As a linguistic expert with a deep understanding of the English language, I am well-equipped to address the nuances of noun classification. Nouns are the backbone of our language, serving as the primary means by which we identify and categorize people, places, things, and concepts. Within the realm of nouns, we distinguish between common nouns and proper nouns based on their function and form.

A common noun is a general term used to refer to any individual or category of people, places, or things. It does not refer to a specific entity but rather to a class of entities. For example, "restaurant" is a common noun because it can refer to any restaurant, not just one particular restaurant. Common nouns are not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence or in titles.

On the other hand, a proper noun is used to identify a specific, unique entity. It is always capitalized, regardless of its position in a sentence. For instance, "Tito's Taco Palace" is a proper noun because it refers to a specific restaurant, distinguishing it from all others.

The distinction between common and proper nouns is crucial for clear communication. Proper nouns are essential for specifying unique identities, while common nouns allow us to discuss general categories without confusion.

Now, let's address the specific question of whether "restaurant" is a proper noun or a common noun. Based on the definitions provided, "restaurant" is a common noun. It is a general term that can be applied to any establishment that serves food and drink to customers. It does not refer to a specific restaurant, which is why it is not capitalized unless it is at the beginning of a sentence or part of a title.

In summary, the classification of "restaurant" as a common noun is based on its ability to represent any member of the category it defines, without the need to specify a unique instance. This is in line with the general characteristics of common nouns, which are not capitalized and do not refer to one-of-a-kind items.

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Every noun can further be classified as common or proper. A proper noun has two distinctive features: 1) it will name a specific [usually a one-of-a-kind] item, and 2) it will begin with a capital letter no matter where it occurs in a sentence. ... Restaurant = common noun; Tito's Taco Palace = proper noun.read more >>