Capital

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Capital" is correct and usable in written English, depending on the context.
You can use it when referring to a city that serves as the seat of government or when discussing financial resources. Example: "Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

Like everyone else, I'm fascinated that Thomas Piketty's book Capital in the Twenty-First Century is having such an impact.

The Guardian

"Determining where this capital is spent needs to be an important issue for investors, otherwise there is going to be a lot of capital wasted in coming years on developing fossil fuel reserves that cannot be burned".

The Guardian

The former defender, who played for Tottenham and Arsenal in the capital, has been courted by the party and recently had lunch with the party chairman, Grant Shapps, amid suggestions he could run for mayor.

The Guardian - Sport

Last November the governor of Oregon, John Kitzhaber, put a moratorium on all executions and in April Connecticut became the fifth state in as many years to abandon capital punishment altogether.

The Guardian

He seized on the tax-raising concessions made to Scotland and demanded them for the capital.

The Guardian

Amal Khanum Gadjieva of the Bactria Cultural Centre in the capital says that the low quality of contemporary productions has left the post-Soviet generation uninterested in theatre.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

2015 marks the fourth straight year that no restaurants from the country that (probably) views itself as the capital of superior dining feature in the top 10 of the World's 50 Best Restaurants.

The Guardian

The centres, proposed by the EU in cooperation with Niger, "should be an opportunity to bring ambitious development policies for migrants and for states", said Bernard Cazeneuve, who was in the Nigerien capital, Niamey, for talks with the president.

The Guardian

The equivalent of one in every five dollars of revenues at Chevron was poured back into capital projects last year, totalling $37.1bn.

The Guardian

We've flown here on a 10-seater charter plane as part of a tour organized by the Hotel Tower in Georgetown, Guyana's capital city.

The Guardian - Travel

New smart cities that have begun to take advantage of these tools include Tanzania's Kigamboni, an administrative ward of the capital, Dar es Salaam, Congo's Cité du Fleuve, Kenya's Tatu and Kozo Tech, Ghana's Hope City and Nigeria's Eko Atlantic developments.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "Capital" in the context of finance, ensure you specify the type of capital you are referring to, such as working capital or investment capital, for clarity.

Common error

Avoid confusing "capital", which refers to wealth or a principal city, with "capitol", which specifically refers to a government building. Use "capital" when discussing financial resources or the seat of government, and "capitol" when referring to the building itself.

Linguistic Context

The word "Capital" functions primarily as a noun, referring to a city that is the seat of government or to accumulated wealth used for investment. It can also function as an adjective, meaning excellent or chief, as suggested by Ludwig's analysis and examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "Capital" is a versatile term primarily functioning as a noun or adjective. As shown by Ludwig, it denotes either a governing city or accumulated wealth. The usage spans from formal business and news contexts to general communication, maintaining a neutral to formal register. While the word is grammatically correct, one common error is confusing it with the homophone "capitol". Remember to specify the type of "Capital" you are referring to, as Ludwig AI also suggests, be it a city or financial assets, for enhanced clarity. "Capital" appears very frequently across varied authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Financial resources

Refers specifically to the monetary assets available for investment or expenditure.

Government seat

Directly refers to the location of governmental administration.

Legislative center

Highlights the function of a capital city as the seat of government.

Principal city

Emphasizes the importance and dominance of a city within a region or country.

Chief city

Similar to principal city, denoting the most important urban center.

Funds

A general term for money that can be used for a specific purpose.

Assets

Broader term encompassing all valuable resources, including financial and physical.

Wealth

Encompasses the total value of possessions, including money and property.

Majuscule

Specifically refers to an uppercase letter, a less common but relevant meaning.

Resources

A broad term that can include financial capital, human capital, and natural resources.

FAQs

How is "Capital" used in economics?

In economics, "Capital" refers to already-produced durable goods available for use as a factor of production, such as equipment and structures, or money and wealth used for investments.

What is the difference between "capital" and "capitol"?

"Capital" refers to wealth, resources, or a city, while "capitol" refers specifically to a government building. Don't confuse the two!

What are some synonyms for "Capital" when referring to a city?

When referring to a city, synonyms for "Capital" include "government seat", "principal city", or "legislative center".

How does Thomas Piketty use the word "Capital"?

Thomas Piketty's book, "Capital in the Twenty-First Century", uses "Capital" to refer to the total private wealth in a country, including real estate, stocks, and other assets.