Certain sets of words in the English language tend to confuse writers. I have found the following to be among them:
CAPITAL / CAPITOL
A capitol is a building where a legislative body, such as the U.S. Congress or a state legislature, meets. It is spelled with an O, so think of it as a place where people who hold government office meet.
The confusion generally relates to the fact that the city where a capitol is located is called the capital city of a state or nation:
The Capitol in our nation’s capital of Washington, D.C., has a dome. The capitols in many state capitals also sport a dome.
The word capitol with an O basically has only one meaning: statehouse; the word capital with an A, however, has many meanings, some of which are noted in the following examples:
Some citizens argue that capital punishment should be abolished.
In the U.S., capital gains and earned income have been taxed at different rates.
I’m so glad I got to meet Josh. He’s a capital fellow!
We need to raise more capital if we want to produce a prototype of our new invention.
Look how ornate the capitals are on those ancient columns.
So just remember: Unless you are speaking of an entire building where legislative bodies meet (a capitol), put an A in the final syllable, and you should be safe.
© 2016 Ann Henry. All Rights Reserved.