts will be sharp, consistent, and credible.
