# PROPER
<a name="recipe-actions.functions.PROPER"></a>

Converts all alphabetical characters from the strings in the source column or custom values to proper case, and returns the result in a new column. 

In *proper case,* also called capital case, the first letter of each word is capitalized and the rest of the word is transformed to lowercase. An example is: The Quick Brown Fox Jumped Over The Fence 

**Parameters**
+ `sourceColumn` – The name of an existing column.
+ `value` – A character string to evaluate.
+ `targetColumn` – The name of the new column to be created.

**Note**  
You can specify either `sourceColumn` or `value`, but not both.

**Examples**  
  

```
{
    "RecipeAction": {
        "Operation": "PROPER",
        "Parameters": {
            "sourceColumn": "first_name",
            "targetColumn": "first_name_proper"
        }
    }
}
```
  

```
{
    "RecipeAction": {
        "Operation": "PROPER",
        "Parameters": {
            "value": "MR. H. SMITH, ESQ.",
            "targetColumn": "formal_name_proper"
        }
    }
}
```