Grammar Male: A cash notion | Existence – Columnists
Curtis Honeycutt
I’m astonished at how frequently the planet of grammar intersects the headlines. Since the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, I have witnessed and read individuals confused by equally the spelling and the capitalization (severely, no pun intended) of the word. Let’s dive in.
The text “capital” and “capitol” have special origins. In truth, “capital” comes the Latin word “capitalis,” which indicates “head,” as effectively as “capitale,” which signifies “wealth.” In this article we see why “capital” can indicate “money” as well as “the state seat of govt.” We also get the meaning of “capital letters” from the Latin phrase that means “head.” This can make feeling for the reason that money letters stand at the “head” of a word.
When it comes to “capitol,” we get this phrase from the Temple of Jupiter Capitolium, normally identified as the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, situated on the Capitoline Hill in Rome. This temple was a significant center of Roman religion and lifestyle and was focused in the year 509 B.C.E., the identical yr the Romans overthrew the Etruscan monarchy, creating a new republican technique of governing administration. It is assumed that Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., was named just after the Capitoline Hill.
When ought to we capitalize the word “capitol”? When referring to the developing in D.C. the place the two bodies of our legislative department satisfy, create “Capitol.” According to A.P. type, you really should also refer to the buildings where by point out governments satisfy: The pupils toured the Oklahoma Capitol all through their class area journey. These are good nouns, so they acquire the money letter cure.