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A proper noun is a word that names a specific person, place, or thing. Unlike common nouns, which refer to general categories (like "city" or "dog"), proper nouns identify a particular entity and are always capitalized. Examples include names of people like "Noah Webster," places like "Chicago" or "Africa," and specific entities like "Lake Erie" or "National Public Radio". Proper nouns are distinct from common nouns and are essential for precise identification in language.123

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