Sound-alike words

Capital vs. Capitol

Capital has many uses: the city where a government is based, money for a business, or an uppercase letter. Capitol means only the building where a lawmaking body meets. The capitol stands in the capital.

Word	Part of speech	Meaning
capital	noun	the city where a country's or state's government is based
capital	noun	money or property used to start or grow a business
capitol	noun	a building where a state or national lawmaking body meets

Capital

noun: the city where a country's or state's government is based

Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
Our class took a field trip to the state capital.

noun: money or property used to start or grow a business

Omar needs more capital to open a second bakery.
The new company raised capital from local investors.

Capitol

noun: a building where a state or national lawmaking body meets

The state capitol has a tall gold dome.
We toured the capitol and saw the room where lawmakers meet.

How to remember the difference

The capitol building has an o, like the round dome on top of so many capitols. Everything else, cities, money and big letters, is capital.

Good to know

Capitol is capitalized for the US Capitol in Washington, DC, and in names like the Texas Capitol. Capital also works as an adjective, as in capital letter and capital city.

Spot the mistake

Sacramento is the ~~capitol~~ capital of California.
Correct: Sacramento is the capital of California.
Tourists climbed the steps of the state ~~capital~~ capitol to see the dome.
Correct: Tourists climbed the steps of the state capitol to see the dome.

Check yourself

Pick the word that fits each sentence.

1. Start every sentence with a letter.

2. The governor's office is inside the state building.