Capitol vs. capital

Capitol vs. capital

Capital은 명사로 (1) 나라의 수도 역할을 하는 도시, (2) 돈 혹은 자산 형태의 부, (3) 대문자라는 세 가지 의미를 지니고 있습니다. 형용사로는 (1) 주요한, 주된, (2) 금융 자산을 수반하는, (3) 사형의 이라는 세 가지 의미를 지니고 있습니다. 다른 뜻도 있지만 이 정도가 주요한 의미입니다. 

여러가지 의미로 해석되는 capital에 비해 Capitol은 두 가지 의미로 한정됩니다. (1) 미 입법부 건물, (2) 워싱턴 소재 미 국회의사당 건물 두 가지 의미로 쓰입니다. 주 의회(state capitol)는 미국의 주요 도시에 있으며 국회의사당(the capitol)은 수도인 워싱턴에 있습니다. 

Examples

Capital이 잘 쓰인 사례를 찾아보겠습니다:

- The ability to expand depends on access to capital … [Capital Spectator]

- Endeavor With a Capital E [Collecting Raindrops (now offline)]

- In 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court banned capital punishment, but the decision was overturned in 1976 … [Columbia Missourian]

- You are a capital fellow, Planchet … [Ten Years Later, Alexandre Dumas]

Capital 보다 좁은 의미를 지닌 Capitol이 잘 쓰인 사례를 찾아보겠습니다:

- The House will take up a bill this week adding one statue of a District luminary to the halls of the Capitol … [Washington Post]

- Cherry has spent 28 years at the Capitol as a lawmaker and lieutenant governor, and at one point, he hoped to be Michigan’s next chief executive. [AP (article now offline)]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Capitol vs. capital

As a noun, capital refers to (1) a city that serves as a capital of government, (2) wealth in the form of money or property, and (3) a capital letter. As an adjective, it means (1)principal, (2) involving financial assets, and (3) deserving of the death penalty. There are other definitions of capital, but these are the main ones.

Capitol has two very specific definitions (outside Ancient Rome): (1) a U.S. state legislature building, and (2) the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. State capitols are located in the capital cities of U.S. states, and the Capitol is located in the capital city of the U.S.

Examples

These writers use capital well:

The ability to expand depends on access to capital … [Capital Spectator]

Endeavor With a Capital E [Collecting Raindrops (now offline)]

In 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court banned capital punishment, but the decision was overturned in 1976 … [Columbia Missourian]

You are a capital fellow, Planchet … [Ten Years Later, Alexandre Dumas]

These writers use the narrower and less useful capitol correctly:

The House will take up a bill this week adding one statue of a District luminary to the halls of the Capitol … [Washington Post]

Cherry has spent 28 years at the Capitol as a lawmaker and lieutenant governor, and at one point, he hoped to be Michigan’s next chief executive. [AP (article now offline)]

Original text from: http://grammarist.com/usage/capitol-capital/