Capital vs Capitol
What’s the difference between them?
Capital
Meaning:
The resources, both financial and human, available for use in the production of goods and services; main city of the country or state.
Examples:
1. Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States.
2. He invested a large amount of capital in the company.
3. The capital of France is Paris.
Capitol
Meaning:
The Capitol is the building in which a state legislature meets.
Examples:
1. The Washington Monument stands tall near the Capitol building.
2. The Capitol was built in 1788.
3. The Capitol is the seat of government for the state of Texas.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Capital
1. Wealth
2. Resources
3. Funds
4. Assets
5. Financial Assets
6. Monetary Assets
1. Poor
2. Insignificant
3. Subordinate
4. Negligible
5. Lower Class/Lower Status
Capitol
1. Legislature
2. Legislative building
3. Seat of government
4. Parliament
5. Assembly hall.
There are no direct antonyms for this word.
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Capital", "Capitol".
1. Think of 'capital' as having a financial focus. It refers to resources, both financial and human, used in the production of goods and services. The 'a' in 'capital' can remind you of assets.
2. The 'o' in 'capitol' can remind you of 'official' or 'office.' 'Capitol' specifically refers to the building where a state legislature meets. The 'o' can serve as a symbol of offices or official business.
3. Associate 'capitol' with legislation. If you're talking about the building where legislative activities take place, use 'capitol.'
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Frequently asked questions
In what situations should the first word, 'Capital', be used?
The word ‘capital’ should be used to describe a city that serves as the seat of a government, or as a shorthand for a country’s financial resources and investments. For example, 'London is the capital of England,' or 'The company has invested its capital wisely.'
When is the appropriate context for using the second word, 'Capitol'?
‘Capitol’ is used to refer to a specific building, such as a state capitol, which houses a government’s legislative branches. For example, 'The Washington D.C. Capitol Building is the home of the United States Congress.'
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
No, the two words have a different pronunciation. ‘Capital’ is pronounced as ‘cap-i-tul’, while ‘capitol’ is pronounced as ‘cap-i-toll’.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
One of the most common mistakes people make when using these two words is confusing one for the other; ‘capital’ is used to refer to the city that serves as the seat of a government, while ‘capitol’ is used to refer to the building in which a government’s legislative branches are housed. Additionally, many people incorrectly spell ‘capitol’ as ‘capital’, forgetting that the first ‘a’ is replaced with an ‘o’.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. The United States federal government is based in Washington ___.
2. The city of Rome is a _____ of Italy.
3. The __ of the state of California is located in Sacramento.
4. He visited the __ building of his home state in search of answers.
5. The well-known phrase all roads lead to Rome refers to the ancient city’s __.
6. The entrepreneur decided to invest a significant portion of her __________ in the promising startup to potentially yield high returns.
1. The United States federal government is based in Washington Capitol.
Explanation: Capitol refers to a large, stately building that is the seat of government for a particular country or state. The Capitol building is in Washington D.C. and serves as the seat of the United States Federal government.
2. The city of Rome is capital of Italy.
Explanation: Capital refers to a main city of the country.
3. The Capital of the state of California is located in Sacramento.
Explanation: Capital refers to the city designated as the seat of government for a particular area. The Capital of California is Sacramento, the states largest city and the administrative center of government.
4. He visited the Capitol building of his home state in search of answers.
Explanation: Capitol refers to a large, stately building that is the seat of government for a particular country or state. By visiting the Capitol building, the individual is likely hoping to gain insight or information from the state government.
5. The well-known phrase all roads lead to Rome refers to the ancient city’s Capitol.
Explanation: Capitol refers to a large, stately building that is the seat of government for a particular country or state. The phrase all roads lead to Rome is a metaphor to describe the city of Romes importance. This phrase refers to the Capitol of Rome, a grand and elaborate building that served as the home of the Roman government.
6. The entrepreneur decided to invest a significant portion of her capital in the promising startup to potentially yield high returns.
Explanation: In this context, capital refers to the financial assets or wealth that the entrepreneur possesses and is willing to invest in the startup. Capital in terms of money typically represents the funds available for investment or business purposes.
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List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.