Capital vs. Capitol – How To Distinguish Them

Using a variety of terms in an academic paper helps you to create a better flow and avoid repetition and redundancy. However, it is integral to focus on the correct meanings of these terms to ensure credibility and academic integrity. The words “capital” and “capitol” belong to the group of commonly confused words. The following article delves into the correct meaning and usage of both words, including examples.

Definition of “capital” vs. “capitol”

Both words have phonetic similarities but differ in their meaning. The word “capital” used as a noun can have a geographical, political or economic and financial meaning. In a political sense, it refers to the town or city where the seat of government is situated, while economically or financially, it describes wealth in the form of assets, money, funds, or stocks. “Capital” used as an adjective usually describes something as being of the highest importance or something being exceptionally qualitative. Financially, it can describe anything concerning assets or resources. In a legal context, “capital” can describe the severity of a crime, offense, or punishment. Regarding the geographical and political meaning, it can refer to something that pertains to a capital city such as “capital culture,” referring to the cultural aspects found in a capital.

In writing, “capital” describes the uppercase letters (capital letters), which are typically used at the beginning of a sentence or for emphasis. The word “capitol” functions as a noun and merely refers to the building that houses the state legislative assembly where governmental duties are carried out. It is often associated with the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

There are two helpful mnemonics to differentiate these two words. “Capital” is written with an “a.” Keeping in mind that the alphabet starts with an “a” and the first letter at the beginning of a sentence must be uppercased, can help you spell it correctly. On the contrary, “capitol,” refers to the location and the building of a state legislative. Keeping in mind that some governmental buildings in the United States, such as the dome in Washington, are round-shaped can assist in remembering the correct meaning, as the letter “o” is also round.

Using the word “capital”

The word “capital” can be used as an adjective and as a noun, as outlined in the following.

“Capital” as an adjective

“Capital” as an adjective, refers to the principal aspect of something. It also describes the uppercase of a word. Alternative words for “capital” are “excellent,” “primary,” or “supreme.”

“Capital” as a noun

When “capital” functions as a noun, it primarily refers to financial aspects such as “stock,” “profit,” or “asset.” It can also refer to a location or city where a special activity is predominantly carried out, or the city where the government is situated.

Tip for using “capital” correctly

A helpful tip to use “capital” correctly is to remember that it is related to the main aspect of something or the financial aspects of larger organizations. Furthermore, since it has the letter “a,” you can think of the word “administration,” which describes the leading and principal organ of an institution where decisions are made. To avoid making mistakes, however, you can always use synonyms such as “key,” “main,” “major,” or “principal” when used as an adjective, or “center,” “funds,” “heart” or “hotspot” when used as a noun.

Using the word “capitol”

The word “capitol” can only be used as a noun, as described in the following.

“Capitol” as a noun

“Capitol” as a noun refers to the building in which governmental decisions are made, and the legislative power is seated in. Unlike “capital”, the word “capitol” is only used as a noun in the English language.

Tip for using “capitol” correctly

Keeping in mind that “capitol” refers to the building of the government where meetings are held, and legislative decisions are made, can help you to differentiate it from similar words. If you, however, want to minimize the risk of using it wrongly, you can choose to use synonyms, such as “seat of government,” “senate,” or “statehouse.”

Practice sheet

With the following test, you can check your understanding of the distinction between “capital” and “capitol.” Fill out the blank spaces in the following 10 sentences and check your answers in the second tab.